All about PC lighting. DIY lighting

Some people hate PC lighting, while others love it. With just a little effort, you can decorate your computer with lighting, no matter the case manufacturer or design. There are many different lighting options on the market, including popular LED fans. In addition, you can buy classic cold cathode fluorescent lamps or simple LEDs that can be installed anywhere in the housing.

Having considered all the possible options for backlight effects, we discovered several interesting solutions. We conducted testing in a completely transparent case from Sharkoon, which allows you to clearly see the result.

Such lighting will always attract attention.

For greater clarity, we have attached a video:

To play the video you will need a codec from the site DivX.com .

Projects like this require a transparent housing.

I've been modding for years with... lighting effects. I installed every kind of backlight I could get my hands on in Sharkoon's transparent body. It sounds crazy, but I really decided to equip the case to the maximum.

The only thing I didn't think about was the big mess of cables inside. Each pair of cold cathode tubes requires its own voltage converter, so you'll spend a lot of time stashing converters and cables. In addition, sometimes cables that are too short can be an obstacle.

Another problem is power supply for backlit fans. Most fans use a 3-pin power plug. Although motherboards have adequate headers, most of them cannot power more than three fans. To solve the problem, you need to buy an adapter that connects to a Molex plug.

Finally, I've learned from personal experience that too many lighting effects look awkward and strain the eyes!

Two in one: fans with LEDs

The easiest way to kill two birds with one stone is to replace the standard case fans with appropriate backlit models. As a result, you will not only give the system a stylish look, but in some cases also reduce the noise level.

Most cases use modest black fans. The right fan will shine with bright colors and add light. Fans typically come in three sizes: 80mm or 120mm, with 92mm models becoming increasingly rare. It is for this reason that we will focus our attention on the most common sizes.

The available range of lighting effects is limited - usually three colors dominate. As a rule, all manufacturers offer fans with blue backlighting, but you can often find red and green LEDs. In addition, if desired, you can find a fan with three multi-colored LEDs.

Assortment of 80mm LED fans.

Some models are capable of real “color music” - it’s difficult to take your eyes off them. Such fans first appeared at the current CeBIT exhibition in Hannover. The manufacturer Sharkoon has offered a wide range of models, each of which uses its own backlight scheme.

Sharkoon, Thermaltake, Cooler Master and Antec were the first to respond to new user demands. Today on the market you can find multi-color and single-color models, and the number of LEDs depends on the manufacturer. For example, Antec and Thermaltake fans only have three LEDs, while Sharkoon, Logisys and Sunbeam fans have four. However, the choice is a matter of taste, but both options provide quite good illumination. By the way, it’s a shame that the popular company Papst still doesn’t produce fans with LEDs.

Cooler Mate 80mm: Standard fan with 4 LEDs.

Aspire DF1208SM is illuminated by four LEDs.

Thermaltake TT-8025T: only three LEDs.

We love the Rainbow fan, which shines in different colors. Another model called UV Strobo FAN is not only sensitive to ultraviolet light, but also creates an interesting stroboscopic effect. In addition, Logisys Computer sent us a very interesting model.

When turned off, the Logisys fan is no different from a normal one. Taking a closer look, you can see four LEDs in a transparent plastic housing. Even after switching on, the fan does not immediately reveal its secret - you need to look at the back of the fan.

Looks like a regular fan with 4 LEDs. But where are the other five?

The other five LEDs are on a small board inside the fan. Interestingly, the impeller generates its own current - rather than using PC energy. The principle is simple and ingenious: on the axis there is a generator that works like a bicycle flashlight. It produces electricity that lights up five LEDs. A small control module constantly changes the character of the backlight. You can see all this in our video.

The remaining LEDs are located in the center of the fan.

DivX.com .

Sharkoon Rainbow Fan: classic "color music"

The most outstanding feature of the Rainbow Fan is the small scarf located near the rotation axis. The 80mm fan uses a plastic grille that can be easily removed. After this action, it becomes clear that another function of the grid is to hide a permanent magnet, which serves to generate current. There are several induction coils on the board. By the way, the board is attached to the fan with just double-sided Velcro. If you spin the board fast enough, the five LEDs will dimly light up. And since the fan rotates at 3000 rpm, the five colored LEDs glow quite brightly. Built-in logic turns the glow into “color music”.

Of course, the black capacitor could have been chosen smaller - it not only looks unsightly, but also interferes with the balancing of the fan. Poor balancing is noticeable. We hope this will be corrected in the final version of Rainbow. Sharkoon, it seems to us, should replace the black fan on which the Rainbow unit is installed. In addition, it would be nice to reconsider the pricing policy - still, $19 is a little expensive for a piece of plastic with LEDs.

