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RBMODS REVIEWS |
Date 2004-01-22
Provider: Jab-Tech
Author: Murdoc
Editor: Princess Ammie
Sunbeam Liquid Neon Tube
Today I’m going to be reviewing the ‘Liquid Neon’ by sunbeam. The neon comes in an excellent box to keep it from being damaged. The side of the package gives the details of the neon, the one I will be looking at is the blue spiral pattern neon. The plastic box opens at the top and the contents slide out in one go. A single plastic tie secures the wires and inverter to the neon, this can be slid off without effort.
About Jab-tech:
Jab-tech
Specifications:
ITEM&PATTERN SPIRAL
TUBE DIAMETER 15MM
TUBE LEGTH 300MM
INPUT VOLTAGE OF INVERTER 12V
The product:
 
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The neon comes with a switch attached, if you get board of the flickering or need to sleep with your computer on, the switch is mounted on a PCI blanking plate which makes it easy to mount in your case, no need to drill holes. The power connects to then neo via a y-splitter this means you don’t loose a Molex connector and of course means it can be used when you have a lack of spare connectors. The inverter for the neon is encase in a small black box, it loos discrete so no worries of it being an eye-sore. The inverter has small holes at the tops, as it creates heat, without these holes there is a possibility that the inverter could overheat. The relevant mounting equipment comes with the neon, some sticky backed sponge to secure the inverter and neon, also a screw for the blanking plate. A downfall to the liquid neon could be its size it a bulky object but in the right location this would not be a problem.
 
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I plug the neon is and I was pleasantly surprised by the randomness of the spiral pattern, its very impressive. The brightness of the neon isn’t amazing, but too much brighter and it would probably make it difficult to see the pattern. The plastic end caps of the neon slow slightly when turned on this also gives a good effect. I asked a few people of their opinions and they overall where very impressed, the blue is a nice colour and the pattern can keep you entertained for too long for it too be healthy.
 
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Then I discovered the big downfall of this product. While I was observing the the neon and conducting my review I placed it on top of my keyboard, bad idea! Random windows started opening up, my initial reaction was that I had a virus, messages I sent previously on mIRC got sent again with garbled letters before and after, then the OSD (on screen display) opened up on my monitor, I realised something was wrong, eventually my computer went into standby. I went to fetch my DVM (digital volt meter) a modders friend, I measured the potential difference (or voltage) between the outside plastic casing of the neon and the ground pin of the molex, their was a voltage of around 150-170mV which isn’t a lot but to my unshielded Logitech keyboard and monitor it cause serious problems. I put the neon next to my digi-box on my TV and it stopped it receiving a signal. Not particularly the type of device I wish to have near the internals of my computer.
 
Please click on thumbnails to get bigger pictures
Conclusion:
The idea of the liquid neon is solid it looks great if a little bulkey, before I found its hate of electronic equipment the neon was on for a 4 out of 5 as it looks really good, but as a modding product to put in your case I don’t thinks its safe.
Pros:
+ Looks good
+ Good quality
Cons:
Causes problems with electronic equipment.
A video of the neon typing for me, can be found by e-mailing murdoc@rbmods.com , depending on how many requests I get.
Red&Blackness gives it 2 out of 5 dots
Was anything left out?! - Discuss this in our forums
Thank you Jab-Tech for making this review possible
AMD
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