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New Product: Ultimarc PacLED64 LED controller
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AndyWarne:

--- Quote from: Savannan on January 05, 2011, 06:46:22 pm ---Great product...but I see one major problem.

I dont like the fact that I have to buy seperate connectors to connect non Ultralux's buttons and im not about goin to soder on the pins.

Sav

--- End quote ---

The thinking behind this is 64 connections plus all the grounds is a lot of screw terminals. I think this would be a rather cumbersome approach.
The 0.1 inch pins have a large variety of standard connectors available. We supply the housings and could also supply unfitted crimp contacts as well. IDC connectors of the type used on disk drive cables are also available and we might look at supplying these already crimped onto ribbon cables.
The intention was to provide a quick and easy RGB solution using our buttons (which would avoid having to make up to 168 connections if you count both ends) and also facilitate connection to other LEDs. The problem with RGB LEDs is there is a lot of wiring and I really wanted to avoid laboriously connecting all those wires.
Franco B:
Andy, could you answer this?


--- Quote from: Franco B on January 05, 2011, 04:41:06 pm ---I do have one quick question. Will I be able to wire four identical ~3v LEDs in parallel from one output without using resistors?

--- End quote ---

In this situation, if one LED was drawing 20mA then the four LEDs in parallel would be drawing 80mA. Is is possible to draw 80mA off one pin/output?

Is there a limit to the amount of power that can be drawn from each output and/or the board as a whole?
melvinbates:
If I'm not mistaken I would say that while the chips he is using could probably handle a single pin drain of 120ma, it's probably set to limit the current to 20ma (or there about), so as to control a single led.
I've been playing with the tlc5940s for a few days to create something similar and now it looks like I won't have to :)  Great idea putting the flash on there.
keefyboy:
I'd prefer screw terminals on the power connection. As is, I'd need to de-solder the stock connector. Most people will (I think) use power taken from a PC power supply.

I understand it, however, as the stock power connection is nearly impossible to reverse polarity. Maybe I'm just averse to wall-wart connectors.... :-[
Franco B:

--- Quote from: keefyboy on January 07, 2011, 11:19:53 am ---I'd prefer screw terminals on the power connection. As is, I'd need to de-solder the stock connector. Most people will (I think) use power taken from a PC power supply.

I understand it, however, as the stock power connection is nearly impossible to reverse polarity. Maybe I'm just averse to wall-wart connectors.... :-[

--- End quote ---

Have you read the documentation on the page Andy linked to?


--- Quote ---Connecting Power and USB

The PacLED64 is supplied with a power cable which plugs onto a spare PC power supply hard drive power connector.
When shipped, the + (positive) wire is not inserted into the connector housing. There is a choice of 5 volt or 12 volt power available on HDD power connectors.
Select as follows:

If you are using mainly LEDs with in-built resistors:
Select the location which mates with the YELLOW wire on the PC connector. This is 12 volts.
Examples of this type of LED are:

    *  Ultimarc Ultralux pushbutton LEDs
    *  Ultimarc U-Trak trackball illumination kit
    *  All 5 volt or 9 volt LED lamps

If you are using mainly LEDs without resistors (standard LEDs):
Select the location which mates with the RED wire (5 Volts).
Using 5 volts reduces power wastage and keeps the temperature of the driver ICs on the board to acceptable levels.

Also, connect the USB cable to a USB port on the PC.
--- End quote ---

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