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Post by Seraph Verum on Sept 10, 2007 10:57:05 GMT -5
Does any one know much about Cold Cathodes. Specifically how durable they are? I was thinking of trying to make a custom saber with cold cathodes as the lighting source. I know a little about them and for any one who doesn't know what they are it's a type of lighting source used in custom built computers, they are small and very bright. Pix of one www.tuninginformatique.com/Boutique/catalog/images/doubleneon10cmB.JPG |
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Post by Olos Nay on Sept 11, 2007 22:37:03 GMT -5
Cold Cathode Fluorescent Light (CCFL) is a little like a neon: its a glass tube with gass in it. To power it you need an inverter, pretty much like the ones used for Electroluminescent (EL) sabers.
I'd say the CCFL has the same problem as the older "plasma" sabers (another gas tube method)
the problem isn't the light itself (I tought of that when I first started building sabers a few years back) but the durability of the glass (think neon and how easy they break). It *could* make a nice display piece, but extremely fragile... even if you encompass the CCFL in a protective polycarbonate tube it can shater on impact.
other problems I foresee: CCFL have connections on both sides. Also, I never found CCFLs in longer then 30cm (1 foot) which is about 1/3 of our needs. (if you find some, please do tell me)
colorwise, it would look good.
I think I'd like to convert a .45 replica with that, tough. (for desk use only)
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Solinbeb Newau
Message Board Member
There are many ways to learn the ways of the Force, but only those who have joined it may know best.
Posts: 1,181
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Post by Solinbeb Newau on Sept 12, 2007 8:59:48 GMT -5
It *could* make a nice display piece, but extremely fragile... even if you encompass the CCFL in a protective polycarbonate tube it can shater on impact. I had this weird notion once (after watching a DIY show) to use lightsaber replicas as regular lights in a room... |
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Post by Seraph Verum on Sept 12, 2007 11:48:52 GMT -5
It *could* make a nice display piece, but extremely fragile... even if you encompass the CCFL in a protective polycarbonate tube it can shater on impact. other problems I foresee: CCFL have connections on both sides. Also, I never found CCFLs in longer then 30cm (1 foot) which is about 1/3 of our needs. (if you find some, please do tell me) Yeah I was mainly worried about how fragile they are  , I was thinking of picking up a small CCFL and putting it in an extra saber blade I have then testing out what it could stand up to. As for the length, I was thinking to wire them like the LED's in an FX, maybe even try to get the same effect when turning the saber on/off. Some of the ones I found were tiny in diameter, about 5mm, so I thought of wrapping them in something to help protect them. In any case a friend and I are both building new computers this summer and he wants to put more cold cathodes in his so I think I'll pick up some extras and experiment.  |
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Post by Olos Nay on Sept 16, 2007 15:26:03 GMT -5
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Post by Leda EmBorr on Sept 16, 2007 22:56:49 GMT -5
It *could* make a nice display piece, but extremely fragile... even if you encompass the CCFL in a protective polycarbonate tube it can shater on impact. I had this weird notion once (after watching a DIY show) to use lightsaber replicas as regular lights in a room... I did that once for a party I had... I mounted them on the wall and turned them on... this was a few years ago... and they were all el sabers with no sound, just the light. It was cool. I'll look for the pics! I can imagine lights made out of these CCFLs... like little lightsabers to light the room! Very cool idea! |
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Post by Seraph Verum on Sept 17, 2007 16:08:22 GMT -5
That's about the price I've found them too. So far the longest I've found them are 18-20". I may try contacting one of the manufactures to see if they have anything along the lines of +30" It will be a few months till I attempt to test them in a blade much less a full working saber but I'll let y'all know how it turns out. |
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, I was thinking of picking up a small CCFL and putting it in an extra saber blade I have then testing out what it could stand up to. 
