Lighting Control, Darkside Dimmable LED Strips, and Fan Controllers

[RedPanda]

I recently picked up two 30 cm Darkside red LED strips. Promotional videos mention they are dimmable and can be connected to a fan controller. What is the best way to control case lighting? I am planning on using a NZXT Sentry Mix-2 Fan controller. However, the fan controller does not let fans turn completely off. My 5.25 bay capacity is full, but is there a good way to control case lighting from a PCI slot that include off/on, dimming features, and does not have a plethora of colorful wires? The led strips use  2 pin connectors, but included are 30 cm 2 pin to 3 pin adapter/extension.

 

I went ahead and the questions in bold for people who don't want to read all that.

 

Thanks,

 

RedPanda

[W-L]

I recently picked up two 30 cm Darkside red LED strips. Promotional videos mention they are dimmable and can be connected to a fan controller. What is the best way to control case lighting? I am planning on using a NZXT Sentry Mix-2 Fan controller. However, the fan controller does not let fans turn completely off. My 5.25 bay capacity is full, but is there a good way to control case lighting from a PCI slot that include off/on, dimming features, and does not have a plethora of colorful wires? The led strips use  2 pin connectors, but included are 30 cm 2 pin to 3 pin adapter/extension.

 

I went ahead and the questions in bold for people who don't want to read all that.

 

Thanks,

 

RedPanda

 

I believe those are capable of voltage control so you could connect it to a fan header on your motherboard and control the brightness of it through the software, I might be wrong about this but it may also work with PWM control since LED's do give a larger range of brightness using PWM control, but don't quote me on that.

[RedPanda]

I believe those are capable of voltage control so you could connect it to a fan header on your motherboard and control the brightness of it through the software, I might be wrong about this but it may also work with PWM control since LED's do give a larger range of brightness using PWM control, but don't quote me on that.

I don't think PWM is an option even if it worked. The LED power connector is only 3 pins. Also turning the LED strip off would require going into bios if I used motherboard headers. I was looking more for something I could switch off as I was going to sleep.

[W-L]

I don't think PWM is an option even if it worked. The LED power connector is only 3 pins. Also turning the LED strip off would require going into bios if I used motherboard headers. I was looking more for something I could switch off as I was going to sleep.

 

 

For something like that it might be a bit specific since you fan controller doesn't have an off switch, just a though you may be able to turn off the LED's completely as long as the voltage is low enough on the low setting of the fan controller but if you want a more permanent on/off switch maybe something like this will work, I don't see many places having them so it might be something that you need to make.

 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/fan-extension-cable-with-switch-a15gg 

[RedPanda]

For something like that it might be a bit specific since you fan controller doesn't have an off switch, just a though you may be able to turn off the LED's completely as long as the voltage is low enough on the low setting of the fan controller but if you want a more permanent on/off switch maybe something like this will work, I don't see many places having them so it might be something that you need to make.

 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/fan-extension-cable-with-switch-a15gg 

This link doesn't work for me. "Product with code 'A15GG ' not found!"

[W-L]

This link doesn't work for me. "Product with code 'A15GG ' not found!"

 

Oh, try here:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/fan-extension-cable-with-switch-a15gg