UV CCFL

Look what I bought:

A brand new Cold Cathode Fluorescent Light (whoa, long name). The package contains everything you need. Two UV lamps, cables, the inverter, a switch, connectors and a little adhesive thing for sticking the inverter to the case.

This gadget was intended for computer case modding, but as with most things I buy, it won't be used in the application it was designed for. I intend to remove the lamps and use the output to charge capacitors for my lasers.
Under the innocent look of a little black box a beast is hiding. The inverter takes 12V from a regular computer source and outputs in excess of 1000V. I tried to measure the raw output using a multimeter. Both my multimeters can measure up to 750V of AC. I hooked the new one directly to the output and got a fluctuating reading between 1300V and 1900V. That's a lot of volts! Now the old multimeter, maybe I get a better reading. Well, in the instant I touched the pins with the probes, my computer powered down. And so did the multimeter. Fortunately the computer source entered in thermal shutdown and 5 minutes later it restarted normally. Unlike my multimeter wich is dead. I think the fuse blew up, but I don't think I'll replace it. I intended to throw it anyways, that's why I bought the new multimeter.
Unfortunately the box doesn't have any screws and it seems to be glued or something. I tried to pry it open with a screwdriver but without any success. You know what they say: "Don't force it... get a bigger hammer". If I won't be able to open it I'll cut the box. One way or another, I'll see what's inside (and post some photos so that you don't have to break your own CCFL).
And now the fun part! The tubes are black light sources. This means they emit UV radiation, which will light up any fluorescent materials. For example white paper, white shirts, shoelaces, my green glue tube, some green marker on paper and many other things are fluorescent.

Also official documents have UV-sensitive safety marks. Most things you carry in your wallet like money, driving licences, MasterCards glow nicely under UV light.

But the most interesting are food stamps. They have lots of UV ink and light up they come close to my lamp.
[insert images here]
I'll come with more details when I'll start hacking it as a laser power source ;)

Summary:
Price: 40 ron (16$)
Pros: very fun, 1000V
Cons: none