Without power, the Rainbow FAN doesn't really stand out.

As you can see, the Rainbow fan is equipped with its own generator.

A round permanent magnet is located inside a plastic grid.

But now the 80mm fan looks much better.

To play the video you will need the latest codec from the site DivX.com .

The small red fan is equipped with four blue LEDs. And this $9 fan wouldn't be anything special if it weren't for the long cable. The UV Strobe Fan is controlled by two wheels: one for the rotation speed, and the second for the blinking interval of the four LEDs. With their help, you can change the settings and get the desired lighting effect. If you try, you can achieve the effect when the fan impeller begins to move in the opposite direction - an optical illusion.

Unfortunately, the wheels are not very easy to work with - the control unit will be difficult to access after installation, of course, unless you take it outside the case. It seems to us that a module for a 3.5" or 5.25" bay would be the best solution.

UV Strobe Fan.

Once installed, the control unit will be difficult to reach.

The video captures everything that is difficult to see in photographs.

To play the video you will need the latest codec from the site DivX.com .

Thermaltake UFO has an unusual design. The 92 mm fan is covered with a special silver cover, which is equipped with 6 LEDs. They are powered by a computer, so the induction effect, as in the case of the Rainbow Fan, is not used here.

The LEDs are controlled by a chip that causes them to flash at specific intervals. The rotation speed of the UFO fan depends on the temperature - the higher the temperature, the faster the fan rotates. The amount of heat does not affect the glow intensity or spacing.

The UFO fan is equipped with six bright LEDs.

The UFO FAN fan can be installed in an 80 mm mount using a special adapter.

To play the video you will need the latest codec from the site DivX.com .

Review: 80mm LED Fans

Manufacturer	Model	RPM	Number of LEDs	LED colors	Special Features
Aerocool	Centaurus II	2000	4	Blue
Akasa	Nebula	2500	4	Cyan/Red/RGB
Antec	LED Fan	2600	3	Blue/red/green
Antec	LED Fan	2600	3	RGB
Antec	TriCool LED	1500 - 2600	3	Blue/red/green
Antec	TriCool LED	1500 - 2600	3	RGB	Rotation speed switch
Arctic	Pro2LTC	1000 - 2500	4	Blue
Coolermaster	Neon LED	2500	4	RGB, orange, white, magenta	Very bright
Coolermate	CMT-ALF		4	Blue	Aluminium case
Cooltek	Colorful UV LED FAN	2200	3	Blue/orange	Sensitive to UV
Firework	LED Fan	2700	3	Blue/red/green
Just Cooler	Crystal Fan	1500 - 3200	4	Cyan/RGB
Levicom	Ceramic	2400	3	Blue
Logisys	4-LED	2500	4	Cyan/Red/Green/Magenta
Logisys	9LED Blue	2500	4+5	Blue + red	5 LEDs powered via induction
Logisys	Strove Fan	2600	3	Blue/red/green
Revoltec	LED Colorchanger	2000	4	White
Revoltec	LED Fan	2000	4	Red and blue
Revoltec	LED Fan	2600	4	Blue/ green/ red+orange	Sensitive to UV
Revoltec	LED speed control	2000 - 3500	4	White	LED color depends on temperature
Revoltec	LED transparent	2000	4	Blue
Revoltec	LED transparent	2000	4	RGB
Revoltec	Neon Air Edition	2000	4	Blue	In an aluminum case
Sharkoon	Rainbow	2000	5	RGB	LEDs are powered via induction
Sharkoon	Strobe Fan	2500	4	White
Sharkoon	UV Strobe Fan	2500	4	White	With two adjustment wheels
Sharkoon	UV-LED Fan	2000	3	UV
Sunbeam	CCFL LED FAN	1800	4		With cold cathode tube
Sunbeam	Silent Anodized	1800
Sunbeam	Silent LED FAN	1800	4	Cyan/red/green/RGB
Sunbeam	Silent UV	1800	4	Blue/ green/ orange
Sunbeam	UV CCFL LED FAN	1800	4	Cyan/red/green/RGB	With cold cathode tube
Thermaltake	Blue-Eye	2000	3+1	3x blue, 1x red
Thermaltake	Fireball	2000	3	Blue/red/green
Thermaltake	Perfect Light		2+2	2x blue, 2x red	Flashing fan grille
Thermaltake	Thunderblade	2000	3	Blue/red/green
Thermaltake	Thunderblade	2000	3	RGB
Thermaltake	Thunderblade	2000	3	RGB	Flashing
Thermaltake	UFO		4+2	4x blue, 2x white	Flashing
Thypoon	Acrylic Quad	2500	4	Blue/red/green
Vantec	UV LED Fan	2900	3	Blue	Sensitive to UV

Of course, in addition to 80mm backlit fans, there are also 120mm models on the market. Their advantage lies in their lower rotation speed, which nevertheless allows them to pump the same amount of air. This not only reduces the noise level, but also makes the illumination effect more noticeable.

