Home Sign Up!

Browse Community Submit

All Art Craft Food Games Green Home Kids Life Music Offbeat Outdoors Pets Photo Ride Science Tech

Raving out your Computer

by itstemo1 on June 6, 2008

Table of Contents

License: Attribution Share Alike (by-sa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Intro: Raving out your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 1: Analyzing the Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 2: Removing the old LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

step 3: Cutting the Wires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

step 4: Cleaning the LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

step 5: LED circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

step 6: Wrapping Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

step 7: Under the Union Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

step 8: Finishing Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

step 9: Gun it with GLUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

step 10: Adding the 4-Pin Molex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

step 11: Connect and Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

step 12: Rave Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

step 13: Connecting it all together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
License: Attribution Share Alike (by-sa)

Intro: Raving out your Computer

The video of this Mod

READ ME FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
READ ME FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
READ ME FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
READ ME FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3/1/10
I just reorder some new parts to fix some of the problems that i have. Please don't try to work on this till I am finish solving some of the issues (Unless you
are a Level 10 Electrical Engineer.)

4/4/10
Well i figure out why this doesn't work as well. LED need a certain amount of milliamps to turn on. The current that comes out of the headphone jack is
WAY TO LOW. It bearly turn on the leds (so you can only see it while it is dark and the volume is MAX OUT).

So i guess i would need to make a amp before the connecting it into the transistor.

Also if you want to use the microphone you will need a PRE-amp.

READ ME FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
READ ME FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
READ ME FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
READ ME FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you have a case window just like I do you sometimes wish you could turn off all those lights. I was like one those guys, but I added this other feature call the "RAVING
MOD".

This mod will show explain how to make your LEDs to turn off and on with the sound of your music (or games or anything that comes out of your audio out). You will also
learn how to COMPLETELY TURN OFF ALL YOUR LIGHTS.

Disclaimer 1 : My Grammar is AWFUL. So if you can help clarify something please go ahead and tell me.

Disclaimer 2 : I am not responsible for anything that happens to you or your computer. I am a ME not a EE.

Disclaimer 3 : Never open your Power Supply. I needed Fans to mod so I did and I learn my lesson.

Disclaimer 4 :Before I continue I just want to say that the circuit for this instrubable did not just came to me one day. A fellow student in my school gave me the idea that
a NPN Transistor will make the lights turn On and Off.

Materials
Computer Fan (Any size or type and no Leds are needed)
26 gauge wire (Black and some other color)
18 gauge wire (Black and some other color)
Zip Tie
Male and Female 4-pin molex
Male and Female pin molex
NPN transistor
Female Audio connector
2x Two way or 1x Three way switch
Audio Splitter
Male to Male 3.5mm audio cable
Or Microphone with 3.5mm male cable (needsMic Preamp )

Tools
Wire Cutters
Wire Strippers
Small Standard Screwdriver or something similar
Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
Electric Tape
Soldering Iron and Solder
Brainz

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
 Image Notes Image Notes
1. Finish Product 1. Stock Wired.
2. At the end of this project there will be ONE 4-pin molex. You don't need a fan
that already has a 4-pin molex.
3. Aspire. Farly loud, but this inscrutable should give you a general idea for any
Brand or type of Fan.
4. I finish doing 8 out of 10 of my fans in March 2008. The last two fans are done
on this day.

step 1: Analyzing the Fan

First we need to identify what way to rewired the fans. There are three possible ways.

The first ways is by having the wire wrap around the fan. This will probably happen if you don't have a fan that already had LEDs.

The second way is by a combination of wrapping around and going under the union bridge. The main reason why you will choice this option will be because of the canals
in the bridge that could be to small for the wire that you may use. If the bridge doesn't have the canal you might need to use the "first way". Also there must be a hole and
some space under that hole to fit a wire.

The third way is probably the rarest way to do it. The canal on the bridge must be big enough to fit two wires. If the 26 gauge wire is to big you might need to use a much
smaller gauge for it to work.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
 Image Notes
1. Example of wrapping around. Way one

Image Notes
1. Way 1 - Wrap around the wire.
2. Way 2 - Half wrap around and half inside.
3. Way 3 - All Inside the circle
4. MS paint is cheap

Image Notes
1. Holes are too small to fit 2 26 gauge wire.
2. Enough to space to slide a 26 gauge wire.
3. Bridge - The canal in the bridge is TOO small to fit 2x 26 gauge wires.

