Several times I got mails where visitors ask me to test simple hardware and today I want to follow this request. First I’ve decided to test the CC Twinset by Revoltec, because nearly 50 percent of all Modders use or want to use CCFL?s (abbreviation for “Cold Cathode Florescent Lamps”) or CC (“Cold Cathode) to light up their case.
The delivery of the CCFL Set …
After ordering the CC Twinset you?ll get this small but fine package, which contains all accessories to run the CC’s.
Package Contents …
You can clearly see the content of the small package. The package includes the two blue CCFL, which are firmly connected to the inverter (converts the low 12 voltage into the substantially higher CCFL voltage), one switch with PCI plate, 2 lacing cords, 4 mounting brackets and adhesive tape to fix the CCFL.
Lacing cord and the attachment …
The set includes the four adhesive tapes for attachment and the 2 lacing cords, but it?s mysterious for me to manage it with 2 lacing cords. But usually everybody has a kind of handicraft drawer, if not, you can also put the wires without the lacing cords into the mounting 😉 Furthermore there is a bigger adhesive tape to fix the inverter or you can cut the tape to fix both CC?s.
The switch with PCI plate …
A good idea is also, that the set includes a switch with pci plate, which makes you able to switch on or off the 12 voltage of the power supply. Simply connect both connectors to the power and fix the pci plate in one free slot and you?re ready with the controllable supply. You can also take the switch out off the pci plate and put it perhaps into the front-panel from the PC, but first you have to mill out a hole for it.
The Coldlight Cathodes …
Both Coldlight Cathodes (comparably with neon tubes) have a length of 31,5 cm, the diameter is 2mm, but they have protection tubes with a diameter of 11 mm each, made of plastic. To carry out the brightness of about 15000 cd/m² the CC?s only needs 3 Watt, but Revoltec has no written information on the package. The life span (refer to the manufacturer) is about 20 years, but I wasn’t able to test this 😉 In my opinion the isolation of high voltage wires are very good. If you?re going to install the CC during the operation of the PC, nothing bad will happen.
The brightness …
The brightness of both CC?s is very enormous and I?m sure, many PC?s will light very bright after install. All the same you?re going to install the CC?s behind the fans, down on the PC, crosswise through the PC, behind the hard disk or above on the top, the brightness is nearly perfect to illuminate the whole PC. The advantage of CC?s in contrast to normal PC lights is the extremely low heat emission (that?s why they are called Coldlight) and the very low current consumption, which have nearly no disadvantages concerning the power consumption at any PC.