120mm fans cost between $7 and $20, depending on the color and number of LEDs.

Fan stand.

The Antec fan comes in two versions: with and without LEDs. At the same time, in any case, a small control unit is attached to the fan, which allows you to change the rotation speed to low, medium or high. At any speed, the brightness of the LEDs does not change. The Antec fan costs less than $15.

Antec Tricool RGB Fan: Really colorful.

The switch allows you to set the rotation speed.

A 120 mm model in a blue case is also available.

The CMT-ALF-12S fan clearly shows that plastic should not always be used. This model uses an aluminum body, which increases the weight to 280 grams, as opposed to the standard 90 grams. In addition, the light from the LEDs is directed inward. The price for the CMT-ALF-12S starts at $19, and with the controller it will cost $25.

Metal body instead of plastic.

Two standard 120mm fans with four LEDs.

With a rotation speed of 1200 rpm, the Revoltec LED FAN can be called very quiet. And the price is only $8.

The Sharkoon fan is UV sensitive—and costs less than $9.

Review: 120mm LED Fans

Manufacturer	Model	RPM	Number of LEDs	LED colors	Special Features
Antec	LED Fan	2000	3	Blue/red/green
Antec	LED Fan	2000	3	RGB
Antec	TriCool LED	1200 - 2000	3	Blue/red/green	Speed ​​controller
Antec	TriCool LED	1200 - 2000	3	RGB	Speed ​​controller
Coolermate	CMT-ALF	1700	4	Blue	Aluminium case
Just Cooler	Crystan FAN	2000	4	Blue
Logisys	120 mm Case Fan	2400	4	Blue/red/green
Revoltec	LED Fan	1200	4	Red and blue
Sharkoon	UV-LED Fan	2000	3	UV
Sunbeam	Silent Anodized	1200	4	Blue/ red/ green/ yellow
Sunbeam	Silent LED FAN	1200	4	Cyan/red/green/RGB
Sunbeam	Silent UV	1200	4	Blue/ green/ orange
Thermaltake	Thunderblade	2000	3	Blue/red/green
Thermaltake	Thunderblade	2000	3	RGB
Thermaltake	Thunderblade	2000	3	RGB	Flashing
Thypoon	Acrylic Quad	2000	4	Blue/red/green

Light sticks: may the Force be with you

Cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) Great for illuminating the inside of your computer. These lamps emit one color, several colors, or almost ultraviolet light. The length of the “sticks” is 10 cm or 30 cm. An additional controller is required for programming and flashing, which is usually installed in the expansion compartment. Most controllers offer five keys to perform programs that include simple flashing, transitions, and constant on. Defining your own program is usually not possible.

Cold cathode lamps come in a variety of colors and are available from a large number of manufacturers.

Boxes from different manufacturers.

Differences in length and color.

Connecting a cold cathode lamp is not very convenient, since each pair of lamps requires its own voltage converter. The devices are not very large in size, but they still complicate installation. In addition, a second or third converter will be very difficult to place in a transparent case. The cables can be laid out using cable ties, but the converters will stand out too much. In addition, during installation you will have to arm yourself with a soldering iron - adapters for connecting cables to the converter have not yet been released.

Conventional voltage converter 85 mm long.

The Sharkoon voltage converter is slightly smaller - it will easily fit into the case.

To play the video you will need the latest codec from the site DivX.com .

For small enclosures, mini lamps are best. They are 10 cm long, come in many colors, and are easily installed in the case, unlike 20 cm models. A pair of lamps will cost about $7.

These little glow sticks have a high level of brightness.

Some fans and motherboards are UV sensitive.

However, the range of UV illumination is limited.

Lighting from below.

Even during the day, the backlight is clearly visible.

