So in my quest to build a CNC machine, I needed to source a printer for some parts. While searching craig's list I found a guy giving away a all in one printer scanner. I quickly snatched it up and proceeded to tear it apart. I got the motors and slides I was wanting (but they were the wrong kind
). I also removed the light bar that is used to scan pages. I figured it was a cold cathode light as in most stand alone printers, so I was wanting to use it for the trunk. Turns out that in combo printers (a least the one I had) the light is an LED. And not just any LED, a RGB LED! While testing the 12 wires to see which 4 I needed, I ended up partially burning out the red section (thank God it was the red and not the blue or green lol). Anyway, here is a vid that explains kinda what I did (not my vid BTW):
http://www.instructables.com/id/Scanner-Night-Light/
And here are some pics of it on the work bench.
I figured I could build a circuit to make the colors strobe, or cycle, or whatever; but it's too much trouble (unless I get bored one day and happen to find an extra $15). So I'm just gonna wire it up to a 4-position like in the video. I should have it mounted tomorrow I hope, so watched for install pics.
Moral, of the story, don't throw combo printers or scanners away. They have free parts!! Look on craigslist to see if anyone is giving stuff away. These things are goldmines lol.
2009 Toyota Corolla
Linear Mode
