Green Light Power Source

[BobC]

We went to build our green light that goes above center goal. We could not figure out how to power it. Does anyone know how it is to be powered? I know this should go on First site, but no one knows where the password for their site is. I was hoping to get a faster answer here.
Thanx

[mechanicalbrain]

As I recall their are green cold cathode tubes in the KOP, or are you asking how to power those? Their is also a included inverter, make sure you use it and don't try powering the tubes directly.

[dlavery]

Connect it to a 12V power source. If you can find one anywhere, you might try to look for a 12V battery - that would probably work (hint, hint )

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by dlavery

Connect it to a 12V power source. If you can find one anywhere, you might try to look for a 12V battery - that would probably work (hint, hint )

Probably a slightly silly question, but will the fact that our 12V batteries are often slightly more than 12V negatively affect the lights?

[Greg Marra]

Worth noting: The 8 cathodes and a small fan will require more than 1 amp to power. Our team has a 1 amp power supply that we hooked up to it, but it was only able to power the system at 8 volts.

I need to find where we put our spare Anderson hookup...

[mechanicalbrain]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Probably a slightly silly question, but will the fact that our 12V batteries are often slightly more than 12V negatively affect the lights?

Yes they will be slightly brighter. From playing with moding computers I can tell you the voltage difference in the battery won't do much. I would using a AC to DC 12 volt converter though.

[Sscamatt]

An old computer supply makes a nice and cheap 12v power supply.

[mechanicalbrain]

Originally Posted by Sscamatt

An old computer supply makes a nice and cheap 12v power supply.

That it does! For those interested take a look at this thread. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=39754
Careful though you can make lots of magic smoke doing this wrong. You essentially short a specific wire, and shorting the wrong wire can be very bad.

[Arkorobotics]

Originally Posted by dlavery

Connect it to a 12V power source. If you can find one anywhere, you might try to look for a 12V battery - that would probably work (hint, hint )

Cool, a wireless field you can setup anywhere! Battery +field = field anyway!

I like this idea of a green LIGHT, it's a nice idea.

[Rickertsen2]

The last few years, we have had CCFL's very similar to the ones used for the vision target on our robot. The brightness is effected slightly by input voltage, but not too much until the battery gets really low.

[KTorak]

I'm assuming they included all the parts that normally come with a cold cathode tube kit, in which you could just hook it up to any computer with extra power connectors, or even just plug it into a power supply.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by BobC

We went to build our green light that goes above center goal. We could not figure out how to power it. Does anyone know how it is to be powered? I know this should go on First site, but no one knows where the password for their site is. I was hoping to get a faster answer here.
Thanx

Bob,
Did you finally get it going? By now you may have put two and two together and found the power suppplies for the lamps. I think that was what you were asking. If you still have a problem, let me know.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Bob,
Did you finally get it going? By now you may have put two and two together and found the power suppplies for the lamps. I think that was what you were asking. If you still have a problem, let me know.

Thanks for everyone's help. Unfortunately I have left for vacation and won't know until I get back. I have passed the info on before I left so they will be able to finish them.
Bob

[jerry w]

Originally Posted by dlavery

Connect it to a 12V power source. If you can find one anywhere, you might try to look for a 12V battery - that would probably work (hint, hint )

wait a minute...
Dave posted a hint here yesterday. but no one has tried to analyze it word by word.
has something changed since the kickoff???

jerry w

[pheNIX637]

yea i think if you use an old PS from a computer it would work. but i think u have to get a paperclip and stick the end in to 2 sprocket on the main feed from the power supply .. you have to do this because then the power supply is "fooled" by saying that there is a motherboard in place but really there isnt.. just google search it.. you will find it.