The computer box

[Akempster]

http://img257.imageshack.us/i/computerbox.jpg/
EDIT: woops, image way too big so removed and placed the link

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/7883/computerbox.jpg

Above is my next little project. I plan to build custom lighting into my computer controled by an external enclosure for future adaptability. What i have planned so far is:

A.2 sets of blue LED's for case lighting
B.Moving my custom fan switch to this box along with switches to control cathode lights
C.Building in two digital thermometers - one for general in case temperature and one for ambient room temps (already built these)
D. Maybe a passive audio splitter so i can combine tv, comp, radio altogether

anyone got any other ideas to what i could also build in to it? im not sure if i will build a fan controller in as well

any help and ideas will be greatly appreciated and ill promise lots of pics when i start the project

 

[Akempster]

Ahh electronic diagrams are way over my head lol , wish I was nifty with electronics, sorry I can't contribute anything to this but I'll keep my eye on this project, looks good .

Thanks for the support

I would use Bi-Colour LED's and use the switch to change the polarity. That would be more fun! And also have the power switch.

How about also using it is a breakout box for Molex and External Fans for testing purposes?

unfortunatly i cant find bi powered LED's that would be bright enough as they will be for backlighting so they need 2500mcd+. However, i will be able to get red LED's as well (im using a HAF 922). I will put this into it by adding a row of LED's on the "off" position of the switches This will be able to change the colours then an overall on off switch for the Lights.

I like the idea of making it into a test box for molex.

so far the features will include:
-Blue/red internal light changer
-system and ambient room temperature
-external molex and fan connector
-possible e-sata link
-fan power switch - see this thread: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18141141

any other ideas let me know!

 

[Akempster]

Design Update

had a little fiddle with the schematics for the LED wiring and got as follows:

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Ive also done a small sketch to show what the final product should look something like:

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The box itself is molded ABS with an aluminium top which will be engraved with relevant details as shown above


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I will be using two of these thermometers (got them off an aquatics/reptilian store thus the name) these will be embeded into the aluminium panel

I have been thinking of a way to connect this to the computer easy(so i can transport the computer) I came up with the idea of using similar connectors to the DVI ports on the back of the box. This will connect via braided cable to an adapted PCI slot into my comp. This will allow the box to be quickly removed and reassembled.

Im now in the stage of sourcing all the parts which i should be able to get over the next week or so. I was considering building a PSU to use as a flatbed but this started to complicate things (added weight and finding large enough enclousure). When i get the box i will update with pics

 

[Akempster]

got most of the stuff i needed today. Unfortunatly the store i went to did not have enough LED's so i will have to order these online. By the time pay comes through to the bank i expect another couple of weeks until i can start the build. For now im gonna start measuring up all the components.

back in a week or two!

 

[Akempster]

that is one sweet keyboard but if im honest i don't have the skills or equipment to do anything like that. However, i will be taking up the opportunity to add multiple colours in. So far im using red and blue but i think ill add green yellow and maybe white into the mix. However, as i want the lighting to compliment the case more subtly i wont use the flashing type.

One current issue that im facing is the amperage of the wire im using. I plan to get some bigger guage wire for the fan switches (one of my fans runs at 3A whilst the wire im using only handles up to 1.4A)

All this will be ordered next friday.

UPDATE:

Got the box set up ready for cutting. slight change of plan so that i will have the two temperature readouts onn the left of the panel one above the other. The top right quarter will be specifically for the lighting whilst the bottom right quater for the fan switches and finally the fan slots and molex connections on the front side or the right side panel.

Im gonna be making final decisions on how im placing the switches etc.

There are also a couple of problems i have found and wondered if anyone had any ideas:

1. I was going to pucnh the labeling of the switches into the front panel but its too thick - any ideas on how to all labelling to an alluminium panel?

2. One of each colour LED will be built into the panel to use as a light source, however, there brightnes will damage eyesight if viewed straight on anyone know how to make a diffuser to spread the light a bit?

3. Looking for a way to stick a plastic to sheet aluminium without much contact area anyone got suggestions on glues or other sticky stuff?

