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Thread: A Lighting Mod Unlike Any You've Seen

  1. #1

    Default A Lighting Mod Unlike Any You've Seen

    Recently wrapped up a lighting mod I'd been working on for a while and thought I'd share the results. The case is a CM HAF 932 Advanced.

    Still images wouldn't show it sufficiently. Two videos of this mod are on Youtube -- a 2-minute version and a longer 7 minute version.

    It's just a lighting mod but odds are good you'll find it unique.

    Link to the shortie is also available via image below.

    Comments -- positive and negative -- are welcomed.

    All the best,
    Grendel's Left Nut



    To view it on YouTube:

  2. #2
    iShot the Sheriff jdbnsn's Avatar
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    Default Re: A Lighting Mod Unlike Any You've Seen

    Very cool effect, do you have a worklog? We'd love to see how you put it together.
    "At the midpoint on the journey of life, I found myself in a dark forest, for the clear path was lost..." -Dante Alighieri

  3. #3
    Resident 100HP water-cannon operator SXRguyinMA's Avatar
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    Default Re: A Lighting Mod Unlike Any You've Seen

    Indeed, and welcome to TBCS!

  4. #4
    A.B. normal msmrx57's Avatar
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    Default Re: A Lighting Mod Unlike Any You've Seen

    Very nice indeed.
    Quote Originally Posted by SXRguyinMA View Post
    Now, off to the basement to do some fiddling with the rods and such.
    so far left of center i'm in right field

  5. #5
    Moderator TLHarrell's Avatar
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    Default Re: A Lighting Mod Unlike Any You've Seen

    There's two ways to do that. Simple way: use a transistor off the audio feed to switch the LEDs on and off. Less simple way: feed the LEDs PWM signal generated via an Arduino based off the audio feed. Due to the stroboscopic effect on the fan, I'm assuming it's PWM. Not difficult for somebody with some programming skill (unlike me), but a very nice effect. Well thought out. Not overdone. I like the simple, clean mods.
    I have a hammer! I can put things together! I can knock things apart! I can alter my environment at will and make an incredible din all the while! -Calvin

  6. #6

    Default Re: A Lighting Mod Unlike Any You've Seen

    Quote Originally Posted by TLHarrell View Post
    There's two ways to do that. Simple way: use a transistor off the audio feed to switch the LEDs on and off. Less simple way: feed the LEDs PWM signal generated via an Arduino
    Thanks, TLH. I went the simple route with this and used two TIP31c transistors wire-wrapped to pins 5, 7, and 9 of the HDaudio header. A microcontroller in front would have been overkill. Plus, there's always the issue of a microcontroller always needing to be powered up looking for a signal. These transistors just sit there, unpowered, waiting for a nudge.

    The transistors look for a couple volts on the audio line. When that threshold voltage is reached, they complete a 12 volt circuit to the LEDs. They act like a light switch -- if the incoming voltage exceeds their threshold voltage, they're ON. If it's less than the threshold, they're OFF. An audio signal is between 0 and 5.6 volts, the TIP31c's threshold voltage is 2.6v's, I believe.

    I regret I didn't document this mod with photos. The TIP31 circuit is very well known though and instruction for building it can be found all over the web. I placed a link to a very simplified Instructables version in the longer video on Youtube.

    The more critical part of this was the shape of the acrylic in order to get an even lighting spread at the corners -- that took a while to work out.

    Thanks to everyone for the comments -- glad y'all liked it!

  7. #7
    Fresh Paint
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    Default Re: A Lighting Mod Unlike Any You've Seen

    The light effect on that rear fan is nuts!

  8. #8
    Loving boobies since 1990
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    Default Re: A Lighting Mod Unlike Any You've Seen

    I love this. Very nice.
    Nicholas Schaible - SchaibleTechSolutions - ApolloCustoms
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  9. #9
    100% Recycled Pixels. Twigsoffury's Avatar
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    Default Re: A Lighting Mod Unlike Any You've Seen

    rectifier and the output from anything that uses a 1/8th headphone jack?

    least that's my way i'm doing it, although mines color changing RGBY with a rheostat instead of a solid transistor so it's adjustable in strength = ) and i'm using capacitors to delay the lighting in a particular section, so it "grows" instead of simultaneously coming on and going off, (they also fade off instead of instantly flashing off)

    Pretty much the same exact deal as my color changing hard drive lighting gauge, but on a bigger scale with a couple more doo-dads added in for fun.

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