Need Help with lighting

[Mrephunk]

OK so I am doing a cab build for an xbox360 and I need help doing the lighting. I need to light the marquee, the coin slots, and would like some light on the buttons.The buttons don't need to be lighted when pushed, just a constant on. If someone know of a good eay to wire PCB that lets me do other things with the lighted button please let me know, but it isn't necessary(tho it would be cool ) What I am thinking is I am going to use a computer power supply to activate and power all the lights. I was thinking I would wire up the power button to the xbox power button so that they would both go on when I hit the power button. Can this be done? is there a better way? I know some lights require a 5v line does the computer power supply have that? Just some general help on the whole lighting thing would be nice. Thanks

[DirtyDachshunds]

To light the marquee I used a standard fluorescent light from home depot.  I then plugged it into my smart strip so that the light (among other devices) come on when the computer, or xbox is turned on.

Smart strip:
http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Energy-Saving-Autoswitching-Technology/dp/B000P1QJXQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1304425500&sr=8-2

As for the lighted pushbuttons, check out GGG's LEDWiz.  You can do some interesting stuff with the LEDWiz, however it is meant more for a computer than an xbox

LED Wiz:
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=239

And yes, computer power supplies have both 12V and 5V on a single molex connector.  A computer power supply will be overkill for a couple lights.  But whatever route you go, plug the power supply into the smart strip as well.

[Necro]

For the LEDs - if you have a box of wall warts, go through them and see if any are close to 5v DC output (4.8 or 5.2v, for instance).  You can then wire this directly to the LEDS, plugging it into the smart strip, and avoid the computer PSU/LEDWiz overkill route. 

Actually, you can buy one of those transformers specifically and avoid the other costs - here's one: http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/PS-5102/5VDC-1A-SWITCHING-POWER-SUPPLY/1.html

So...LedWiz+Computer PSU+Wiring the PSU up to not burn out with no PC load vs $6 wall wart transformer

And go with the flour from Home Depot for the marquee - not worth the effort on wiring up LEDs or LED holders, etc.  HD even has 1" 'ultrathin'  lights that should do what you need.  Just put some foil or a mirror behind it to reflect more of the light to your marquee and distribute it more uniformly.

[Mrephunk]

butt I have plenty of power supplies lying around, like I have a 160 watt PSU would it really burnout with no PC load? And if I use a walwart how many LEDs can I hook up to one? I was going to use some EL wire or LED strip which would connect to the PSU easily.

[Necro]

It's just overkill basically.  And how many you can connect depends on the wall wart rating (i.e., amps it can output) and the draw of your LEDs (10-20mA is common I think).

It SHOULDN'T be an issue driving the 2 coin doors from a wall wart, no matter what.

And the burn out thing - just read up on it.  Some PSU's are made to have a draw on them and if you short it out it can overheat/burn out quickly.  Also, you're going to be wasting a ton of electricity just to get a 5V line. 

[RandyT]

Some PSU's are made to have a draw on them and if you short it out it can overheat/burn out quickly.  Also, you're going to be wasting a ton of electricity just to get a 5V line.

Actually, some PC supplies won't even turn on without a load.  A wall wart is fine for small loads, so long as the output is regulated.  If the voltage fluctuates based on the load, LED's won't be happy unless the resistors are configured for the highest possible output from the supply.  If you plan on using large numbers of LEDs, high power LED's, incandescents, multiple voltages, etc, you may find something like this to be more suitable.

[Necro]

That's pretty nice Randy, didn't even know they existed.   

As a recommendation, I suggest you get something as simply, straightforward, etc., to use - it'll save hours of headaches/fires in the future.

[Mrephunk]

OK that looks good Randy but I have some electrical knowledge yet would still want instruction/reference on how to install and use it. Where would I get this information

[DNA Dan]

Why do most people plug their power items into a smart strip? Why not just run them right off the power supply? Isn't a 500W or greater power supply more that anything you would ever need in a cab?

[scofthe7seas]

Why do most people plug their power items into a smart strip? Why not just run them right off the power supply? Isn't a 500W or greater power supply more that anything you would ever need in a cab?

I wouldn't run a marquee light off of my power supply. Or the monitor.

butt I have plenty of power supplies lying around, like I have a 160 watt PSU would it really burnout with no PC load? And if I use a walwart how many LEDs can I hook up to one? I was going to use some EL wire or LED strip which would connect to the PSU easily.

As far as I know, no modern power supply will power on without something connected to the 24 pin motherboard connection. However, you can get something called a power supply tester for about 10 bucks, and the power supply will turn on and power your 5 volt connectors. (make sure it is off/unplugged before you plug that thing in!)

[Necro]

Why do most people plug their power items into a smart strip? Why not just run them right off the power supply? Isn't a 500W or greater power supply more that anything you would ever need in a cab?

...the fact that it outputs DC and the item being powered runs on AC would be one reason...

I have my cab lighting running off both.

[DNA Dan]

Ahhh I see. I guess I just assumed people were using LEDS. Go on, move along, nothing to see here.....

[DirtyDachshunds]

Smart strips are good for other things than just lighting.  I use mine for my TV, speakers, and 120V marquee light, using my computer as the control.  That way one button turns on everything.

[melvinbates]

If you have some electrical knowledge and take the necessary precautions you could convert a psu. I've used this how to to create a very nice power supply from an old atx psu I had lying around.  Great way to get a 15A 5v power supply for free. (using a 350w psu)

http://www.wikihow.com/Convert-a-Computer-ATX-Power-Supply-to-a-Lab-Power-Supply

[DNA Dan]

For my build I was just going to run everything off the PC power supply.

The only things I need to run directly to AC surge protector would be:

1) Computer
2) Subwoofer transformer
3) LCD monitor

[scofthe7seas]

I don't have many lights (trackball, coin buttons) but they all just plug into the molex connectors on my mame Pc. Depending on the gauge of your wire, you can kind of scrunch or double it a bit and it can fit in there pretty snug, but a bit of electrical tape won't hurt!

[DNA Dan]

I don't have many lights (trackball, coin buttons) but they all just plug into the molex connectors on my mame Pc. Depending on the gauge of your wire, you can kind of scrunch or double it a bit and it can fit in there pretty snug, but a bit of electrical tape won't hurt!

Are you serious? You can buy the pins and connectors to make a proper molex connection you know....

[Necro]

...or buy a 'splitter' and splice in the wires to a real connector  - that's what I did for my marquee and coin door lights (LEDs). 

[scofthe7seas]

I don't have many lights (trackball, coin buttons) but they all just plug into the molex connectors on my mame Pc. Depending on the gauge of your wire, you can kind of scrunch or double it a bit and it can fit in there pretty snug, but a bit of electrical tape won't hurt!

Are you serious? You can buy the pins and connectors to make a proper molex connection you know....

But I am cheap, and ghetto. Tim the toolman style! If you can't Duc' it, ---fudgesicle--- it!