Anyone know how to wire my case light to my parallel port?

[ownaginatious]

Well recently I just got a fluorescent (i think) case light for my computer with a simple switch I'm supposed to mount outside the case to turn the light on and off. Well I really don't want to start hacking away at my nice case to add an ugly looking switch to it. Is it possible to just wire in a transistor over the switch, and then just attach a "trigger" wire to my parallel port that I could thread through the back of the case. I learned how to program a parallel port in computer engineering class through Turing (for those who don't know, it's a language based on Pascal), so I should easily be able to turn on pins in the port with no problem. The light runs off the power from an ordinary CD/HD Drive if it matters. Any help such as which type of transistor to use, if I do actually need to use a transistor, would be appreciated as I am new to this :p. Thanx!

[dgrmkrp]

Is it possible to just wire in a transistor over the switch, and then just attach a "trigger" wire to my parallel port that I could thread through the back of the case.
of course it is :) all u need now is to know the voltage u can generate on the parallel port and go buy a transistor from a specialty shop (hobby electronics, audio store..) that takes that amount of voltage on it's gate to fully-open :) as there are countless of models, ask the salesperson for one that can take the amps your gonna put out for the cathode (big long tube.. i guess that's what u have), trough the source/drain.
(also, i've worked with a few models in CAD and you should try to find one that doesn't gobble up much of the voltage u give it.. with what i worked with i always ended up reducing the 12V to 11.something V.. but that won't really be a problem, unless the tran is very very small and heats up :))

[Guttenaffe]

I'd use something like a MPSW3725 (http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?PName?Name=MPSW3725-ND%26Site=US) Will allow an Ic of 1.2A which is enough for lights.

If you ask me I wouldn't use those types of lights in a comp case. CCFL inverters are cheep and are known for burning into little bits. (http://www.casemodgod.com/ccfl_inverter_rant.htm)

I use SMD LED light bars to light my case. You can get them for bout $5 each at All Electronics (http://www.allelectronics.com) if they have some in-stock. Else you got to buy for @ $20. If they are wired correctly then you can run them at lower current! Lower current means less power which means less heat!

*note* Cold Cathode only means there isn't a heating element within the bulb, that doesn’t mean they are cool when running. Those little inverters get HOT and the bulbs get warm too.