In addition to fans and cold cathode lamps, you can decorate the case with mini spotlights that produce one or more colors. Taiwanese manufacturer Sunbeam has gone even further by connecting three-color LEDs to the Chameleon controller, which is installed in the free 5.25" bay. Knobs adjust the intensity of the red, green or blue of the four connected mini-spotlights. The colors can be adjusted individually, resulting in, for example, purple tint (red and blue). The controller is designed for four light sources. If you need more, you will have to install another Chameleon. At the same time, the controller does not work with other light sources.

Chameleon controller box.

The light is very bright.

You can even get white.

Choice of color combinations.

Chameleon controller from Sunbeam.

If you're going to equip your computer with backlighting, then it wouldn't hurt to have as many effects as possible. The Lightbus controller allows you to control four channels, providing 625 different effects. Each channel can be customized individually, although free programming is not provided.

As a special function, the controller offers communication with the sound card and the hard drive activity LED. If you turn the corresponding knob, the audio signals will turn into optical signals. Signals from the sound card and hard drive activity can be assigned to any of the four channels. The four knobs control the brightness of the channels, so LEDs or fans will respond differently to the Lightbus. We were disappointed that you can't install effects programmatically. However, Sunbeam is working on this problem and has already sent a prototype controller to our laboratory.

Lightbus controller box.

You can set 625 lighting effects.

Four backlight power outputs.

Control knobs.

Prototype of the new Lightbus controller.

If the Sunbeam Lightbus controller does not allow you to program your own lighting effects, then the mCubed T-Balancer does not have any problems with this. The controller channels can be easily programmed using the utility. The controller is supplied as an external module or an internal version, and in both cases the same hardware is used. The internal version of T-Balancer looks like a regular PCI card, but it does not connect to the PCI bus - communication is implemented via the USB port. We recommend reading a separate review of T-Balancer for following link .

External USB version of T-Balancer.

Internal card, but without PCI interface.

With this utility you can program four T-Balancer channels.

The new version of the utility allows you to control the backlight and fans, as well as monitor the state of the PC using temperature sensors.

In the videos below we were able to show only a small set of T-Balancer's capabilities.

To play the video you will need the latest codec from the site DivX.com .

You should always approach backlighting with imagination - you shouldn’t stuff the light into the PC case every time. What are all the bodies supported on? That's right - on legs. That's exactly what Sunbeam thought of with the Case Chassis legs. You can either replace existing legs with Sunbeam models, or simply add them. Now the body will be illuminated from below. Case Chassis legs can be installed without any problems on the following cases (according to the manufacturer): Thermaltake, Chenming 601, Chenming DX, BX and Office. Retail price is expected to be $10, and the legs are available in blue, red and green.

What it is?

The set consists of four legs.

The illuminated legs look nice.

And a mini-PC with legs also looks good.

Having considered several options for motherboards, we settled on a model from Abit. Pay Fatal1ty AA8XE Comes with pre-installed LEDs on the back. But once installed, they are difficult to notice unless you use a transparent case.

The LEDs look good without the housing.

The motherboard is inside a transparent case.

The Aspire power supply glows blue.

Using lighting you can create impressive masterpieces. In addition to cold cathode lamps, fans with LEDs are also gaining popularity today. The latest fashion is fans whose LEDs are powered inductively. But for proper display, you should equip your PC with a transparent case or side window. But it should be remembered that the transparent case does not provide electromagnetic protection.

Our test case.

A well-known method of lighting rooms is LED lighting using LED strip. It has a number of advantages over other light sources. Cost-effectiveness, ease of mounting - this makes it convenient for use in any room and certain areas, be it the case of the system unit, the back of the monitor or the backlight for the computer. How to connect an LED strip to a computer in different ways?

Why do you need illumination around the computer area?

A personal computer has long become an important part of any apartment or other home. People spend a lot of time behind the monitor screen, and it is necessary to make this workplace comfortable and convenient. In addition, the lack of lighting near monitors and TV screens leads to health problems, specifically with vision.

It is important to ensure that the screen is backlit at night so that the bright light from the monitor does not stand out from the surrounding environment and does not tire the user’s vision. An LED strip is suitable for this purpose, it will make the room more beautiful and modern, visually highlighting the computer space. In addition, you can use it as a New Year's decoration or as decorative lighting in the system unit.

Properties and principle of operation of LED strip

LED strip is often used due to the following advantages:

• excellent glow;
• long service life;
• efficiency in power consumption;
• flexibility, the ability to install in any structure;
• ease of installation on any plane thanks to the adhesive surface;
• ability to adjust the length of the tape (cut and extend as needed).

