Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question

I need help modding my computer

Tags:
  • Homebuilt
  • Computers
  • Modding
  • Systems
Last response: in Systems
Share
March 11, 2013 2:25:57 AM

Hello,

I need to power multiple LEDs and cold cathodes. I have multiple available molex plugs from my psu; it looks like i can get cold cathodes that will plug into molex plugs, but it seems that there aren't any molex adapters for LEDs. I don't know how to set it up. Please help.

More about : modding computer

a c 106 B Homebuilt system
March 11, 2013 2:31:25 AM

So what are you trying to achieve? I assume just general case lighting effects?

Have a look into the NZXT Hue, Bitfenix Alchemy Connect LED strips and Antec also offer USB powered LED strips for external lighting.
m
0
l
March 11, 2013 2:37:41 AM

That was a fast reply! Thank you. What I'm trying to do is replace the LEDs on my kids computer that somehow burned out (a front panel LED and the power light LED). The power light LED I've got taken care of, that was easy. But this other LED was a specific component to the case. What I was hoping to do was to pick up a tailed LED (like the one I used for the power light LED), connect the 2-pin female ends to the power supply using some form of adapter (molex to 2-pin male). The cold cathodes I figured I'd add for fun for the kids since I'm doing this anyway. They will be placed in the front case panel door that swings open to reveal the optical drives, just a fun lightshow. But this one LED... I just feel lost with it, as there are no more connectors on my mobo and i can't seem to find a molex to 2-pin male adapter.
m
0
l
Related resources
a b B Homebuilt system
March 11, 2013 2:45:35 AM

can you use a 3 pin male adapter instead and just not use the 3rd pin? for case fans they have 3 pin male to 4 pin molex adapters. you can even cut the 3rd pin to remove it since you only need 2 wires.

EDIT: besides teh 3rd pin is dead anyway because it is a rpm reading.
m
0
l
March 11, 2013 2:47:50 AM

I dont know, would that work? Don't the fans require 12v and the LEDs require something like 3.5v? I'd be very happy with that option if itll work
m
0
l
a b B Homebuilt system
March 11, 2013 2:51:54 AM

do you have a pic of exactly what you are working on? also cant you solder the led leads to the existing wires to solve this issue? i guess it is hard to understand the exact issue with out seeing.

edit: "Don't the fans require 12v and the LEDs require something like 3.5v?" yes fans do. if you were going to connect the led to a molex connector you were going to feed 12v anyway. you will need something to cut the voltage.
m
0
l
a c 106 B Homebuilt system
March 11, 2013 2:56:32 AM

What colour do you want the LED to be?

EDIT: Also what size does it need to be, 3 or 5mm?
m
0
l
a c 106 B Homebuilt system
March 11, 2013 3:02:05 AM

Well anyway, I think this page might be what your after,
http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l3/g6/c455/s1224/list/p1/L...
All of them use Molex connectors (and the ones that use 2-pin can be altered to Molex in the options), come in various sizes and colours.

Note: Molex = 4pin connector.
m
0
l
March 11, 2013 3:12:24 AM

I'm sorry, I don't have a pic, it's a Xion-II case. Basically all I want to do is get a LED to light up. Nothing fancy. I dont have a soldering iron, wire strippers, electrical tape. I just want to be able to take a 5-mm LED with a 32-inch tail, plug it in somewhere, and have it turn on. The old LED was a bulb with 32-inch wires that ended in a square plastic form with two pins. These two (male end) pins plugged into a molex adapter. But the parts are old, and I think, they are broken. I'd like to update the parts anyway.
m
0
l
March 11, 2013 3:19:33 AM

Well, that was easy. Thank you! I had found that site earlier, but I guess i mis-interpreted 4-pin as that similar to 4-pin fan connectors, and not molex. I need it to be longer; could i just use a molex extension cable for that? And, actually, my kids are girls, and I'm changing the color to purple for them.
m
0
l
a c 106 B Homebuilt system
March 11, 2013 3:22:54 AM

Yeah, Molex extension would do fine.

EDIT: I think the closest your going to get to purple would be Ultra Violet. It appears purple in the image, but that's taken with a camera, UV light isn't visible to the human eye. It might appear to have a tint of purple, but not sure how it will look in person.
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/14485/ele-980/XSPC_Ta...

EDIT 2: Unless you get two LED's one with Red and other Blue, glue gun them to the plastic and hope the colours mix and make purple.
m
0
l
March 11, 2013 2:17:47 PM

On frozencpu.com, I'm seeing LEDs labeled as "UV" and others as "Purple"... are those actually two different colors? Or is it just semantics, and they are really the same thing?
m
0
l
!