Has anyone every experimented with using CCFL tubes scavenged from old laptop back-lights for lighting? I would think they could be found easily for in quantity for free.
It would be interesting to see how well you could light a small work area (desk?) with a few of those. I would think the wattage has to be pretty low, as laptops have to run for a long time on batteries.
Of course modern laptops are moving to LED back-lights...but I'm thinking savaging the older back-lights; as they should be getting thrown away pretty often.
Hm, I always scavage whatever I can xD and Yes I did take this Cold Cathod out of screen, U will need converter for power it up, converter add first super voltage to fire a line of electric diffusion,or whetever it is, and then add less power becouse the line has been created - between anode and cathode XD .. u can try to find a chematic or ready one in internet ^_^
u can also scavage inverter form laptop and read a specification in pdf in internet on how to connect it to power to make it liht up ^_^
but those cold cathode lamps are preety cheap, propably cheaper would be to buy one with converter
there is another thing about it: when u will heat it up with 300V for example before starting it up the gas inside will heat and the preassure inside will go mad XD and u can power it up then - u got much more light than before. hoever it is dangerous and ucan just brake tube ;/ and its killing lifespan of it too.
oh one more thing do u know it is UV lamp ? XD it is just a white powder inside fluorescent to this light - is shining in 'white' colour , so white are not such bright as red ones,
(red colour also is not closing human eye aperture becouse it is seeing as a heat not a light so u can see better in dark with red ones ^_^ yay )
- About LEds-> i saw some electroiluminiscent panels-stickers, that u can cut with scissors and glue for example onto car and power up ^ ^ but idont remmember ho does it call ;/ its propably kind of electroilumunistent powder that is used as backlight in watches , I ma not sure o.o