It should be taken into account that the LED strip is a low-voltage equipment, that is, it requires a voltage of 12 or 24 V (volts) to power it. In the home electrical network, the voltage is 220 V 50 Hz, so this lighting element will be connected strictly through a power supply selected depending on the power consumption of the tape. There are also LED lamps with a voltage of 220 V; they are connected directly to the outlet, but they are not suitable for lighting a computer. The best option for PC backlighting is 12 V.

You can connect any tape to your PC, but before you buy it in a store, you should decide on several characteristics for further effective use:

• density of diode crystals;
• mono or three-color glow;
• length;
• water resistance class;

The total power of the lighting device and the choice of power supply depend on the density of the diodes. There are strips with a density of 30, 60 and 120 LEDs per meter. The length of a regular coil is 5 meters; it is enough to illuminate one PC. For home use, a low moisture protection class of 20IP is sufficient.

This light source works on the principle of a printed circuit board. The LEDs are soldered into a rubberized substrate in series and are powered by a power supply. It is important to choose the right power supply, since the working condition of the tape depends on this.

Materials and tools required for work

To connect the LED strip, you need the following tools and materials:

• LED strip of the required length;
• power unit;
• soldering iron;
• solder plus rosin;
• scissors;
• electrical wires with a cross section of 0.75 mm;
• stripping tool;
• side cutters.

Connection diagram for a regular tape

It is proposed to consider in detail the connection diagram of a standard 1 meter long tape to a computer. The strip consists of SMD 3528 LEDs; it can be cut every three diodes. To complete this task you will need:

This method is well suited for illuminating a system unit with a transparent case cover to decorate the “cool hardware”.

RGB strip connection diagram

The multi-color tape can be connected to a PC using an RGB controller. This is a specialized device designed to control the glow of three colors of diodes:

• green;
• blue;
• red

As a result of mixing the glow of three colors, different shades of light are obtained. To connect multicolor diodes you will need four wires. Paired with a controller, you can use a remote control to control color rendering from a distance. The circuit uses 12 Volt power and a tape length of up to 5 meters. To simplify the assembly of the circuit, you can purchase ready-made detachable connectors designed for strip lights.

Network connection via power supply

The converter reduces the network voltage from 220 V to 24 V or 12 V. The power supply can be different:

Converters from a laptop, from a phone charger, from a personal computer are suitable. It is important that the current supplied from the power supply is higher than that consumed by the tape. One meter of the lamp consumes 0.4 A, respectively, 5 m - 2 A. The current of the power supply is indicated on the case. The calculations are not difficult to make. When connecting the lamp to the power supply, it is important to observe the polarity, otherwise it simply will not turn on.

You only need to connect wires of the appropriate color. You can add a switch to the circuit for ease of use. It is possible to use a dimmer to control the brightness of the light. An external power supply is not suitable for illuminating a system unit, but is more suitable for illuminating a computer desk or monitor.

Connecting to the network without a power supply

All factory-made LED lamps are designed to operate from a power supply. Using a special circuit, you can connect them directly to a 220 V 50 Hz network.

To do this you need to do the following:

1. Cut the 5 meter tape into 20 pieces (at least through three diodes).
2. Connect a diode bridge to convert AC to DC.
3. Connect a 5-10 mF capacitor at 300 V to eliminate flicker.
4. Connect 20 parts together in series, connecting the minus to the plus, and the plus to the minus.

Having insulated all exposed contacts, you can plug it into the network and enjoy the backlight.

USB connection

The method of connecting the lamp via USB deserves special attention, since it is suitable for a laptop (the only backlight option) or when the computer does not have free power connectors. In the USB socket the voltage is 5 V, and the load current does not exceed 0.5 A. This is not enough for a lamp that requires 12 V. You need to purchase or make a 5 V to 12 V converter and power it from USB.

It should be taken into account that an increase in voltage by 2.5 times entails a decrease in current by the same amount, that is, to 0.2 A (up to 0.5 meter of strip with a density of 60 LEDs per meter). If the load current is exceeded, the USB port can be damaged. To connect an LED lamp via USB you need:

As you can see, you can effortlessly connect the LED strip to your computer or to an external power supply to decorate your workplace. You can choose the most suitable method for everyone. The main rule is not to exceed the current load on the power supply or USB port. To successfully connect the LED backlight, you should follow the instructions above and do not be afraid to do something yourself.

Some users believe that investing in LED lighting is an absolutely unnecessary luxury, which still does not carry any practical value. Other users, on the contrary, cannot live without an LED “disco” in the system unit of their home PC. For them, we have selected several of the best sets of LED strips that will allow you to organize a “party” in your computer case.

