Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Arcade Collecting => Miscellaneous Arcade Talk => Topic started by: chiLLbiLLy on October 02, 2008, 05:34:57 pm

Title: Cold cathode lighting
Post by: chiLLbiLLy on October 02, 2008, 05:34:57 pm
Does anyone actually make cold cathode light sticks/tubes, that you can simply plug into any standard wall outlet, right out of the box and use wherever you'd like, in your gameroom?  After searching for a while, all I can find are cold cathode tubes for computer modding, which are all geared towards being powered through a computer power supply.  Those and the kind used in cars, of course.

I just want to be able to stick up some blue, or maybe even red, tubes under some clear, glass bar shelving, for what would hopefully be a cool effect, but I don't want to cut wires and have to adapt things power-wise, since I don't really have good electrical knowledge or skills.  I just want to be able to plug them into a standard wall outlet.

As cool as cold cathode lights look and with the much higher cost of neon, I would have thought that someone would have this sort of product, for accent lighting around the house and other non-computer applications.
Title: Re: Cold cathode lighting
Post by: Necro on October 02, 2008, 11:29:11 pm
I don't know the answer to your question, but might I suggest trying rope lighting?  Works pretty good, is available off the shelf, and you can plug it right into the wall.

Regarding your question though, you might need to do a modification to a power adapter.
Title: Re: Cold cathode lighting
Post by: drawfull on October 03, 2008, 01:12:09 pm
If you're in the UK, you may want to try ACDC - they do cold cathode for all solutions.

For fibre optic try UFO - Universal Fibre Optics

Or, for something you may not have considered, check out LED strips from KKDC - these are the best on the market (real fine binning so colour / colour temperature is perfect). Distributed in UK by Lumino

You could also look into Plexineon, the distributor is based in the US but they have worldwide distros too. ilight technologies I think, not to be confused with iLight in the UK, although their equipment may be of interest. ilight UK are similar (and cheaper) to Lutron.

Cheers