Image Notes
1. Big enough holes for 2 wires
2. Small Canals for two 26 gauge wires
3. Enough space for a wire to fit.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
step 2: Removing the old LEDs
If you fan has LEDs you will need to remove them all. This could be a easy or AWFUL step. Some fans use a MASSIVE amount of glue to stick the LED to the fan. Use a
screwdriver to remove the LED and glue from the fan. Some fans are a light amount of glue so it wouldn't be that difficult in that case.

I accidentally slaughter a couple of LEDs while removing the LEDs. The manufactor wasn't so nice at telling me what brand and model the LEDs where. So I just replaced
with the ones in this site Super Bright Leds

If anyone else sees a different case please comment about it.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. Light amount of glue. 1. 1 Gallon of Glue. Try not to mess up the LED

Image Notes Image Notes

1. If you don't have a screw driver you can use something like this. 1. After removing the LEDs from there holes.

step 3: Cutting the Wires

Cut the wires that are attach to each LED. Don't remove the wires from the fan it self.

Plug the fan into your computer and check if the fan still works with out having the leds connected.

If you are lucky the fan should work (and it might spin a BIT faster). Now you can remove the wires from the fan using APPROPIATE WAY.

If you SUPER UNLUCKY and your fans didn't spin you will need to soder a resister at the end of each wire. You can hide the resistor later with hot glue.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
 Image Notes Image Notes
1. Wire cutter/wire strippers 1. This is what you will need to do if your fan doesn't work after you remove the
2. Snipp LEDS.
3. Snap
4. Scissor out
5. Cut here

step 4: Cleaning the LEDs

Get the four LEDs that you cut off. You need to remove any extra glue.

Straighten the legs.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. What happens after you cut off the leds from the wires. 1. Carefully remove the glue with out damaging the LEDs.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
 Image Notes Image Notes
1. Slide off the extra if you can. 1. Slide off like this

Image Notes Image Notes

1. 4 clean LEDs 1. Remove the extra wire using soldering iron or wire cutters.

step 5: LED circuit

Before we start let me explain something that most of you guys should know.

We are going to place this LEDs in a Series circuit.

If you can't understand this digram look at the picture that I uploaded.

12v PN _ PN _ PN _ PN _ Ground

P = Positive Side
N = Negative side

Image Notes
1. Possitive
2. Negative
3. Ground - In this instructables black will be ground
http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
 4. In this instructables Red will be 12V

Image Notes
1. Wikipidia

step 6: Wrapping Way

This step will explain exactly what wrapping the wire is. It will also explain how to start all three ways of wiring.

First Place the LED on the hole

Then solder a wire to the NEGATIVE terminal of the LED.
Place the second LED on the next spot (it doesn't matter if you go clock wise or counter wise)
Move the wire around edge of the fan.
Cut and Solder ON THE POSITIVE TERMINAL.

Do these over and over till you are done if you are doing "Way ONE"
Follow the next step if you are doing "Way TWO"
Ignore this step if you are doing "Way THREE"

Image Notes Image Notes

1. Solder the NEGATIVE terminal of the begging LED 1. Example of going Wrapping around

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
 Image Notes Image Notes
1. Place second LED 1. Solder in the POSITIVE TERMINAL

step 7: Under the Union Bridge

This step will explain exactly what UNDER THE UNION BRIDGE is. It will also explain how to start all three ways of wiring.

First Place the LED on the hole

Then solder a wire to the NEGATIVE terminal of the LED.
Place the second LED on the next spot (it doesn't matter if you go clock wise or counter wise)
Move down into the middle of the fan. (you might need to remove the sticker)
Slide the wire under the center plastic thing.
Move to the LED you place
Cut and Solder ON THE POSITIVE TERMINAL.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. Solder the NEGATIVE terminal of the begging LED 1. First Solder this Negative terminal

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
 Image Notes Image Notes
1. Under this tab 1. Lift Here
2. From Here
3. To Here

Image Notes Image Notes

1. This is pretty much it 1. Try to fit the wire in the canal. If your wire is thinner or the canal is bigger you
can do the Way Three

Image Notes
1. Solder positive terminal
http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
step 8: Finishing Up
Before you start soldering the Final two wires on the first and fourth (This last LED's terminal should be NEGATIVE {and the first LED should have the Positive terminal
empty}) you have to under that these wire are GOING TO BE LONG.

