Connecting an LED strip to a PC

That rather depends in what connector it comes with.

Some if these things come with bare wires (mine did), some come with molex and some come with other connectors. It really doesn't matter.

Just cut off any unwanted connector, bare the wires and join (preferably solder) to a 12v source in your case. This could be a molex, a floppy connector, a sata power connector, pci-e connector etc.

Initially I used a 4 pin molex to 3 pin fan header splitter cable and just wired it to the female molex connector's wires. I also tried wiring up to a fan header from an old fan, then connected to a similar splitter as before. These days I use a 10 way mains terminal block which is supplied with 12v by one molex which now powers all my lights via a front mounted illuminates custom front panel.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18185136
 
Tealc said:
Just cut off any unwanted connector, bare the wires and join (preferably solder) to a 12v source in your case. This could be a molex, a floppy connector, a sata power connector, pci-e connector etc.
Click to expand...
Better to just get fitting "connector" so that it isn't "hard wired" to PSU but can be easily detached for example during work inside the case.
This would be cheapest adapter cable for getting such connector.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-030-AK
 
Ok so if I got some green LEDs like this:

Lenses Type : Diffused Green
Case Style : Round 3mm
Brightness : 50mcd (Standard Brightness)
Forward Voltage : 2.0v
Forward Current : 20mA (Typical) 30mA (Max)

What would my circut look like? Please keep in mind I have no electrical knowledge at all.

They come with their own resistors would that be alright? I would need 2 seperate circuts of these 15 green LEDs
 
Those are indicator LEDs only and will only produce little glow. Useful for telling you something is switched on but pretty useless for blinging up a computer chassis.

Also bear in mind that standard LEDs, even ultra bright ones, have a focuses cone of light of around 20 degrees so are highlighters only really.

Look for flat top 3mm or 5mm Green Ultra bright, I've found these provide a nice wide beam of light.

Something like this...

(OCUK do not offer discrete LEDs so guessing this link is ok.)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/20x-3mm-Green-Flat-Top-Wide-angle-LED-Free-Resistors-
/120652098394?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item1c176ceb5a

These would bathe your case with wide field of view light and give a much softer effect.

Many different ways to wire them up though, using the supplied resistors you'd have each LED with it's own resistor fed from a 12v source.

I would do it differently though.

Better still get yourself some Green LED strips and save yourself all that wiring, unless of course you fancy getting into basic electronics.
 
I think ocuk do strips like that so it may not be appropriate to link, but yes that sort of thing. Best prices on these are from HK and have just bare wires ready for soldering into a molex. You can probably pick up several 30cm /15 LED strips for that price.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom