Lighting your trackball

[LeedsFan]

I was originally lighting my trackball using a standard 12v bulb from the PC power supply. The ball is a 2.25" transluscent blue ball from TheRealBobRoberts, and very nice it is too.  But the 12v bulb was far too weedy for my tastes.  The illumination was very poor.

I then tried a 100W clear light bulb to light underneath using a standard mains fitment. The results were fantastic..... but I was not happy about the heat generated by this bulb. Too close to my wiring!   So I opted for a 23W energy saving bulb which gives out more lumens than the 100W standard bulb.  The result are just as good... but the heat is much, much less.

Just wondered what your thoughts were on this.

[clanggedin]

I light my trackball with an LED. There is no heat and it's really bright. Plus it lasts a long, long time

[LeedsFan]

I light my trackball with an LED. There is no heat and it's really bright. Plus it lasts a long, long time

Are there different brightnesses of LEDs you can buy?  I was at a local computer fair recently and there were some LEDs available there.... but they didn't look too bright to me. Certainly no brighter than the 12v bulb I already had (which was weedy). Perhaps I misjudged them.

Do you think using a standard household type bulb is overkill?  Like I say, the results are great. But if an LED were to give just as good results then it would certainly make sense.

(Stupid question that....    You're very happy with your setup so obviously a normal bulb will be overkill to you!)

[Chester]

I found a 3-pack of blue high intensity LEDs at a local auto parts place that were wired for 12v. I bent a piece of sheet metal into a makeshift mount, drilled 3 holes for the LEDs, and screwed it down directly under the trackball. I wired it up to a spare 12v lead, and it works beautifully. It's plenty bright and generates no heat to speak of.

[fatbasta]

There is a lot of bling for your machine to be found for your at the local auto shop.  All kinds of Leds and neon all wired for 12v, what more can you ask for.  I personally like the chrome skulls with the red LED eyes.

[Trimoor]

For super bright LEDs, try LSDiodes.

45 cent LEDs - $2 shipping to anywhere in the world

For neon lights and such, I highly recommend SVC

[SOAPboy]

For super bright LEDs, try LSDiodes.

45 cent LEDs - $2 shipping to anywhere in the world

For neon lights and such, I highly recommend SVC

ill throw a plug for Case-mod.com in too..