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 (needs Mic Preamp)

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

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.

Comments

[kyismaster]

The song is Streamline by Newton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BugFniXE1rc

[didgitalpunk]

the page has been removed because of author rights... sucks!

[kingofdon]

that so awesome..can i use other transistor than TIP31C

[beehard44]

you can use a mosfet

[fuzychiapet]

"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?

[Xellers]

No, unfortunately, time wasted playing video games on a computer cannot be transferred for credit towards an electrical engineering degree. Sorry.

[HughGRection]

But it's Warcraft Man.

[beehard44]

yeah, nice excuse
Well, if you're an electrical engineer or an experienced hobbyist, give it a shot

[jasongroupindustries]

If you want to have more fun with led and music try this one.

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-VU-meter-that-dances-to-computer-music/

On this one you can you the amp he did:
http://www.instructables.com/id/be-ZIGGY-STARDUST-gone-SPACE-VIKING-Volume-Indica/?ALLSTEPS

[zack247]

yuo might want to clean out the blue fan... its really dusty. cool 'ible though! 5*s

[DustySeven7]

I have worked on computers for a while now. The red wire on a molex cable is 5v power the yellow cable is the 12v line.

[junits15]

it seems the tip31 is a favorite for music controlled lights

[Aztof]

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

nuff said 

[monkeyshoe10]

d(^o^)b

nuff said =)

[Aztof]

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

[dkfa]

maybe you could make the leds glow and fade....like its breathing! Now you can call your PC a MONSTER rig.

[alex-sharetskiy]

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

[junits15]

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

[alex-sharetskiy]

if you put a resistor in series

[jobergy]

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]

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

But thats just me.

[jobergy]

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]

Just Awesome

[your dog]

this instructable makes me extremely jealous

 

[akjian]

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

[olie854]

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]

Where is the sound input?

[itstemo1]

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

[venootez]

thats cool. by the way, whats the name of the song?

[alex-sharetskiy]

streemline by newton

[masonat]

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

[Mighty Mackinac]

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]

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

[Mighty Mackinac]

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

[olie854]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.