Sunbeam Liquid Neon Tube

Introduction

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&PATTERNSPIRAL
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 whenyou 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.

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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:

A video of the neon typing for me, can be found by e-mailing murdoc@rbmods.com , depending on how many requests I get.