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IPAC4 and LEDs - Question about power

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bratwurst:

I apologize for the newbie question, and I'm reading through tons of LED threads but I haven't yet come across an answer exactly for what I'm looking for.

Total number of LEDs in my build is very small.  I have two red happ translucent pushbuttons I want to light up.  They will be labeled with "25c" for inserting credits.  I also have a Lightmite TB (http://www.nicemite.com/LightmiteTB/LightmiteTB.htm) for lighting up a Happ 3" trackball in blue.

I will be wiring all buttons / joysticks to an I-PAC4 (ps2 version).

The PC I will be using is going to stay inside its case.  I am building a "Woody" kneivel klone.

So my question is - I keep seeing suggestions for power in other threads to grab power from the PC's power supply, by using a 5v or 12v connector, depending on what is needed.  I've done this before on a different build when the machine was de-cased.  But this time, I don't want to de-case the PC, and therefore do not have a clean way to access the power supply directly.

I've seen hacks like this - http://www.josepino.com/?usb_led_light - where a USB cable is spliced and the 5v is snagged from there.  I can do this I guess, and just run 3 USB cables to the PC?  Is there a better way to do this without going directly to the power supply?  The IPAC4 seems to have a way to drive 3 LEDs, but I'm lost when looking at the wiring diagram here: http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac2.html .  I just don't know how to read that and physically wire it.  Do I need to bring power from the PC somehow to the IPAC?

Sorry for the newb questions.

EvilNuff:

Does http://www.xoxide.com/pci-power-bracket1.html meet your needs?

bkenobi:

That's actually a really good price considering Radio Shack sells a Molex splitter for around the same price (2 way splitter vs 3 way and this includes a nice bracket too).

bratwurst:


--- Quote from: EvilNuff on September 03, 2010, 10:37:03 pm ---Does http://www.xoxide.com/pci-power-bracket1.html meet your needs?

--- End quote ---

That's pretty sweet!  I'll keep it in mind.  I did some testing at home using the IPAC4 and at first nothing worked.  Then taking a fourth look at the wiring diagram and instructions, I realized I needed to make sure that the numlock key on my keyboard was on.  Once I hit that, the LED came on.  

It's actually fairly easy to use and powered the LED on the lightmite just fine.  I'm going to try to wire all three LED's in my cab using just the IPAC4.


bkenobi:

I was about to order 2, but then found that they charge over $6 shipping.  That's stupid!  I'll see if there's another source (dealextreme?).


EDIT:  Ok, monoprice has these for $3.22 for 1 and less if you buy more.  Their shipping to Seattle is only $2.41, so I think I'll go that route.  FYI...

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