I'm working on a Stargate themed case mod. I have never used LED's before and I would like to integrate allot into this build. So I have allot of basic questions.
First the set up.
1) I want a fairly powerful bar LED to light the Mobo and back light a clear acrylic front panel. I'm looking at this light (https://www.moddiy.com/products/Sunbeam-Meteor-Light-30cm-%252d-Blue-%2812-LEDs%2C-8-Speed-Settings%29.html) I'd link maybe 5 of them in the back right corner of the case. I am wondering if it would work. and if it would overpower the LED's 3 and 4.
2) I want to have several acrylic stargate ancient data crystals (https://www.scifidesign.com/2015/12/30/stargate-atlantis-data-crystal-replica-props/) with white LED's inside. Ideally I would like to wire these LED into the HDD so they flicker when I'm using the HDD. I have no idea how to do this. Additionally I would like to have once mounted to the front of a disk drive that would also flicker with the disk LED.
3) The front of the case is supported by two Lantian style pillars (https://jcprops.wordpress.com/2011/02/04/stargate-atlantis-chicklet-light-replica/) with clear yellow acrylic plates on the inside and outside of the case. I want a string of LED's lighting these from the inside and for these to be the most prominent lighting feature. I would like to be able to turns these off as needed. Also the design as of now has a diamond shaped clear acrylic piece going through the support and I'm thinking I could put a single LED through a hole in the middle. Would it be better to have two pieces of acrylic with two separate LED's.
4) With the case design I have two 100mm fans at the top and bottom of the case (wind tunnel sort of set up) I want them to have blue LED's and one of them is supposed to simulate the event horizon of a worm hole. Any idea how i could get a rippling pond effect out of an LED and a fan.
5) On the side of the case I have an ascetic design with clear blue acrylic panels. I'm thinking I can use single bulb LED's placed behind each plate. I would like to be able to turn these off as needed.
On to the stupid questions
A) How do I control all these LED's. What hardware/software might i need. Ideally I would like software control over lights 1 and 4. LED 2 I would like to flicker with the HDD. 3 and 5 I would like push buttons and if possible software control. (Mobo is a ASROCK Z170 Extreme +)
B) I know LED's are low wattage but should i consider separate power sources.
C) Again i know LED's aren't supposed to get hot but has anyone noticed significant heat spikes from LED's. I should have very good cooling but for one thing I want to just use a head sink for the CPU and use the airflow through the case to cool the sink. I may eventually go with water-cooling but for now I have dinky CPU and the heat sink I have looks cool.
D) recommendations on vendors or kits.
E) Are their case mod community sites to post development pictures and get more advice.
F) let me know if I forgot about anything important.
G) What thickness of Acrylic will let LED light through. I'm going to have 2mm and 5mm clear acrylic. I haven't used clear acrylic before is there significant refection or softening from the acrylic.
I'll have design and prototype pictures up once I have them done and a place to post them.
First the set up.
1) I want a fairly powerful bar LED to light the Mobo and back light a clear acrylic front panel. I'm looking at this light (https://www.moddiy.com/products/Sunbeam-Meteor-Light-30cm-%252d-Blue-%2812-LEDs%2C-8-Speed-Settings%29.html) I'd link maybe 5 of them in the back right corner of the case. I am wondering if it would work. and if it would overpower the LED's 3 and 4.
2) I want to have several acrylic stargate ancient data crystals (https://www.scifidesign.com/2015/12/30/stargate-atlantis-data-crystal-replica-props/) with white LED's inside. Ideally I would like to wire these LED into the HDD so they flicker when I'm using the HDD. I have no idea how to do this. Additionally I would like to have once mounted to the front of a disk drive that would also flicker with the disk LED.
3) The front of the case is supported by two Lantian style pillars (https://jcprops.wordpress.com/2011/02/04/stargate-atlantis-chicklet-light-replica/) with clear yellow acrylic plates on the inside and outside of the case. I want a string of LED's lighting these from the inside and for these to be the most prominent lighting feature. I would like to be able to turns these off as needed. Also the design as of now has a diamond shaped clear acrylic piece going through the support and I'm thinking I could put a single LED through a hole in the middle. Would it be better to have two pieces of acrylic with two separate LED's.
4) With the case design I have two 100mm fans at the top and bottom of the case (wind tunnel sort of set up) I want them to have blue LED's and one of them is supposed to simulate the event horizon of a worm hole. Any idea how i could get a rippling pond effect out of an LED and a fan.
5) On the side of the case I have an ascetic design with clear blue acrylic panels. I'm thinking I can use single bulb LED's placed behind each plate. I would like to be able to turn these off as needed.
On to the stupid questions
A) How do I control all these LED's. What hardware/software might i need. Ideally I would like software control over lights 1 and 4. LED 2 I would like to flicker with the HDD. 3 and 5 I would like push buttons and if possible software control. (Mobo is a ASROCK Z170 Extreme +)
B) I know LED's are low wattage but should i consider separate power sources.
C) Again i know LED's aren't supposed to get hot but has anyone noticed significant heat spikes from LED's. I should have very good cooling but for one thing I want to just use a head sink for the CPU and use the airflow through the case to cool the sink. I may eventually go with water-cooling but for now I have dinky CPU and the heat sink I have looks cool.
D) recommendations on vendors or kits.
E) Are their case mod community sites to post development pictures and get more advice.
F) let me know if I forgot about anything important.
G) What thickness of Acrylic will let LED light through. I'm going to have 2mm and 5mm clear acrylic. I haven't used clear acrylic before is there significant refection or softening from the acrylic.
I'll have design and prototype pictures up once I have them done and a place to post them.