First determine how long you want to cables to be. (I made most of my LED connecting cables about 3' Feet.)
NOTE: The rest of the instruction will use 3 feet as reference. This measurement can be anything you want.

Measure out 3' feet of RED 26 gage wire (this MUST BE 26 gauge or THICKER) .
Solder this wire on the Positive terminal of the First LED that you place.
Measure out 3' feet of BLACK 26 gage wire (this MUST BE 26 gauge or THICKER) .how much you need to move a wire from the fourth LED to the First and add 3'
Feet.
Solder this BLACK wire on the GROUND terminal of the fourth LED.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. First LED 1. This is how long I have them (NOT 3' Feet)
2. Fourth LED
3. +3' feet wire.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. Going to the Second LED 1. If you don't have cable Sleeve and/or heatshrinks you can twist the cable like
2. This is the 3' Feet Wire this

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
step 9: Gun it with GLUE
Glue each LED and solder point with LOTS of Glue.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. My Super Gun 1. Add this Zip Tie to hold all Four Wires

Image Notes Image Notes

1. Fill it with Glue 1. Don't let any bare metal spots out.

Image Notes
http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
 1. Thick Layer

step 10: Adding the 4-Pin Molex

Before we start let make it clear that this Lights should NEVER be connect in Parallel with other hardware like Hard Drivers.

It is okay to have this LED on a Parallel with other lights.

We are going to add Male and Female 4-Pin Molex

First Cut 1Black and 1 Red (or any color) 18 GAUGE WIRE (IT MUST BE 18 or THICKER)

Get a MALE pin and place the small 26 Gauge wire under the big 18 Gauge wire inside the pin.
Close the pin.

Get a FEMALE pin and close it on the other end of the 18 Gauge wire.
Close the pin

Insert the NON-BLACK MALE pin on the 12V hole of the MALE Molex
This 12V hole is the one on the RIGHT when the Diagonal cuts on the top (look at the images)

The Black Male Pin goes to the left of the 12V hole

Same thing happens on the Female Pins and Molex but opposite sides.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. Tabbs 1. This should be the legth of the 18 Gauge wires
2. 12V
3. Ground
4. 12V MALE
5. Ground

Image Notes Image Notes

1. Male Pins 1. 26 gauge wire goes first then the 18 gauge wire on top.
2. Female Pins
http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
 3. Male Connector
4. Female Connector

Image Notes Image Notes

1. 18 Guage 1. Final Product
2. 26 Gauge
3. Close here first
4. Close this Second

Image Notes
1. 12V for Female
2. Ground for Female connector
3. TAB on top
4. Tab on top

step 11: Connect and Test

Connect the cable of the LED to a OPEN molex connector.

If it doesn't work you might have not made the circuit correctly or the leds didn't like 3v. If you need help comment and I will.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
 Image Notes
1. The two TWISTED wires that correlate to my LED cables
2. 30 minutes later when I placed this thing back my computer didn't turn on AT ALL.
3. The Date is wrong. Its not July its June.

step 12: Rave Circuit

This is the circuit.

I can't explain how to make it so look at those pictures.

The Transistor MUST BE NPN and it must be one that can support 12v or more and have the Heatsink in the back. Just like the one in the picture. The one I have is a
TIP31C

Also NEVER NEVER Connect the 12v and Ground cable together (the ones for the switches). DOUBLE check your switches cables.

