[Project] Loricatus Tropical Incendia (Armored Tropical Fire) {ever evolving} - Page 2

It should also be noted that I am replacing the red CCFLs with white ones, changing my XClio side fan from red to color change, and am replacing the red power/HDD LEDs. The HDD LED is going white, the power is going to a color change as well. The LEDs might take a while to get hooked up (need to get someone to solder for me as I cant do it well with parts that small) but it will be hooked up eventually.

So, I am tired of not being able to look into my case window because of bare CCFLs blinding me. I am told the white bulbs I have ordered are much brighter than the red I have, so something must be done.

I thought up the idea of creating baffles for them. First I tried cutting index cards into strips and coating one side in electricians tape. It did not work well; they were floppy, and when placed over the CCFL the case as a whole was much darker.

Then I thought of aluminum foil.

The roll I used is 12" wide. I pulled a piece 6" long. Then proceeded to fold it in half the short way giving me a 12x3" strip. I made an approximate 0.75" fold, and continued to roll it giving me a 12x0.75" strip several layers thick. I then covered one side (the side with the seam) in two strips of electrical tape and cut off the excess. I finished by wrapping each end in a band of electrical tape to facilitate double-side taping them to the bulbs.

For the 15" CCFL, I pulled a piece off the roll about 16" wide. I then repeatedly folded it in half until I ended up with a strip approximately 16x0.75". Again I used the electrical tape on the rough side, wrapped two bans around the outside, and cut down to 15".

I did a quick test by putting one of my 12" strips against my 12" bottom CCFL. I no longer can see the bulb in the case, and the case is actually brighter inside because the shininess of aluminum is reflecting the light into the case instead of it being wasted in my eyes.

I have attached the 15" and both 12" I made; one 12" is right-side up, the other is right-side down.

I have aluminum tape myself. However, after having used it on a heat sink (to prevent seepage of airflow between the fan and the fins, as well as to keep all air going through the fins all the way) I know that it is near impossible to remove. Given the frequency I move stuff around, I wanted to have something that I can remove easily. Double-sided tape, even the good stuff, is easy enough to remove if need be.

Oh, I got it now. Cool idea. My only concern is seeing the aluminum through the window, which is why I coated the baffles in electrician's tape. It would be a great idea to make the ducts as you suggest and powdercoat the one side to match my case, but that is out of my ability now.

Due to my inability to solder well, I have decided to "contract out" as it were to my father. The good news, the wires should be neater. The bad: no updates until Friday or Saturday.