Lighting the inside of a PC is nothing new and has never been seen before. Light tubes and LED coolers have been used to decorate cases for decades. And now even motherboards are equipped with special controllers for connecting additional LED strips. You no longer need to play Kulibin if you want to add some “spark” to your corps.

Best Basic LED Kit

At a price of 1,200 rubles, it is one of the most affordable multi-color lighting kits. It includes two LED strips, 30 cm long and with 18 diodes each. This solution is more suitable for use in Midi-Tower cases, which allow you to place one tape on top and one tape on the bottom inside the case. The tapes are attached with magnets, which is very convenient, and the plug is connected to the corresponding connector on the motherboard.

To control the backlight, a wireless remote control is used, which allows you to control the backlight. Note that only the entire strip can be illuminated, and not each LED individually. This way, each LED on the strip will glow the same color at the same time. The remote control allows you to control the brightness and set the speed of changing shades on the LED strip, creating a “breathing” effect, for example. You can choose 15 colors for static lighting or RGB lighting mode.

Price: about 1200 rubles

Best Digital LED Light Kit

Unlike the previous set, the kit has ten LEDs on each strip, and each of them can glow in an individual color. In total, you will receive 40 LEDs, to which you can purchase 4 more strips with the same 40 diodes. In addition, the set comes with a huge number of different cables for connecting both the strips themselves and the fans (they are also included in the set).

The backlight on the controller itself, which is shaped like a small box, is not adjustable. If you don't like it, you can simply turn it off. The NZXT Hue+ controller is two-channel, which allows you to supplement the lighting system with 4 more strips (4 for each channel). In addition, this allows you to run two different lighting effects on each channel.

All control occurs through proprietary software, which already has eight preset operating modes, but does not prevent you from creating your own. For example, smart lighting modes allow the NZXT Hue+ to automatically change colors based on CPU or GPU temperature. Audio mode activates an equalizer-style glow: the light will respond to any sound coming from the PC.

Installation of the kit is quite simple. The controller is screwed in place of the 2.5-inch drive in the HDD cage. A four-pin plug for power and a data cable from the motherboard to the controller are connected from it to the motherboard.

Price: about 5000 rubles

The Best LED Lighting Kit for Customization Lovers

There are many pixel addressable LED strips on the backlighting market today, but they are the most convenient and effective solution when it comes to backlighting a gaming PC case. This huge 500cm long LED strip reel contains 300 LEDs, allowing you to cut LED strips to fit your housing. But, in addition to the LED coil itself, you will have to purchase a power supply and controller separately.

On sale you can find ready-made controllers with hundreds of programmed types of lighting, and this will be the easiest option to purchase. More advanced users can use Arduino or Raspberry Pi boards to program their own lighting effects. In our case, we decided to limit ourselves to a ready-made solution with remote control. We did not cut the tape, but simply laid it along the inside of the PC case.

Those who decide to cut out individual LED strips will have to do further independent soldering to connect the strips. We recommend using 3-pin JST connectors so you can easily disconnect the strips without having to cut and re-solder.

Price: about 1600 rubles

Probably, many people sometimes think of decorating their monotonous computer unit, which serves as a dust collector. Modern gaming computers already have built-in PC lighting. But, judging objectively, the case for the system unit performs the function of a “skeleton” on which all the necessary organs are attached. This does not directly affect performance. For some, buying a backlit PC case will not be economical. Then people start looking for alternative ways to decorate their corner without spending a lot of money.

Cases with built-in lighting

If you are not going to buy a gaming PC with backlighting, then it is enough to buy yourself only a case with built-in lighting. They differ in price from regular cases, but this is compensated by the fact that all the elements are already factory-made, that is, if an unforeseen circumstance occurs, you can try to return the case under the warranty certificate (besides, if a person is not confident in his abilities, then it is better overpay for a backlit PC case). And if you decide to take a regular case and stuff it with tape and glue, then it will be much more difficult to return it. In any case, everyone decides for themselves which housing to take and whether it is worth framing it with LED strip.

Illumination using LED strip

The first thing you need to do is buy an LED strip or order it from an online store. When you have the LED strip in your hands, you need to remove the side cover of the system unit case and mark for yourself where this strip will be located. These places must be treated to remove dust and other contaminants; you can use alcohol and wipe the inside of the lid.

Now you need to cut the LED strips. On most models, cutting lines are indicated every three diodes. The next step is to expose the back adhesive portion of the tape and apply it to the back of the lid.