Part from this its all going well atm i may be getting teh dremel out to start cutting the two lcd display holes

 

[Akempster]

Just ordered some more bits:
red, blue, green and white LED's
resistors, mounting board and an extra switch

im also filling down the front panel cut outs for the thermometer displays. Once the extra parts come i should be able to finish the project off and give it a test run. I have also decided not to include the molex/fan connectors due to the added complexity of mounting them. I hope to get some pictures in soon.

 

[Akempster]

Build Update

heya everyone, just an update for what ive been doing the past two weeks.

All the parts have been ordered (and have arrived apart fromthe blue LED's which have no eta).

The bits so far:



However i have built the computer cable:




And have put a start into adding all the required switches for the build:


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The two holes to the left of the panel are for the themometer displays which will be slightly raised out from the rest of the panel. Doing a dry fit i noticed a few gaps from my dodgy cuts but it is better than i expected.

I have to say though that the cable was a pain in the backside, it was the equivalant braiding a 24 pin mobo cable but soldering as you go.

My next step is to migrate the switches from the old box that i made into the new one. From this i will be able to size the bottom three holes and complete the front panel. I can then flip it over and make all the connections in the box.

From this i will then construct the pci cover and start wiring the LED's into place.

Will update when i can

 

[Akempster]

Subscribed. I wish I had the skill/time to do something like this. Currently the furthest I'm looking to reach is to mod a CM-690 II to turn off/on the LEDs on 2 Enermax fans with the external switch.

thank you for the praise. I believe you will be fine by using a 10A DPDT toggle switch to be safe. Don't bother with the lighted ones that way its easier to wire. Good luck with your project!

Nice progress, bet the cable was a PITA , looking good .

you have no idea. Mucked up some of the pins so that the pins don't actually match - just got to remember the right ones to connect up

 

[Akempster]

UPDATE

made some progress today,




Here i have finished sizing the holes and peeling off the protective layer. I made the switch holes using a drill and a round file (with a square one to make the alignment slot.

For the display holes i used a dremel, if you pre drill small holes all along the cut line you can reduce the wear on the dremel bits and the line will be a bit easier to keep neat, of course i also filed it down then sanded it to smooth it out a bit.



This one here is a dry fit with all the switches etc. built in. However, the toggle switches twist too easily and the displays are a bit loose.



Here is a view from the underside. The display covers will be removed which will allow for easy replacement of their batteries I will also take a hot glue gun to the underside to keep th lose bits in place.

THe red and blue caps are crimp connectors to allow a good connection to each switch and the ability to easily fiddle with

THere is still no eta on the switches and im still finding a way to test the unlabeled LED's so that they can be wired up correctly. as usual i will update when i can

 

[Akempster]

UPDATE

Hi again everyone,

latest update, i realised that i had the wrong switches (the two metal ones) as they would both have me with two sets of LED colours being displayed. Therefore i went to buy some more and a few bits and bobs to go with it.

First of the switches i now have are DPDT as they didnt have any center off SPDT switches. As a result some of the pins on the new switches will not be used.

I also gave in to vanity and bought rubber switch covers to go over the top and give it a more proffessional look.



This is the image from the main panel, as you can see the rubber covers take away the view of the screw and nut for the mounting. They are really easy to fit if you do decide to get any as they have a built in nut so yyou just screw them straight on.

Just to point out that the two rubber switches one is in the top "on" position whilst the right one is in its central "Off" position




From the underside you can clearlysee the difference to the size of the components, however the extra weight will still be supported easily by the front panel.

Around the thermometers and the toggle switches i have used a hot glue gun to keep the thermometers in place and to stop the toggle switches from moving too much. To get the thermometers to set in place and still be able to take the aluminium panel of i had to remove the rear panel (battery access) and sand down the edges by around half a cm which i used a dremel to do it more quickly.

Unfortunatly there is still no ETA on the rest of the LED's and after getting engaged yesterday i have been pretty hectic. THis will likely mean that there won't by as many updates for a while.

