Cold cathode tubes to light a Marquee?

[sealslayer]

Anyone tried this method?
I'm thinking 2 x 12" white tubes give off quite a lot of light, or if need be four in total, two rows of two.
If it worked there are many benefits for me, turns on and off with the PC, no messing about trying to wire up a normal tube separately etc, one less 240V plug socket being taken up,
Less wires, straight from my molex connector in my CP.
Opinions please......

[Dervacumen]

I use two cold cathode white tubes for my marquee.  I had the marquee printed at mamemarquees.  It's not overly bright but it illuminates well.  I actually prefer it because it's not super bright.

I went this route for the same reasons as you and am pleased with the result.

[sealslayer]

Ahh Great, thats the route I'll go down then. 

[Jess--]

the cold cathode idea will work well, but you may me able to get a normal tube in 12v form in there for less money.

look for caravan / boat lights.

[vrf]

I'm using mini CCFL tubes as well. They turn on with the computer and run nice and cool. Nice and easy. Plenty bright, too.

Make sure you put some diffuse reflective material in the marquee box to recycle indirect light.

[MYX]

I used CC tubes because it was easier to power and provided good light with a low cost overhead. Not to mention easy to install. I used 2 sets of tubes. Check THIS out. I used a back lit translight from an printed by an actual maker comercial translights (like resturaunts) and movie posters. Good color.

[sealslayer]

I used CC tubes because it was easier to power and provided good light with a low cost overhead. Not to mention easy to install. I used 2 sets of tubes. Check THIS out. I used a back lit translight from an printed by an actual maker comercial translights (like resturaunts) and movie posters. Good color.

Cool, its much brighter than I had expected, my mind is definatly made up now 

[Aurich]

If you use MameMarquees then pay the little extra for the premium marquee, it's real backlight material and doesn't wash out like the normal version.

[Crowquill]

I second the backlit material recommendation. The colors on my marquee are way more vivid than the generic white plastic print I had in there originally. Mine was printed at Kinko's though (more expensive than Mamemarquees normally, but since I work there I got to be obsessive about one more aspect of my cabinet).

I moved the "under-counter" fluorescent fixture out of my cab to put it...under a kitchen counter. I'm thinking I'm probably going to go the cold-cathod route to replace it. Since I have a classic-style cab, I got a bit annoyed by how bright the light was when I'm up close and actually playing it. A couple smaller lights should give the same effect without being as blinding.

[vrf]

Crowquill, can you recommend a good place to have a small marquee printed on the backlight material? I'm okay paying a bit more if the quality is as good as you say.

Thanks!

[Pixelhugger]

can you recommend a good place to have a small marquee printed on the backlight material?

mamemarquees.com, opt for the premium backlit stuff

[vrf]

yeah, I may have to go with mamemarquees, although my job will be a fraction of the smallest size/price on his site. Thanks!

[richms]

Both myself and several people I know have had those cheap inverters with CCFLs blow up, in some cases with spectacular results, in mine just a bad smell and a hole melted in the side of it.

Ive decided that they are not worth the risk.

With white leds being as good and as cheap as they are now, thats a much better option IMO.

[vrf]

richms... how would you get a nice light panel from LEDs? And how would you power it?

[richms]

I would get some nice wide angle ones rather then the insanley high mcd but useless viewing angle ones that seem to be all too common.

I would then sand the end to make it more diffuse and place them on a white background.

Probarbly would need 10 or so across a normal sized marque.

Run off 12 v with the appropriate resistor, maybe a higher value one to reduce the brightness a bit if it ends up too much.

otherwise could try the leds at the front aiming onto the white back of the marque box.

[Crowquill]

Any Kinko's that has a Sign & Banner department should have the backlight material. It's $15/sq. ft. Most marquees are going to be 2 square feet. Some classic cabs like mine might actually get away with 1 sq. ft. Officially there is a $25 minimum charge, but that's IF the store knows it or enforces it. If you can't find a store shoot me a PM. Price-wise it might not be much cheaper, but depending on size it might be. One other factor is speed--if you have a local store, then you can usually pick it up in 24-48 hours.

Mamemarquees pricing by size is kind of weird. I was looking up how much it would be to print my CP overlay (11 x 24). The first size that would fit mine will let me print 2.

Sorry to get a bit off-topic. I swear I'm not here to advertise Kinko's 

[MYX]

Wow, when did MM add tthe ulitmate printing option. That was the only reason I did not get that one printed there because he does a great job.

As to the LEDs, I can not see how 10 LEDs could provide enough light to light a marquee. I think that there is a LED solution, but I think more than 10. My other thought here is that white LEDs are (or used to be) an off shoot from Blue. It used the same element and was somehow altered (sorry been a long time since I read up on it) so you would not get true color on your marquee. Not a big deal for someone with say a monochrome blue and grey background, but if you went full color (which mine was) you need a broad spectrum light source.

But LEDs would have no heat and lots of light.