Working with wires requires special skill, but even without it you can perform simple operations. It is necessary to measure and cut the wires, and then solder them to the tape, the most important thing is not to confuse the “+” and “-” (usually the positive wire is black/white, the negative wire is any other color). For a better effect, you can use hot glue to prevent the wires from moving.

The LED strip must be connected to a MOLEX connector. You need to remember that in the connector the black wire is ground, and the yellow wire is voltage. After connecting to MOLEX, you need to find a free power supply plug to turn on the LED strip.

Monitor backlighting via Arduino using Ambilight technology

Background lighting via Arduino is a cheap analogue of monitor and TV screens from Philips with patented Ambilight technology. For the project you will need an Arduino Nano board and LED strips. The pin connection diagram is shown in the video instructions; it is quite simple even for a beginner. A photoresistor will also be built into the circuit to adjust the light of the tape depending on the time of day.

To use the LED strip, you need to download and install the Ambibox program, and also keep it running in the background while the strip is in use.

The most popular way to illuminate interior spaces today is LED lighting. Most often it is implemented using LED strip, which has certain advantages and connection features.

The advantage of this product is that it can be used as any room, as well as its separate zones. In today's article we will talk about how to connect such a tape to a computer.

Why is computer area lighting necessary?

The computer, like the TV, has long become a permanent resident of our houses and apartments. We can no longer imagine ourselves without them. In recent years, the computer has taken over the popularity of the TV and has become the most popular place in the house. But it is worth remembering that when working with a computer you need to know certain rules regarding the organization of working time spent on it.

Note! Improper use of this device, especially at home, can lead to health problems. Naturally, our eyes are the first to suffer, and only then the lower back.

Computer workstation

Therefore, it is very important when working with this type of device to comply with certain requirements and recommendations.
One of the most important aspects of working at a computer is its high-quality and complete backlight. The need to backlight a computer in the evening and at night is due to the fact that its backlit screen strongly contrasts with the surrounding space, tiring our visual system.
An excellent option here would be to use an LED strip as backlight. It can be connected in such a way that music plays simultaneously with the light. In addition, by installing it with a switch, you get the ability to control the backlight, turning it on only when necessary.
By connecting an LED strip to your computer, you will receive not only high-quality background lighting, but also decorative lighting that will beautifully highlight this space of the room, visually separating it from other zones.

Features of the structure and principle of operation of such lighting

LED strip today is almost universally used as a variety of lighting, especially at home. It can be found in swimming pools, saunas, as well as in any home room. Moreover, they began to use it more and more often for backlighting TVs and computers.

LED computer backlight

This type of LED products is so popular for the following reasons:

• flexibility of the base, which allows you to give the tape any shape;
• the ability to attach to any surface, even to the back of a computer and TV;

Note! Thanks to the self-adhesive surface, the LED strip can be easily installed in just a few minutes.

• creation of high-quality light flux;
• long service period;
• you can cut or extend the product as much as you like;
• economical energy consumption, which is very important when creating lighting.

But there are some nuances that should be taken into account in a situation where the LED will be mounted and connected to a computer. All LED products are low voltage. This means that it needs 12 or 24 volts to power it. As you know, houses and apartments have a 220 volt power supply. Therefore, any LED strip will always be connected to such a network only through a power supply.

Power supply for led

This LED product operates on the principle of a printed circuit board. LEDs are soldered onto its rubberized base, which are connected to each other in series. The operating scheme of this product always includes a power supply, which is selected depending on the power consumption of the tape.

Note! If you choose the wrong one, the power supply can burn out very quickly, which will make it impossible to continue using the LED as a backlight.

You can connect both single-color and multi-color products to your computer. But in the second case, you will need not only a power supply, but also an RGB controller. It should also be connected to the strip to be able to control the color glow of the LED product. Its connection diagram is as follows.

Connection diagram of the tape to the controller

This device will allow you to coordinate the operation of three LEDs installed in the strip. Here, each diode, unlike monochrome products, has its own color:

• red;
• blue;
• green.

The operating principle of multi-color ribbons is based on mixing the glow of three main crystals and producing different color shades of light.

Characteristics of LED products

Before you start installing a tape to your computer (for example, one that plays with music), you need to decide on the characteristics. In fact, it is possible to connect any LED strip to a computer. But from all the variety, you need to choose the most suitable option for you, so that in the future it evokes only positive emotions.
The choice of tape should be made according to the following characteristics:

Density of diodes on the tape

• single or multi-color glow;
• how many meters do you need;

Note! LED strip is sold in reels of five meters. It will be enough for you to backlight your computer. But if you want to make a suspension in several places at once, then you can take more.

