Cold Cathode FAQ'S

Q. Can the wire length from the cold cathode (ccfl) to the inverter be extended?
A. Generally speaking, no. The inverters have a pre-determined output when the length of the wire is extended it will change the load and significantly reduce the light output. Wire length is normally maximized at about 7-8 inches.

Q. Can the input power leads be extended?
A. Absolutely, the power leads can be extended to any desirable length using a minimum of a 22 guage wire.

Q. Can the polarity be reversed?
A. No. the power inverters are not protected from reverse polarity. If the positive and negative power leads are connected reverse, the inverter will sustain damage and most likely will be instantly destroyed.

Q. Can the cold cathodes be strobbed, dimmed or switched?
A. Yes, by interupting the power supply any of the above may be accomplished. Make certain that no changes are introduced between the inverter and the cold cathode as this will damage the invereter.

Q. Can a single inverter power more than one cold cathode?
A. Yes, there are both single and dual output inverters available. They can not be modified to accomodate additional bulbs.

Q. Can cold cathodes be run from an a/c source?
A. Although the inverters for cold cathodes all require 12 volts DC for power, through the use of an a/c adapter they can be powered directly from a standard wall outlet.

Q. How durable are cold cathodes?
A. Cold cathodes are extremely durable. Thay are basically shock and vibration resistant. While the bulbs are very thin and made of glass they are generally protected by an acrylic or poly-carbonate tubing. They are durable enough to be used in automotive applications for under car and accent lighting.

Q. What is the expected life span of a cold cathode?
A. Cold cathodes can be expected to last approximately 20,000 hours.

Q. What is the brightness output level of cold cathodes?
A. The bulbs sold on our site are very high output, high intensity output. With our standard inverter and bulb combination the output will be about 32,000 cd/m2, much higher than those normally found on the market.

Q. What is the best method to mount cold cathodes?
A. Our bulbs come with a double sided tape/velcro attached to them. This is adequate for some applications, however zip ties or our auto ccfl clips are recommended for secure automotive applications