Image Notes
1. This is what is should look like if connected right.
2. One of the wires snapped.
3. This things are to connect to the switches.
4. NEVER NEVER NEVER connect this two wire together. Smoke will come out.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
 Image Notes
1. Looks like a Transistor but is not
2. This is a Transistor and that is the HeatSink

Image Notes
1.
http://classes.cecs.ucf.edu/%5Cseecsseniordesign/sp2003su2003/g12/SDweb/FinalPaper_fil

Image Notes Image Notes

1. Male Connector 1. Tape it like this.
2. Hold the Audio connector and the NPN like this and tape it 2. That is the Audio port
3. Male Connector

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
 Image Notes
1. Switch One
2. Switch Two
3. This does nothing.

step 13: Connecting it all together

So you should have a Fan with two cables (one to spin the fan and the other to turn on the LEDs). Connect the fan cable (the one that makes it spin) just like you had it
normally. The other cable (the one for the LEDs) should be connected to the Female Molex of the Rave Circuit. If you have more LED or Fans (don't connect Cold
Cathols or Neon Lights... risky) just connected to the other end of the LED cable.

Now you have to options on how the Rave Circuit will obtain its audio. One can be straight from the Audio out of your computer (you will need a audio splitter) or you can
plug a microphone on the female connector.

(I have personally not tested the microphone idea YET. Will work on it as soon as I have my PSU working again)

Image Notes
1. Into Rave Mod
Image Notes 2. Next to your speakers.
1. Female Molex 3. You don't need a big microphone like this. Also you DON'T connect this to the
2. Male Molex back of your computer you plug it in the Rave Mod.
3. Female Molex
4. Male Molex
5. Female Molex
6. Its a Fan
7. You can keep going. I have about 9 hook up to mine circuit
8. The Male one is the one with the Metal Pins
9. Female is the one with the Metal Pins with a Hole

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
 Image Notes
1. To Audio Out of Computer
2. To Speakers
3. To Rave Mod

Related Instructables

blinking mod
rock (video) by
riverreaper Awesome LED 10-min. Star How to change Apple Disk II Blue LED Desktop Fan by
Computer Mod Trek Phaser the LED's in the floppy drive Flashlight Mod XOIIO
How to: DIY (slideshow) by flashing LED Razer reincarnated as by Deadly
Modded AlexTheGreat mod by spudtech DeathAdder by a USB hard disk Computer
Computer Case Xillionous enclosure by
by Crucio
eomonkeyboi24

Advertisements

Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 177 comments

fuzychiapet says: Apr 4, 2010. 2:17 AM REPLY

"Please don't try to work on this till I am finish solving some of the issues (Unless you are a Level 10 Electrical Engineer.)"

My Warcraft character is a level 30 engineer- does this count?

Aztof says: Feb 27, 2010. 12:11 PM REPLY

;P
:)
;}
^_^
!_!

nuff said

monkeyshoe10 says: Apr 2, 2010. 4:28 PM REPLY

d(^o^)b

nuff said =)

Aztof says: Feb 28, 2010. 7:36 AM REPLY

oh, what's the name of the song in the video? I would love to put it on my iPod

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
 dkfa says: Jul 19, 2009. 10:43 PM REPLY
maybe you could make the leds glow and fade....like its breathing! Now you can call your PC a MONSTER rig.

alex-sharetskiy says: Jul 31, 2009. 9:53 PM REPLY

you can do that, just get a capacitor in parallel with the LED

junits15 says: Feb 27, 2010. 11:38 AM REPLY

that wont pulse them, it will fade them off, (not sure if it will fade them on).

alex-sharetskiy says: Mar 1, 2010. 3:44 PM REPLY

if you put a resistor in series

jobergy says: Feb 12, 2010. 12:59 PM REPLY

i want to do that! im in welding so i am makeing a steel metal case with the monster energy symbol on it, green LED's was the plan but with the
breathing thing wuld make it sweet!

Holden_vy_s says: Feb 19, 2010. 1:12 AM REPLY

As a person who uses his computer rather than looking at it, i feel the need to say RICER.

