DIY - AMBILIGHT Flat screen tv backlight

DIY "Ambilight" - Flatscreen tv backlight (ghetto style)

Ok, you may have seen the Phillips flat screen TVs with "ambilight" technology. It's basically a backlight that lights up the wall behind the tv and looks cool. i guess it changes colors and shit.

Well, i wanted to do the same thing because, well, i am a bachelor and i can make my living room as crass i fucking feel like.

So here's how i did mine.

1. I went to an electronic parts store. You gotta find a real one. Not the kind that sells a resistor on a blister card pack for 2.99. I mean a legit, nerd electronics outlet. You can also find these in computer stores but chances are you won't find the stepdown transformer to power them at any computer store (see step 2 for explanation) so you'll end up having to go to an electronics part store anyways.

The geeky electroncis store will have all sorts of mini neon tubes in all colors. They are meant to go inside computer cases for the real geeks that like to trick out their computers with plexi and neon.

Pick a color that you like. Should be around $15-20 for a pair which should include the mini transformer to power them.

Here are the ones i got:

2. Now the neon lights are meant for lower voltages coming from a mother board so you'll need to find a step down transformer to power them since these aren't going into a computer. If you are in a real geeky electronics store, any employee should be able to point you in the right direction.

Basically you want a transformer that gives you approx 500ma dc from your wall outlet (which will vary depending on what country you are in). This will cost around $7, maybe $10 at the most.

3. I had to splice mine with barrel connectors to the neon's transformer. (see above pic)

Here they are plugged in to AC power.

4. Mount it to the back of your TV with whatever you want. The Neon weighs nothing so you can use almost anything. I used handiTak. Be careful not to break the neon bcuz it's really fragile.

Here's mine from the back

5. Plug in your transformer and there you have it, a ghetto "ambilight" for your flat screen. it won't change colors but it still looks cool (to me anyways)

It even looks pretty nice with the TV turned off. Two tubes is just bright enough to notice and look good but not too bright to distract or over power (these pics are pretty dark bcuz they were taken with my phone... it's actually much brighter)

Total cost: approx $25-$30
Time to build it and mount it: 20 minutes at the most. Maybe an hour if your name is Nachos.

Have fun!

If you have any questions feel free to ask!