I am completely new to this, been about 6 years since I last had ago at Electronics work. But i am trying to get back into it.

My project is to use the HDD LED activity output to trigger a chasing LED circuit. so I belive that the HDD LED runs on 3.3v ? and would be looking to use a 12v Chasing LED circuit, I thought about a relay, but it has been such a long time, I think I can remember that there not good with constant on/off functions ?

Regards
-Ninja

 

Right you are. Don't use a relay. It is too slow and will wear out pretty quickly.

 

I thought so but what would you suggest for this sort of thing ?

-Ninja

 

Well, you can learn a lot about basic electronics here. But why do you want to fool around with the HDD LED? There many other fun things you can do. Like a little robot thingy that drives the cat crazy.

 

I am in the process of making my computer case from scratch and rather than having the standard 1 HDD activity LED, i would like to have something that looks like the knight rider car led chasing lights

 

Hah. Now you're talking. Then you should build this flashing light thingy:

http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/showthread.php?t=58102

Complete with full construction details. (Just kidding)

Just note that that is the kind of help you will get on this forum. Tons of over enthusiastic electro experts just itching to get their hands dirty.

 

Really mrChips? the epic data arm thread? I suspect Bill_Marsden will be along shortly and post his LED project, which is what you are looking for. Or just search through his posts; it comes up a lot.