Cold Cathode Problems..

[TW]Fox · 28 Jan 2011 at 17:23

Hi,

I have a Cold Cathode kit in my PC. I very rarely use it, usually its on for the first 2 weeks after an upgrade until the novelty wears off.

I've noticed that most of the time when I power it on or off from the switch, I lose video output to my monitors. The PC remains on (Though once it did power off), and I can still hear music, teamspeak, but there is no video output until I hit reset.

It looks to be connected properly. Any ideas?

something daft already!! · 28 Jan 2011 at 17:25

Perhaps the power requirements are a little high for the kit causing the issue?

[TW]Fox · 28 Jan 2011 at 17:32

I've not even considered that. What are the typical power figures for a basic 2 cathode kit?

daz · 28 Jan 2011 at 17:34

Should only be a few watts - 10W at most I'd have thought.

The other option is that the inverter is doing something dirty to the rest of your power supply, interefering with the output of your graphics card.

MikeHunt79 · 28 Jan 2011 at 17:38

daz said:
Should only be a few watts - 10W at most I'd have thought.

The other option is that the inverter is doing something dirty to the rest of your power supply, interefering with the output of your graphics card.

CCFL inverters can kick out lots of EMI if they're cheap and nasty and not properly shielded...

This is because they generate 500V+ and usually switch at quite a high frequency.

You could try wrapping some tin foil around the inverter and CCFL cables, but it'll probably be too thin.

[TW]Fox · 28 Jan 2011 at 17:52

It seems to power the gfx card down completely - the fan stops.

I'm going to leave it off for now, how irritating.

Ace Modder · 28 Jan 2011 at 17:54

I would say your case is earthing somehow and sending a signal down the VGA/DVI cable cutting the signal.

Andrew Moore · 28 Jan 2011 at 17:55

Sounds like you have a case short with in turn is then connecting to the VGA or DVI plug. This will cause your monitor to power off.. Check the earths.

This may help.

cactusweasel · 30 Jan 2011 at 15:39

Did you find the problem?

[TW]Fox · 2 Feb 2011 at 17:22

Nope

Had the set out of the case and plugged into a molex as I had suspected the switch wsa touching the case perhaps but it still does the same thing - switch on or off and poof, graphics card powers down.

Doesnt seem like you can get blue cathodes anymore either. Doh!

d_brennen · 2 Feb 2011 at 22:40

LEDs are the future anyhow

cjkennedy · 2 Feb 2011 at 23:33

sounds like you got a dud set if the switch isnt insulated, you should still be able to get hold of blue sets from some places

DWorrall · 3 Feb 2011 at 00:03

I'd give you some blues if your willing to pay P+P. my friend got me a kit with 2 lots in and i only needed the one set...