keywiz 5v - can i use this for an LED?

[severdhed]

Hey guys, i tried searching, but couldn't find an answer.  I just finally got around to wiring up my new control panel, and i noticed that there is a 5v terminal on my keywiz (ps/2) encoder.  I have a single translucent button with a GGG button blaster LED, that i would like to light up.  Can i use this 5v on the keywiz for this?  this is in a showcase cabinet that i want to be able to detach the control panel portion and move it away in certain situations. therefore i need disconnects where the two pieces meet.  this isn't particularly hard to do with a PC power wire, but the less wires running through there, the better.  i can't imagine that a single LED would be too much for this, or what other purpose this 5v connection might have, but i dont want to destroy anything. It is only 1 LED, if i were running a bunch of them, i wouldn't even try.

can i do this?

[bkenobi]

I don't know the answer, but if it were me I'd check the voltage with a multimeter.  If it's got 5v available, you should probably be fine.  I presume that's what it's there for (the only other thing would be 5v in, but I don't think that's it).

[BobA]

Quote from GGG site

"42 Screw Connection Points Available on the PCB. 38 inputs, 1 Keyboard Switch input, 1 Ground, 1 Shazaaam! Key, and 1+5v DC output connection for powered joysticks or other low current 5v DC accessories."

So a single LED will be just fine.

[severdhed]

awesome...got it hooked up tonight and it looks good....only problem is, aparently the 5v is active even when the pc is off, so the light is always on

[MikeDeuce]

edit: Deleted -- I thought it was happening for the same reason for both the Key-Wiz and LED-Wiz, but I see what I was missing there.

[RandyT]

Not sure sure why the above was quoted.  It's not related at all to the KeyWiz 5v line.

When you connect something directly to the 5v line on the KeyWiz, then it's the same as stripping a PS/2 cable down to the 5v DC line and using it to connect something directly to the power line on the port.  It's simply a convenient way for one to access that power for something small, without needing to do that.  So if your PC leaves that line on, then of course, whatever you hook to it is going to remain on as well.

Sometimes this can be shut off in your PC's BIOS.

RandyT