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How can I hook these Blue Neon rings up?

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mountain:
There is a fude in that cigarette lighter plug. The wires look pretty small as well, a good indication that these things don't draw too much current.

The larger adaptor in your picture is rated at 3.4 amps. I am sure that one will work.

unclet:
One end of the 3.4 amp adaptor can be plugged into the wall.  The picture attached shows the other end of it.   There are 5 prongs in it and a metal outer casing, so I doubt this thing is going to have two wires only.   Which of the wires inside would I use to connect the neon rings?  How can I tell which wires to connect basically?

I realize the cigarette lighter adapter had two tabs on either side and one metal tab at the end of it.   I think the two metal tabs on the side are negative and the one metal tab and th tip is positive (could be wrong though).  Anyway, would it be possible (just for testing whether this works), to hold two wires against these tabs to see if the neon blue tubes light up or not.  I mean, instead of snipping off the cigarette lighter just yet, would it be possible to test the neon light by plugging in the 3.4 amp adapter and holding two wires from it against the cigarette lighter?


Also, instead of cutting off the cigarette adapter just yet, would it be possible to hold two wires against the metal

Kevin Mullins:
Can you give us a closeup of the black box that came with that kit?
Is there any "ratings" on the back/bottom side of it?
Are there any other spots for a plug to plug into it?


--- Quote from: unclet on July 28, 2007, 03:50:17 pm ---Anyway, would it be possible (just for testing whether this works), to hold two wires against these tabs to see if the neon blue tubes light up or not. 

--- End quote ---

Sure..... but I think the smallest adapter you have in that pic should do fine . (1.2A)
Those rings shouldn't draw that much current.


--- Quote from: unclet on July 26, 2007, 08:56:24 pm ---The box says it will work with 12V DC or 110V AC.

--- End quote ---

That right there tells me there should have been an adapter with it, or at least a place to plug one into that black box.  ???

BTW - The 12VDC from a pc power supply should still work fine to run thoughs also.
I have a small (120watt) car audio running off my jukebox pc's power supply and it works fine even when crankin' it up. So those rings couldn't possibly draw more current than that.

unclet:
Look at the last two posts I made.  One shows the ratings on the 3.4  amp adapter and the other shows the connector which is at the end of it (the other end of it is a standard wall plug).  There is nothing else which gets plugged into it.

As for the neon ring black box .... there is not adapter which plugs into that either.  One of my other pictures (posted eariler) shows all the hardware and is laid out which shows how it all connects together.  On the box, it states the 110V adapter is not included in the box.  I guess I would have to buy this separately.  I would rather just splice wires to the adapters I have lying around.

Now, if I use the 1.2 amp adapter I have (shown in the pic I posted earlier), then there are only two wires there so that should be easier.   You indicated I could test the neon rings by holding up these two wires to the cigarette lighter adapter just to test if it truely lights the rings.   However, if I take the two wires from my 1.2 amp adapter, then would it matter which wire touches the cigarette adapter tip and side metal parts?  I mean should wire1 touch the tip or should wire2 touch the tip?  I do not want to "blow up" my neon rings by attaching the 1.2 adapter wires incorrectly.

Also, how will I know whether the 1.2 amp adapter works.  Ok .... obviously I know if the rings light up then it works, but do I have to worry about the rings getting too much electricity and starting a fire or something?

Kevin Mullins:

--- Quote from: unclet on July 28, 2007, 04:59:24 pm ---Look at the last two posts I made.  One shows the ratings on the 3.4  amp adapter and the other shows the connector which is at the end of it (the other end of it is a standard wall plug).  There is nothing else which gets plugged into it.
--- End quote ---
I realize nothing else got plugged into THAT black box. I was only talking about the black box that came with the lights. ;D
You would have to use a multimeter to figure out which of those five pins were your power leads. (I personally wouldn't mess with that one just yet)


--- Quote from: unclet on July 28, 2007, 04:59:24 pm ---On the box, it states the 110V adapter is not included in the box.
--- End quote ---
Now there is the missing piece of information. Wouldn't it be nice if they at least showed you what kind of adapter it was supposed to be?


--- Quote from: unclet on July 28, 2007, 04:59:24 pm ---However, if I take the two wires from my 1.2 amp adapter, then would it matter which wire touches the cigarette adapter tip and side metal parts?
--- End quote ---
If it were JUST a light, then I would say it wouldn't matter.
But since it's running through that box I would verify which one is positive and which one is negative on the two wires from the power supply first. (with a meter)
Typically the tip of the cigarette lighter part is the positive and the side tabs are the negative.
 

--- Quote from: unclet on July 28, 2007, 04:59:24 pm ---Also, how will I know whether the 1.2 amp adapter works.  Ok .... obviously I know if the rings light up then it works, but do I have to worry about the rings getting too much electricity and starting a fire or something?

--- End quote ---
They will only DRAW as much power as they need. (current)
So as long as the voltage is correct, then just make sure the power supply isn't getting unusually hot or anything. And keep the fuse inline between the power supply and the light box.

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