LED CP lighting idea for cocktail cab

[rchadd]

i am thinking of alternative ways to light the white plexi behind each of the CPs on my cocktail cab.

a friend of mine has suggested that i buy a load of ultrabright white leds and mount line of them on a PCB  behind the plexi.

he says advantage is that it won't draw so much power.

what do you think? anyone else tried this as a solution?

i know incandescent lamps are the classic solution - i am not worried about authenticity.

i see i can get 50 white leds on ebay for about 6 quid.

[Bgnome]

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=22376

[MonitorGuru]

I was just browsing one of the examples off the main page of this site last night and someone else used a lot of ultra bright white LED's to light things like the marquee (upright) and the coin door 25 cent pieces. However they decided on their cocktail to retain the energy eating/heat producing incandescent light bulbs because the LED's just did not give the same effect and didn't produce the warm glow or even the warmth you feel by the joystick on a cocktail panel.

It's all about authenticity--do you want it or not.

[rchadd]

decide to try the leds.

will let you know how they turn out.

let the bidding commence...

[whammoed]

i know incandescent lamps are the classic solution - i am not worried about authenticity.

Indeed, if you aren't going for a certain look, give it a go.  Definitely go with more than two per window, even the super bright leds don't shed quite as much light as the incandescent and they are much more directional.  I have also seen fluorescent bulbs used.

[rchadd]

i figured a row of 12 might be ok to light the CP.

if i buy 50 i can always add some more

[clanggedin]

what about using cold cathode for lighting your cp?

[shadowdrak]

Glowire seems to be an interesting choice as well (glowire.com). Pretty neat looking stuff methinks.

[rchadd]

what about using cold cathode for lighting your cp?

i didn't think it would be bright enough to light the white plexi. if i used clear plexi it would work and look pretty cool - neon lit CPs.

i recently saw here a custom cocktail that had stainless steel CPs they would look cool if lit by cold cathode.

[Blakey]

i recently saw here a custom cocktail that had stainless steel CPs they would look cool if lit by cold cathode.

What do you think I'm planning on doing?

Clear perspex, sandblasted with pac/ghosts not blasted, CC lighting behind it of course.

[rchadd]

Clear perspex, sandblasted with pac/ghosts not blasted, CC lighting behind it of course.

thats sounds really cool - please post pictures!

[Blakey]

when I get a chance to do it, I will, don't worry about that.