Hooking up Cold Cathodes to a desk. No power Supply.

[iEdd]

There are two types of plugpack. REGULATED and unregulated. Make sure you get one that is REGULATED and higher than the total current of the lights. Also, get a fused one if you can.
If you got an unregulated one, if the full current wasn't drawn from the lights, the voltage would go up, this increased wattage could blow a "bulb".
EDIT: Also, if the lights only display their wattage on them, just divide that by 12 to get amperage. (W÷V=A, VxA=W, etc)

 

[AlmightyG5]

There are two types of plugpack. REGULATED and unregulated. Make sure you get one that is REGULATED and higher than the total current of the lights. Also, get a fused one if you can.
If you got an unregulated one, if the full current wasn't drawn from the lights, the voltage would go up, this increased wattage could blow a "bulb".
EDIT: Also, if the lights only display their wattage on them, just divide that by 12 to get amperage. (W÷V=A, VxA=W, etc)

I can't seem to find any wall warts that are regulated...

 

[iMeowbot]

I can't seem to find any wall warts that are regulated...

One example would be Radio Shack 273-1680, but again the Tripp-Lite PR3 will give you a more comfortable margin at half the price (and has a power switch and fuse built in)

 

[AlmightyG5]

I'm thinking this is perfect-12V 800mA Regulated

800mA should be enough because the set i'm getting says right in the specs that it consumes 700mA so i will have 100mA left over...

Here's a link to the set that takes 700mA-http://www.xoxide.com/logisys-15in-ccfl-blue.html

 

[iMeowbot]

I'm thinking this is perfect-12V 800mA Regulated

That looks cool, but you may still want to add a fuse because that supply doesn't appear to have one.

 

[Makosuke]

Yep, we've got a couple of those multi-voltage RadioShack bricks floating around work, and they seem to get the job done fine. I second iMeowbot's suggestion to drop the extra couple bucks on a 1A DC fuse to go with it, though--98% chance it's not necessary, but if something goes wrong (say, you accidentally short something when you put it together) you'll be glad you've got it.

(I've worked with DC power supplies that have a soft overcurrent protection that will shut it down if something draws too much current, but those are several hundred doller, very stable supplies for data aquisition systems and I know cheaper units won't hesitate to blow up on you if you push them too hard.)

 

[csubear]

There are two types of plugpack. REGULATED and unregulated. Make sure you get one that is REGULATED and higher than the total current of the lights. Also, get a fused one if you can.
If you got an unregulated one, if the full current wasn't drawn from the lights, the voltage would go up, this increased wattage could blow a "bulb".
EDIT: Also, if the lights only display their wattage on them, just divide that by 12 to get amperage. (W÷V=A, VxA=W, etc)

Yes do what he says. Unregulated dc converters are never never never any where near there rated voltage. Most of the ones i have say 12v and really put out 15 or 16.

I have never messed with these types of lights before, but it they are at all sensitive to voltage make sure that you have a regulated power supply.