Advice from modders re lighting

95thrifles · 29 Jan 2012 at 13:22

Hi guys

Firstly I'm sure I saw this done somewhere a while back, and have tried searching but cant find it, hence posting new thread

I want to set up LED strip lighting in my case, like these I presume, I assume they just connect to a molex?

However I would like them to be on a switch, if possible one I could fit to a 5.25" front panel bay, so I can turn them on/off at will

So is this doable? And if so how please

Wouldnt think it matters, but system is in the thread my banner links to if it does, its a Lian Li case

Cleeecooo · 29 Jan 2012 at 13:23

I'm pretty certain you can have a switch somewhere that has molex in and out.

95thrifles · 29 Jan 2012 at 13:29

Any idea how? lol

d_brennen · 29 Jan 2012 at 14:02

The stuff linked is very expensive imo but they come with the power connectors, you can get it much cheaper elsewhere. Wiring wise, can you solder?

95thrifles · 29 Jan 2012 at 14:04

I could learn

d_brennen · 29 Jan 2012 at 14:07

The SMD LED strips just have a - and + pad. Wire them up to a 12v source and your gold. No resistors or anything. As for a switch, you just need to put on in line to either cable.

I really like SMD tape, so flexible. You can even daisy chain lots of them together (they can be cut into 3 LED blocks ~50mm)

95thrifles · 29 Jan 2012 at 14:16

OK I'll look at that, thx
Do you know if theres any 5.25" bay panels which have a switch built in?
I've found "LED Rocker Multi Port Lian Li Switch Baybus (5.25" Bay)" which has 4 switches, which wouldnt be an issue, but it only seems to be available in US, anyone know of anything similar (only needs one switch) available over here?

95thrifles · 29 Jan 2012 at 14:19

Oh and any opinions on whether white or yellow would look better?

d_brennen · 29 Jan 2012 at 14:29

Find a switch you like
Drill hole in front panel
???
Profit

JamesM · 29 Jan 2012 at 14:45

I have the white LED strip in my case and looks rather nice. I removed the molex adapter and instead turned it into a 3 pin header and it works great

Danm54 · 29 Jan 2012 at 16:19

Google 'NZXT LED cable'

They come with a pci slot plate with a three step light sensitivity and on/off light function on it, controlled from outside, molex power connector, the led strip is also braided.

Got a white kit in my case, looks great.

95thrifles · 29 Jan 2012 at 17:08

Danm54 said:
Google 'NZXT LED cable'

They come with a pci slot plate with a three step light sensitivity and on/off light function on it, controlled from outside, molex power connector, the led strip is also braided.

Got a white kit in my case, looks great.

Many Thanks, thats perfect

d_brennen · 29 Jan 2012 at 18:23

Booo premade stuff :mad:

Make your own, much more rewarding

King Damager · 29 Jan 2012 at 18:36

Personally I'd have made it.but bottom line is it is pretty easy to take any molex cable and plug in a switch into the circuit.

Also, conveniently a lot of switches seem to perfectly fit the size of water cooling holes in the back of cases. For a mod to my own case with led lighting, I was planning on plugging all the lights into a single molex off of the PSU, then extend the switch wires to fit up to the back water cooling hole. So I'll just have a discreet toggle switch at the back for on off.

kd

Tealc · 29 Jan 2012 at 19:41

Something like this?

or more like this?

Simple enough to do. In your case the blank cover would just need drilling with the appropriate sized drill.

Get a molex extension or fan converter cable. Cut the yelloe wire in half. Join a length of cable to each end of the cut cable and run both up to a switch that you have mounted on a 5 1/4" blank or filter. When you flip the switch the circuit is created or broken as required. Lighted switches like the one I modified need a ground wire too, which makes it a little bit more complicated.