But thats just me.

jobergy says: Feb 12, 2010. 12:56 PM REPLY

wow that is pretty simple when it comes down to it, cool thanks! will use indeed! and for my lights in my truck for my audio system! cant use the audio in but i
can make the mic thing work im sure

Siabnec says: Feb 7, 2010. 7:32 PM REPLY

Just Awesome

your dog says: Feb 4, 2010. 9:12 PM REPLY

this instructable makes me extremely jealous

akjian says: Aug 10, 2009. 9:38 AM REPLY

do you have msn ? . i got question to ask you ..

olie854 says: Feb 26, 2009. 4:56 PM REPLY

every one I am very sorry i have seen an easier way to every ones solution, the schematic is wrong do not use it it can be fixed which i will show you how to
make it correctly for know just follow his second drawing of the layout of the wires and parts its messy but it is correctly drawn. below is the correct schematic
i have updated two wires cross they ARE NOT CONNECTED, the rest are connected.

masonat says: Mar 18, 2009. 9:03 PM REPLY

Where is the sound input?

itstemo1 says: Mar 19, 2009. 5:46 AM REPLY

Do you see the purple lines. The G is for the ground and the squigilly line if for the L and R of the sound

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
 venootez says: May 25, 2009. 12:59 AM REPLY
thats cool. by the way, whats the name of the song?

alex-sharetskiy says: Jul 31, 2009. 9:54 PM REPLY

streemline by newton

masonat says: Mar 19, 2009. 8:29 AM REPLY

thanks, have you made this circuit? did it work?

Mighty Mackinac says: Feb 28, 2009. 9:36 PM REPLY

ok...from what i gather from this image...i connect the NPN/audio part and the ground to the same prongof the second switch, correct? i then connect the
"on only" cable to the other prong? makes sense, i guess...just confirm this for me...

Mighty Mackinac says: Feb 28, 2009. 9:38 PM REPLY

also what gauge of wire to i use for the circuit?

Mighty Mackinac says: Mar 1, 2009. 1:22 PM REPLY

ok...also...do i use the right and left of the audio or do i use one and the power?

olie854 says: Mar 1, 2009. 2:36 PM REPLY

what I recommend is use left and right audio together and connect the gnd from audio to the emitter of the npn transistor, gauge wire does not
really matter i would use smaller than 20 gauge, also you first comment i do not under stand fully the first switch is the main on of , and the
second switch overrides the audio amplifier to full on 12volts, reply back with a more in depth question as i don't understand what your getting
at, but i do think you are correct no I've a second look at it.

Mighty Mackinac says: Mar 3, 2009. 8:29 AM REPLY

i think i figured it out...but im still confused about the audio...for my setup im using a headphone cable...it has three wires inside...a red, a
white, and a blue...guys from radioshack said that red and white were right and left, and the blue must be ground...where do i connect
these?

itstemo1 says: Mar 3, 2009. 10:41 AM REPLY

Okay... Red and White are going to be connected to the Base on the NPN transistor. The ground is going to the ground of the power.

olie854 says: Mar 3, 2009. 2:00 PM REPLY

you are all going to hate me for this but since there has been so much controversy I have asked the help of someone who has
built this circuit or similar know i said the audio goes to the base i am wrong sry. but the base means base power as in never
changing the collector is the audio in put it collects the current to activate the switch so audio + to collector and 12v + to base the
original schematic right do not look at my !corrected! one it is wrong. this is coming form a working version of this circuit and for
you with the three audio wires test them for their voltage there's three combos. i would guess that red and blue are left and right
and white is ground that would make scince.

Mighty Mackinac says: Mar 3, 2009. 12:02 PM REPLY

alright...got that...

now...i have a question about one of my switches... it has three prongs, all labeled: Power, ACC, and Ground...this is going to be
the first switch...which prongs do i connect the power to? btw...i got all of my supplies from radioshack if that helps...this is the
switch...
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3098835&numProdsPerPage=60&retainProdsInSession=1&y=13&x=10

olie854 says: Mar 3, 2009. 2:01 PM REPLY

your switch is like all others middle one is the constant as it always connect to one or the other and when switch is up the
constant and bottom are connected and visa versa.

itstemo1 says: Mar 3, 2009. 12:59 PM REPLY

Cool cool. Thanks for providing a picture. I do have a switch like that. Anyways ACC will be the positive and Ground will be
ground. The power is to turn on the lights of the switch. This is a bit tricky because you can either just connect both ACC and
POWER together, BUT I haven't done this. I still don't have my switch light up. But you can experiment with it.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
 itstemo1 says: Mar 3, 2009. 1:00 PM REPLY
Actually Badzboyz89 might be right. ACC is the LED power. The LED is normally the one far away from the ground.

