Lighting Question

[Lunchbox]

I'm kinda new to to modding. I've done some simple modding to Comps, but want to try something different from the norm.

I was wondering if ther was a way I could make 2 different colored cathode lights fad in and out of each other, automaticly at a certin pace? And if that idea is possible is it a viable idea? Will it be hard on the Light and make them ware out faster?

Thanks for any info posted to help.

[dgrmkrp]

it's easy to do that... but you have to know electronics pretty well.. u need like 2 ICs to vary the voltage for two outputs.. u connect the cathodes at the outputs and the circuit will give 12v to one output.. than the voltage will fall to a certain limit u set (cathodes/fans/most things need a minimum of voltage to work, so you should be carefull not to undervolt them.. as they won't do anything but consume power and turn it into heat..albeit low heat..) and the other output will rise.. and there! u get that fading thing u wanted.. no harm to the light should come if you plan everything right (eg no sparks and smoke ;) )...

some people here know very well how to do so (i'm learning), but there is always google and maybe electronics tutorials :)
good luck

[Guttenaffe]

What you want is to build a DAC board, there are some ways you can do this, the easy way would do to do the following.

Setup a 555timer in a occillitor mode running at your desired frequency based on the RC value. Connect this to the clock inout of a 16-to-1 switching Multiplexier. Now we need to varry the voltage and apply it to the inputs of the multiplexer. The way i would do this is put a large voltage devider/step across the inpouts of the mux. I'll post a good pic when I get a chance.

Here is a text based example
+12V - D0 - R1 - D1 - R2 - D2 - R3 - D3 -R4 - D4 - R5 - ... - R15 - D15 - Ground

You could also connect a normal mux to a up-down counter if you want it to fade up then down. Umm I'll post more on this when I get a chance to fool with it more. I'm at work and don't have the time to design this for you.

edit: Hmmm, this one doesn't see to like me, can't eliminate the number of chips down to less than four. The problem is in the detection of the "max" count for the mux unit. I think I have a work-around for you but I've yet to have a chance to test it or work with it some. I'm real busy at work atm. I work for the IT depatment of a major univeristy and classes start soon, so we are getting things ready still.