Alternative Cold Cathode Power

So I want make an underbody kit for my skateboard. I have some cold cathodes I have left over from some car mods, and I was planning to mount them underneath my skateboard.

So now my question is: What can I use to power said cathode tubes?

I was thinking of using 8 AA batteries, but that seems really inefficient.

What else could I do? Ideas?

Anything that can power 12V power to them. Under voltage will fry the transformers. I've heard of someone running them off of a 9v battery, but they won't be as bright. I don't think cathodes will last that long under a skateboard. Maybe try ribbon strips?

Radioshack has 12v batteries about the size of a AAA battery

Losing quickly wrote:

Anything that can power 12V power to them. Under voltage will fry the transformers. I've heard of someone running them off of a 9v battery, but they won't be as bright. I don't think cathodes will last that long under a skateboard. Maybe try ribbon strips?

Ooo, thanks for that tip. I didn't realize that under voltage is damaging. Could you possibly explain that a little more?

lbjshaq2345 wrote:

Radioshack has 12v batteries about the size of a AAA battery

Ya, just recently saw those. Have you tried them?

My understanding is that the transformers have to have a constant 12v power supply, if they have less, you stand a chance at burning the transformer out. I think a friend of mine dressed up as a robot for Ween one year and had a set of cathodes hooked up to a 9v battery and said he didn't have any issues all night.

I use them in my DMM. I don't see why they wouldn't work for your application. Not sure how long they last though.

I have used the big rectangular 9V flashlight batteries before and they worked perfectly for a skateboard.

Losing quickly wrote:

My understanding is that the transformers have to have a constant 12v power supply, if they have less, you stand a chance at burning the transformer out. I think a friend of mine dressed up as a robot for Ween one year and had a set of cathodes hooked up to a 9v battery and said he didn't have any issues all night.

hmmm.... Good idea.... lol

Use LEDs. Smaller, less fragile, and can run off a 9V battery if you can't find a small enough 12V solution.

Cathodes on a skateboard? Use SMD Bars and trim if needed, don't even bother with cathodes.

Grinding, doing a trick, etc, you will definitely damage the tubes, i'm surprised no one mentioned this before

nm: aken did

I think you guys also missed the part where he said he wanted to use some Cathodes he had left over.

A-Ray wrote:

I think you guys also missed the part where he said he wanted to use some Cathodes he had left over.

Exactly.

Also, I definitely not good enough/too scared to attempt any tricks either. I'm just in it for the traveling, and I thought that this would be a cool idea. I've never seen it before, at least.

Ya, LEDs would be more efficient, durable, and altogether probably a better choice.

But it definitely doesn't beat out the cool factor of a sort of mini-UB kit, ya know what I mean? :-D

While you may just use it for traveling and no tricks. And I know you are trying to use leftover parts. Those thodes are going to break the first time you ride that I bet.

I used to be a skater. And I know how fragile the thodes are. I bet the first crack, or the first time you fall off or something, or if you even set the board down too hard. Those little tubes are going to break man.

IMO those thodes will be fine for just general riding. On the skateboard that I mounted the thodes on the board went through hell and were ok. I don't see it being that big of deal since you are just using them since they are leftovers.

So I did it:







If you notice in the first picture, the cathodes are dim around the area of the transformer. The transformer is probably interfering with the cathodes because the battery power is low.

Thoughts?
I think it looks pretty sick. I can't wait to ride this tonight.

The transformer isn't "interfering" with the cathode tubes - it doesn't have enough power to light the entire tube. You'll notice the bright end is near the wires, and eventually it fades out. That's what many warned against when using less voltage. That usually will burn out your transformer in not very much time.

Fair enough.

I think what I'll do is add 2 AA batteries to the 9V, making it 12V, for now.

I was asking around in my Engineering lecture today, and someone suggest a 12v battery from an RC plane or car. That'll cost $20-30 though.

Thanks for the suggestion guys!