Cold Cathode ?s

[tech_wiz19]

Hi guys, I'm new here. I have some questions that aren't directly related to PC technology. I'm trying to get some answers and info about cold cathode lighting and since I know it is regularly used in case mods I thought some members here might be able to help me out. I'm planning on using a 6-8 inch CCFL tube in a very unique application in which it would need to be powered by a very small, lightweight, rechargeable battery. From what I have learned so far CCFL requires 12v so I searched the web and found these:

http://www.panasonic.com/industrial/battery/oem/chem/lithion/

If I combined three of them then it would be just under 12v, with a max of 2000mAH. I read somewhere that cold cathode lights require between 120 and 300mAH, so at 120mAH the battery should last over 16 hours, does this sound right? Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but I'm assuming that the inverter simply converts power from AC to DC or boosts the DC voltage from the power supply to 12v, and won't be necessary for my application, since there won't be any room for it. Let me know what you guys think of this setup; if there are any problems with it, how it can be improved, etc. I don't know that much about electricity and batteries and even less about CCFL so if anyone has some info or ideas about what batteries to use, or knows of some good sites about this stuff then please let me know. Any info will be much appreciated, thanks!

[Cowboybooter]

Welcome to XPC, tech_wiz19! :)

I moved your post to PC Mods area, as there are lots more links and tips about Cold Cathodes in here!

For example, this (http://www.xtremepccentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4941) thread has some links!

Hope that helps!

:)

Bob

[Shyguy]

I don't know if putting 3 3.6V batteries together will get you 10.8V, or close to 12V, it might still be only 3.6V, you'll end up with more life for battery, but not sure about increasing the voltage, anybody else know more about this stuff? How small does this powersupply have to be? What is this project that require's all this, lightness? That could help us with helping you, if we knew a little more.

I have only recently gotten into CCFL myself, just bought one a month or so ago for my PC, it's a 9" one, connected with standard molex connector for use with PC, but also had a female molex connector with a 12V cigarette lighter adapter on other end so it can be used in a car, other than that my only other experience is with regular Neon lighting, not a whole lot of experience, but more than CCFL.

[tech_wiz19]

Yes I plan on putting three batteries together in a series which will increase the voltage to 10.8v nominal and as much as 12.6v fully charged. Check out this link to understand how combining batteries works.

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/g_knott/elect27.htm

I posted this thread at a few other boards and I now know that an inverter is needed to step up the voltage. So I found these:

http://www.elwirecheap.com/12voltinverter.html
http://www.frozencpu.com/cgi-bin/frozencpu/lit-17.html

I was under the impression that all inverters were huge but these are very small and shouldn't cause a problem. Let me know if any of you guys have some experience with these inverters or if you recommend one. Also if anyone knows of some links the describe how an inverter works please share them because I am very curious as to how these little devices step up the voltage so much.

[Shyguy]

Ahh, I see, I was thinking like diagram B in that link, but I see if you put the batteries inline it increases the voltage.