• density of LEDs on the strip. The correctness of calculation of the total power of the product, as well as the choice of power supply, depends on this parameter. The choice of power supply must be approached extremely responsibly. Typically this figure is 60 LEDs per meter. But the density of diodes on the tape can be 30 or 120 pieces per meter;

• waterproof class. To backlight your computer, you can use products with a low moisture resistance class (for example, 20IP).

Before connecting the selected LED products, let's consider the principles of connecting it to the power supply.

How to properly connect to the converter

The power supply in the LED strip connection circuit plays the role of a converter, which lowers the network voltage to the required level (from 220 volts to 24 or 12 volts). But in order for the product connected to the power supply to work, it must be properly connected to the tape. Connection to the block here is carried out according to the following diagram.

Note! The connection is carried out in strict accordance with the polarity of the wires.

Connection diagram to the power supply

The power supply, just like the tape, has wires of different colors:

• red – plus;
• blue/black – minus.

You only need to connect wires of the same color. Otherwise the LEDs will not light up. If the unit is not equipped with a switch, then it can be arranged in a circuit so that you do not have to unplug the unit from the socket every time. If necessary, a dimmer can also be built into the circuit.
But this method is not suitable when connecting to a computer. Here you need to use methods that do not involve using a power supply.

Without a block connection to a computer

All LED strips containing factory-made boards are designed for power supply through a converter (unit). It ensures the conversion of alternating current from the network into direct current with reduced voltage. But such a product can be connected through the home electrical network.
To connect an LED strip in this way, you need to do the following:

• cut five meters of tape designed for 12 volts into 20 elements;
• using a diode bridge we achieve rectification of alternating current 220 in the connected electrical appliance;
• Next, we connect the elements of the tape in series (in the terminals minus to plus and plus to minus);
• Flickering can be removed by connecting a 300 V, 5-10 mF capacitor.

Connection diagram

That's all the work.
But there are other connection options that are applicable to a computer.

We make a direct connection

The LED strip can be connected to any computer via a USB connector. Using a USB connector for connection is a fairly simple method that anyone can handle.
To connect the tape via USB connector you need to do the following:

• The power supply should be installed on the back of the monitor, securing it with double-sided tape;

Note! To avoid the situation of constant unsticking of the power supply, you need to choose it compact and small in size. In principle, to illuminate a computer you will need a small piece of LED strip, which will be powered by a small and low-power power supply.

Installing the power supply on the monitor

• We place ribbons along the edges of the monitor, connecting them to the power supply according to the above diagram;
• There is a USB connector coming from the unit. You can attach the USB connector to the unit with your own hands without any problems. To do this, cut off the plug from the power supply and attach a USB connector to it. It can be taken from any old cord. The main thing is that the USB connector is working;
• Next, you need to download the necessary drivers to your computer so that they support the operation of the assembled device.

That's it, the LED backlight is ready to work.

No special connectors required

Computer power supply

In addition, you can connect the tape to the computer's power supply. All laptops today are equipped with such elements. Therefore, problems with installation in this situation should also not arise, if, of course, you take into account all the nuances of this connection method.

Here it is necessary to remember that all power supplies have their own standard set of operating voltages and differ in the permissible load power. In this situation, the output voltage for each existing wire of the power supply will vary depending on the color:

• orange +3.3 V;
• yellow +12.0 V;
• red +5.0 V;
• blue +5.0 V SB;
• blue -12.0 V;
• black GND.

These types of devices usually have labels with a table printed on them. It indicates the critical power, as well as the maximum load current for various voltage parameters.

Power table for power supply

In this regard, if the power supply is designed for a load of 400 W, then in reality it will have a current of 16 A in a voltage circuit of +12 V. This is quite enough to power an LED strip.
Another nuance is that you need to consider its forced inclusion. The power supply in normal situations is activated by a signal from the motherboard. To activate it, you need to close pins 16 and 17, green and black, respectively. This must be done when turning on the power supply separately.
To turn on the power to the LED source, use the yellow and black wire in the four-pin connector.
In all other respects, the connection technique will be similar to the above-described options for connecting LED products to the converter. The main thing here is to strictly follow the lights and wires and determine the power of the converter.

Conclusion

As you can see, if you wish, you can simply connect the LED strip to your computer. The simplest way in this situation is to use a USB connector, through which the entire circuit is connected to the equipment. But if you are not looking for an easy way, then you can experiment with the power supply of the computer itself. In any situation, for the enterprise to be successful and for the LED lighting to be of high quality, follow the instructions above and everything will work out for you in the best possible way.