molex to dc

[redstorm]

my friend is doing some modding of a guitar and wants to include some lights on it. he bought some led bars and other similar things. most of them are for a pc so they have molex plugs. well we are not sure how to power the lights. and we are unsure about wiring because we do not know which is positive and which is negitive.

he says he wants to use AA batteries if possible either way we need to power it with batteries.

i can probably get links to the lights that he has.

and integrating the wiring and lights is not a problem.

all of them have 2 wires coming directly out of the light most of them to a molex plug thing. if we cut them and find out which is positive and negitive we could technically just add it to a direct current.

would that work?

thanks for any help

-redstorm

[liambl]

Molex plugs supply both 5VDC and 12VDC. The 2 centre are 0v or ground and the 2 outer pins supply the voltage. When viewed from pins end on and with the plug the right way up (little angled edges upwards), the leftmost is 12VDC and rightmost 5VDC. This pic will help (yellow is 12VDC, red is 5VDC).

[David M]

8 batteries in series will get you the 12 volts you need to power the lights. Doesn't matter if it is AAA's or D cells. Experiment with how long the different sized batteries will power the lights.

For a Molex connector the yellow is 12VDC positive and the black is negative.

[liambl]

Providing the lights ARE run by 12v. Its likely but they should probably make sure first.

[redstorm]

so i should start low. too little voltage wont blow out the light but high voltage runs that risk.


so basically all i need to deal with then is the black 0v as negative and the yellow as positive for my circuit?

ill let him know what you guys said and try to come up with an electrical diagram a little later.

thanks for the help so far. ill be back with more questions probably tonight assuming i understand things thus far.

[mrtube]

you can usually tell by the color of the wiring. typically black is ground, red is 5v and yellow is 12v on pc stuff.

And, Liaml already said that. sorry i didnt notice.

[redstorm]

its alright mrtube i appreciate the help anyways.

my friend didnt call me after work to ask about what you guys said like he said he would so today in the life of the project was non-productive

[redstorm]

alright so.

one of the lights we could get to light with a 9v battery.

the others which are

http://www.xpcgear.com/lqccflspiralgr.html

which it appears coming from the psu it goes 5v into a 12v converter box to the light its self using molex connectors.

and

the second is

http://www.xoxide.com/green-cathode-8inch.html

which is molex too.



also will 8 batteries run all of them if the were connected in a direct circuit with one power source.

(i think they will just depends on how long they will last he says ask you guys)