 

[Akempster]

Looking great to me Akempster & congrats on getting engaged .

many thanks

 

[Akempster]

Just to let you all know that i recieved the rest of the parts today so the build can finally continue. Will post back when ive done the box wiring and figured out what colour each LED is...supplier didn't lable them

 

[Akempster]

Just seen this project...looks awesome so far mate.

Will keep an eye on this thread.

looking good atm. im liking all those buttons

haha, thank you for the praise, unfortunatly till i test it i have no idea if it will work. Thankfully im gonna plug it into an old computer so if there are sparks my good kit doesnt get damaged.

With the buttons i tried to keep as few as possible just for ease of use let alone the cost

If there is anything you lot see amiss just let me know!

 

[Akempster]

hi everyone,
sorry bout the recent lack of activity. There has been an issue with wiring up the 25 pin connectors as the flux im using doesn't work making it a pain to solder anny connections properly to them.

i am now looking into ways to incorporate what i already have into my HAF 922 so i can take the connectors completely out of the equation. Looking over the case i can't see any obvious areas where i can build in the thermometer displays and the switches. Does anyone have any ideas on this which i could use?

Later today i will be externally mounting the Delta EHE fan on the cases rear fan mounts and will wire the fan cable through the mesh into the computer. If possible im looking to make the computer case mod in a discreete a location as possible in case i muck it up. As usual anyone with any further ideas i could use please post onto this thread.

 

[Akempster]

Project completion

final update from me, over the last few days i have had time to take a real good crack at this project and finally get this finished. As stated above the origional idea was to have the lights controlled in an eexternal box. However, wiring up the pins for the connections was extremely messy so i opted to find a way to adapt the panel i had already cut into the existing computer.

The best way i found was to let it use up two Disk drive bays , this only meant shaving of 35mm off of each side of the panel and fixing it into the bay. To fix it into the bay i decided to destroy an old CD driv and use a hot glue gun to stick the faceplate to the drive's chassis.

because i had already precut the majority of the wires (or had come pre-assembled) i did some re-arrangment to make sure everything could get connected up - this was the hardest part as i had to work with the panel half into the computer with my hands stuck into a pile of cabling.

THe main fan switch had a built in LED so i created an extra lead to connect to the computer case to act a s a ground. Apart from this all the necassery connections were made to a molex connection supplying 12v and ground.

To get the coloured lights to show around the computer effectivly i created four sets of lights each with a row of a particular colour LED with their matching resistors. In hindsight id look at using pre made cables such as USB cables to reduce the mess of cabling now in the computer. However, i really do like the flexibility of having multiple boards (you can also add more on later on if needed).

My major suggestions if you planned to do this yourself would be to use sets of 3 LED's in series with a rating of 5000 mcd or higher. I personally used this rating for all but the white LED's of which there where two producing 11000mcd. This meant that it washes the computer in allot of light - useful for looking into the case and future modding .

Bellow are the pictures of the final build including the last building stages and the taking apart of the CD drive. My best piece of advice would be to forget about having an external control for this as it just overcomplicates things and introduces so many chances for dodgy connections - its just not worth it. I would also like to remind any thinking of doing this that i take no responsibility for any accidents or injuries that may be incurred from following any content within this thread. All parts of this project is designed around a 12v rail capable of producing 60A worth of power, which if not properly protected by can cause serious injury or even death.

Hoep you enjoy the pics!











If you would like any information please leave a message or contact me via trust. when e-mailing please state in the subject field "computer lights project" so that it gets through spam etc. ill try to answer any questions as quick as possible.

thanks for following this thread everyone - couldn't have done it without you

 

[Akempster]

personally i like the metal look - needs cleaning up a bit though. i just think the bare metal makes it stand out a bit more from the rest of the panel - i wont find the switches otherwise!

the wires are a nightmare. Unfortunatly ive run out of zip ties but will tidy theese up when i get some more in. Hopefully after the zip ties it wont look too bad. once the cables reach the CD drives i wont bother with cable managment - it was such a PITA just wiring the switches up

one thing i forgot to mention is the colours it can produce:
-red, blue, white, green
-pink, orange, pale purple, brown (kinda).