Badzboyz89 says: Mar 3, 2009. 12:27 PM REPLY

ACC is just a led in the switch, power and ground is the only thing u need. It doesnt matter which end up you plug it in as long
as you dont mix the red and black wires together

Mighty Mackinac says: Mar 3, 2009. 2:09 PM REPLY

so which one would i connect to turn the led on and have the circuit work? i assume that BadzBoyz, you mean that i can
connect to either one and the circuit would work?

olie854 says: Mar 3, 2009. 6:05 PM REPLY

I see now the link did not work for me the acc is for the led only 2v should be necessary depending on color i assume
red but badzboy89 is correct i did not under stand the switch sorry.

Mighty Mackinac says: Mar 3, 2009. 8:16 PM REPLY

ok...so i tested the circuit and i followed it to the letter...and nothing works...

Mighty Mackinac says: Mar 3, 2009. 9:06 PM REPLY

are you one hundred percent sure that the circuit is correct? it might have been my crapping soldering job...but
im kinda new to it...

Badzboyz89 says: Mar 3, 2009. 10:35 PM REPLY

The circuit works but did u test out all the led's on the fan?

Mighty Mackinac says: Mar 4, 2009. 12:32 AM REPLY

all of the leds work...i know for a fact...im just not sure that the circuit i made was properly constructed...

Mighty Mackinac says: Mar 4, 2009. 12:56 PM REPLY

ok...one of my friends was saying that he attempted something close to this...but he said that the
12v and the ground needs to be switched...i think that makes sense...ideas?

Badzboyz89 says: Mar 5, 2009. 1:24 AM REPLY

just follow the 2nd diagram its working fine

Mighty Mackinac says: Mar 29, 2009. 12:25 PM REPLY

ok...so...i just about killed my computer by plugging this thing in... i have done everything by
the specs and it still won't work... I nearly killed my computer; i wanted to see if reversing the
polarity would change things...all i have to say is, it smells rly bad in my room right now...my
headphone jack cables burnt through the covering...

albylovesscience says: Jul 27, 2009. 6:24 PM REPLY

wow this mod is beast, kudos to you

II PH3N0M 64 II says: Jul 24, 2009. 12:58 PM REPLY

This looks so awesome. I want to do it now! Just a couple questions though. -What exactly is the 'Female Audio connector'? Is that a 3.5mm Female to
Female Audio cable? -Also really like the switch unit you used. Do you happened to know where I could get one. It would be nice to have one that would fit
nicely in my case? -And finally is there any place were I can get all the supplies from one retailer? What would you suggest? If not what the next best
retailers?

twistedstaples says: May 31, 2009. 6:34 AM REPLY

not sure if you could do this, but could you theoretically make your LEDs flash in rhythm to your fans, enough to get the backwards rotating wheel effect, or
other effects from flashing the light at a certain frequency that corresponds to the fan speed? Basically, you could have a raved out light show and fans that
you could show spinning different directions or whatever. Just wondering.

tanmanknex says: Jul 19, 2009. 9:20 PM REPLY

capacitor and variable resistor.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/
 bounty1012 says: Jun 21, 2009. 1:18 PM REPLY
lmfao this is pwnage! 5/5 faved.

punkatsub says: Jun 17, 2009. 5:14 AM REPLY

i probably shouldn't do this, as i have epypilis, not so good, man for the eyes

sn3102 says: Jun 1, 2009. 8:17 PM REPLY

The Instructable is well presented and documented. I would add to your disclaimer: Don't try this at home unless if you have a well rounded knowledge of
electronics!! This is a higher level modification and it is not worth (in my opinion) taking the risk of smoking my investment.

Davidnipp says: May 31, 2009. 3:25 AM REPLY

Gotta love the G15 and the G5... *looks around* hey we totally have the same setup!!!

masonat says: Mar 21, 2009. 2:54 PM REPLY

Ok... I am trying to build the circuit. It is not working the light is always on even with nothing attached to the base. what could be bad? I have tried with
several transistors same result. What should i do?

view all 177 comments

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raving-out-your-Computer/