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Project Hightower - Main rig & Media PC in one

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by bard, 10 May 2003.

  1. bard

    bard Modding isn't what it used to be

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    So I got a flashing 3mm blue LED from Malcs today. I was planning on mounting it in the HDD molex, and so I did. And now it's flashing blue light all over my room... Hope I can get used to that, because there is no way I can get rid of if without putting on a new connector. It's sealed shut with hot glue.

    I still haven't got the camera back, but here are some (bad) pics of the graphics card with some UV reactive traces and components. I will probably draw more UV things on it later on, and I will improve the pics when I get my camera back.

    Anyway, enjoy:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: 6 Sep 2003
  2. Miku

    Miku What's a Dremel?

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    BTW, are the LEDs in the LED fan connected in parallel?
     
  3. bard

    bard Modding isn't what it used to be

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    There are two series of two leds each. These two series are connected in parallel, if you understand.
     
  4. Miku

    Miku What's a Dremel?

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    I think I do, thanks!
     
  5. Atomic

    Atomic Gerwaff

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    That UV tracing is cool, im sure it'll look sweet when it's finished...
     
  6. bard

    bard Modding isn't what it used to be

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    I'm going to borrow a yellow fluorescent pen from a friend. I find the orange a bit dull.

    I tried getting pics of the UV tracing with my regular digicam, but it turns out it's easier with the camcorder (as it can go much closer without losing focus). I did, however, take these two pics:

    Here's the case with only UV light on
    (plus some blue stuff on the top).
    [​IMG]

    Here's with some red lighting on. You can
    see the two UV LEDs shining down on the graphics card too.
    [​IMG]
     
  7. bard

    bard Modding isn't what it used to be

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    Bezel lights, inspired by Daydreamingknight

    Daydreamingknight was, to my knowledge, the first to execute this mod, mounting lights at the top of the bezel, shining down.
    This was a quick mod, took me ten or maybe twenty minutes from beginning to end. The LED is connected through a 100ohm resistor to the 5V hub box shown in a previous post.

    I drilled a 6mm hole on the underside of the bezel's "top". Then I put a 5mm LED through the hole and squirted in hot glue to firmly mold the LED into position. Then I used a mobo header wire (connected to my 5V hub) with an LED socket in the other end. I connected this to the LED.
    This light looks really cool when I open the CD - or DVD tray, because it lights up the entire disc inserted. It also creates a nice glow on the floor in front of the computer, sort of like an UFO glow, even though my computer doesn't have any feet of any kind - it stands directly on the floor.
    I might add a small tube or other form of screening to the LED, so that the actual LED can't be seen poking through the hole when you look at the computer.
    Now for some pics:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  8. pranks7er

    pranks7er mange tout

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    liking that led above the cd drive :D
     
  9. Snitch

    Snitch Supremodder

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    Najs!

    Whats the mcd of the uv leds?

    I got feet for mine...
     
  10. bard

    bard Modding isn't what it used to be

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    The UV LEDs are 500mcd I think. Or is it 500mcd visible light? Not sure.

    I got feet for my tower too, but I have chosen not to use them.
     
  11. Snitch

    Snitch Supremodder

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    500 mcd, thats not much.

    Im going to order a pair of 8000mcd UV leds for 15Kr each
     
  12. Thunder_return

    Thunder_return What's a Dremel?

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    Great modd Bard!
    I`m modding a Bigtower to.
    I have one question: How do you open the cd-drives?
    Relocated eject-button or what?
    Can`t see any buttons.
     
  13. BlueMax

    BlueMax What's a Dremel?

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    that LED above the drive is awesome
     
  14. flacowboy

    flacowboy What's a Dremel?

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    looking good have to say i love the uv vid card
     
  15. bard

    bard Modding isn't what it used to be

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    Thunder_return, I simply open the CD/DVD trays by right-clicking them in Windows. As this method works perfectly, I have never bothered to relocate the buttons or making those "press drive cover corner to open" things.
     
  16. ZapWizard

    ZapWizard Enter the Mod Matrix

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  17. bard

    bard Modding isn't what it used to be

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    I've actually thought about doing that UFO glow thing to my CD trays too, but then with an other color, maybe blue. Or maybe just having an LED shining inside the drives (I don't have the drives' original front bezels on).

    The reason for having the LED on top is that I can see which CD is in when it's dark in my room.
    I also thought about having micro switches inside the drives, which activated the top LED when the drives open. Haven't bothered to do it yet, though. BTW, is it possible to hack into an existing micro switch in the optical drives? Maybe by using transistors? That would make it a lot easier.
     
  18. ZapWizard

    ZapWizard Enter the Mod Matrix

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    You don't need a transistor even.
    They are simply switched to ground when active.
    So adding a LED inline won't hurt anything.
     
  19. bard

    bard Modding isn't what it used to be

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    Great. Then I'll see what I can do :naughty: Is it ok with several LEDs (higher current)?
     
  20. Thunder_return

    Thunder_return What's a Dremel?

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    Zap: You are simply the best.
     

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