...Another question about lighting.

[Skipper Si]

I'm planning to fit 2x GLS standard 12 volt 15 watt light bulbs to a case I'm working on, just wondering (as I'm completely new to all this) how to go about it? :?

[Bucko]

What do the bulbs look like and where are you planning on mounting them?

[Skipper Si]

Here are the bulbs I want to use... http://www.bltdirect.com/product.php?pid=1154&cat=83&nm=GLS+12+volt+15+watt+ES+Pearl

...and I want to mount them on the outside of the case on top.

[Bucko]

What are you planning for this case? 30w is a lot of light for a PC.

Make sure the power supply you are using has a spare 30w available to use first and foremost. Or have a separate transformer for them you can plug into your AC power.

You'll need some mounts for the bulbs. Then just hook up the positive 12 wires (yellow on a standard molex) to the lights, and hook up the ground wire to the black wire on the molex.

[Skipper Si]

What are you planning for this case? 30w is a lot of light for a PC.

I've been commissioned to build a Bender PC case for a Futurama fan and as a big fan of the series myself I jumped at the chance without giving too much consideration as to how the hell I was going to do it.

Anyway I found this case mod...http://www.wymenfan.com/bender/index.php?page=default

Which has helped alot but I need a little help with the technical bits as I've never done anything like this before.

I'd appreciate any advise you can give me.

Cheers dudes.

[Crimson Sky]

You can always commission me to build the Bender model, and we can guide you through the rest...we won't tell the client ;)

;) Welcome to TBCS.

[Skipper Si]

Ha, Haa! Sorry Crimson, I've got no problems with the build part,

Thanks for the offer though :D

It's really just lighting I need some advice on, I want 2 ordinary house hold, screw in (low voltage) bulbs for his eyes, a fridge style light in his chest that lights up when you open the door, a small torch bulb in one of his fingers and a red LED in the end of his cigar... that's all for the mo.

Do you think a separate PSU just for this lot is the way to go or will I be all right with just one?

[Crimson Sky]

No problems with the build part yet you don't know how to wire up a 12volt LED cluster? ;)

just use 12v high intensity LEDs (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Brightest-Wide-Angled-1157-32-LED-Lights-White-2-Bulbs_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33713QQihZ001QQit emZ110124682752QQrdZ1) ;) easy as pie to wire up. Runs cool, lasts for many hours. If you try to run household lights in that thing you'll be in for some serious heat issues, not to mention power concerns and fire hazards.

[The Black Pumpkin]

You could take the household bulbs, then cut off the bottom part with the threads, spray the inside white or yellow, then stick some LED's inside like Crimson suggested.

As far as I know, lightbulbs are filled with noble gases ( like Xenon or Argon), which means it should probably be done outside.

[jdbnsn]

I agree that traditional incandescent bulbs are not the way to go. Way too hot and energy hungry. Are you wanting to use the bulbs for his eyes? If so, I would just look around for something plastic and somewhat dome-shaped (those little plastic bubbles in the quarter machines that have candy or trinkets for the kids would do nicely) and use LED's as mentioned earlier. It would solve alot of design issues. Also, I have seen Bender's eyes fall out and they were long, cylindrical shaped structures, kind of like those smooth Starbuck's water bottles ;)

[Skipper Si]

No problems with the build part yet you don't know how to wire up a 12volt LED cluster?

Good point :neutral: I meant I've no problem with building the outer case it's just wiring the lights to the PSU that I have a problem with.

I don't need the eyes to light up the street just glow. How much heat do 12v 15w bulbs kick out anyway?

If I need to I could always fit a dimmer to bring it down a bit?

[Skipper Si]

Hmm, lots of things to think about.

I think the reason I'm going for the screw in bulbs is I've seen him unscrew his eyes a few times and I thought house hold screw in bulbs were the closest I could get.

But I'm probably being too anal about it as they don't really need to unscrew.

[jdbnsn]

Well, I think they do unscrew in the show but that doesn't necessarily mean you are restricted to bulbs. Hell, water bottles unscrew also.

[Skipper Si]

Lets leave the style of bulbs for a for a bit and move on to wiring.

How do I wire bulbs be it halogen LED or whatever to my PSU?

[jdbnsn]

Ah, generally the wisdom you seek can be found in the Tips, Tricks, & Tutorials section...Here are a couple focused on light wiring...

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7720

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2669

[Skipper Si]

Cheers bud :D