LEDs come to cathode style light tubes

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 1:12 pm

http://www.elma.com/Admin/ProductionFil ... -Tubes.pdf

Something to look at for those using 'cold cathode' tubes in their lighting projects.

WarpeD · Post by **WarpeD** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 1:25 pm

I'd love to get pricing on this stuff......I can think of lots of places at work it would be good, and I need to do panel floods for my simulator cockpit too. You can't put anything like a fluorescent lamp on a dimmer.....LED's are another story, depending on the configuration.

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 1:48 pm

Ya have to see if these are out, if they are generally available to more than just OEM digikey should have them. . .

Right now looks like their distribution is limited (they are out of Europe).

You can get them from Newark with a hefty $20 per order surcharge,
http://www.newark.com/mentor/1321-1400/ ... dp/51R7964

or if you are in the UK order direct from farnell maybe
http://www.farnell.com/

which appears to be newark in the UK.

The manufacture is MENTOR

Still not ready from prime time hobby use.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 1:55 pm

Cool... any idea of pricing? Can't find them anywhere online (or @ least Mouser doesn't carry them).

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:05 pm

Piece meal on the ordering, 20 bucks for the warm white led/light pipe end cap, 4 bucks for the rigid 100mm light pipe.

not sure what else is needed, an end cap to reflect the light back down the pipe. . .not ready for general consumption is my vote on this. But their catalog shows lots of great applications. For lighting around the house its looks great. though there is the sidelight fiber we found already at fiber optics products. . .

DLMatthys · Post by **DLMatthys** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 7:11 pm

Here is a home brew option for the price of a cup of coffee...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30727025@N02/4666798706/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30727025@N02/4666798636/

Works the same way...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30727025@N02/4668667113/

Some folks call them "glow tubes"

MillenniumFalsehood · Post by **MillenniumFalsehood** » Wed Sep 15, 2010 5:08 am

I tried those glow tubes Don, but I found that there are still hot spots on the ends of the tube and the center never gloes very brightly. Of course, YMMV.

Mr. Engineer · Post by **Mr. Engineer** » Sat Sep 25, 2010 9:05 am

Though the ones I found does not give consistent light like the cold cathode but using SMT white LEDs, it is quite bright.

http://chowfookcheong.blogspot.com/2010 ... strip.html