LED-wiz question

[themarkjohn]

Hi there. I want to do led pushbuttons and joysticks for my CP. The CP will have a total of 25 pushbuttons, 2 joysticks, and a trackball. My question is about the LED-wiz and its output. I understand that after 500mA the USB cant handle it and you need external power. That being said, here arer a few questions.
1)External power: I have multiple unused hardrive bays inside the pc i am going to be using for my mame setup. I am assuming that i can use one of the power harnesses for a hardrive to scab power for the LED-wiz. Does this sound right?

2)How many LED-wiz do i need: I figure on just one right now. Heres why. Given a total of 25 pushbuttons,2 joysticks, and a trackball, all using a RGB LED, this could theoretically require 84 outputs for individual control of each device. My needs are not so complicated as that so i have to have total control over each device. I would like to split it up into zones kinda.
      What i mean is for player 1 and player2 to have buttons 1 and 2 in one ouput on the LED-wiz for each leg of the RGB LED. This kind of thing. So for each output on the LED-wiz in this case i would have 4*20mA= 80mA. My understanding is that each ouput of the LED-wiz can put out max of 500mA. So even if i wanted to put 25 LED under that ONE output theoretically i could, even though i would not go anywhere near that high. My max as my zones are planned is 6 under one output, with a total of 10 zones with varying numbers of LED.
      So assuming i explained that properly does that sound right? Does my math and understanding of the LED-wiz capabilities add up?

3)More Math : SO now 28 devices(buttons, joy, trackball), all RGB LED gives 28*3*20mA = 1680mA. This seems like it should be well within the operatingthreshold of the LED-wiz. Am i right?

4) does anybody have any experience with electric Ice pushbuttons vs IL translucent , Both with RGB LED. Its hard to get a feel for the translucent ones over the internet. I have seen the Video at paradise arcade and the one they put on youtube. But was just wondering if anybody had any suggestions or comments. Moreso about the IL translucent ones. I want to get Clear Translucent IL and use the RGB LED in those to produce any colour i see fit, and not be limited by buying a couloured translucent.


Any help at all will be greatly appreciated guys.

[RandyT]

1)External power: I have multiple unused hardrive bays inside the pc i am going to be using for my mame setup. I am assuming that i can use one of the power harnesses for a hardrive to scab power for the LED-wiz. Does this sound right?

Absolutely.

2)How many LED-wiz do i need: I figure on just one right now... <snip>... So assuming i explained that properly does that sound right? Does my math and understanding of the LED-wiz capabilities add up?

Yes, the "zoned" RGB lighting will work just as you have described it, and will cut down on the number of outputs required.  4 LED's on one output of the LED-Wiz wouldn't be an issue at all.

3)More Math : SO now 28 devices(buttons, joy, trackball), all RGB LED gives 28*3*20mA = 1680mA. This seems like it should be well within the operatingthreshold of the LED-wiz. Am i right?

Yes.  You will probably have a some sort of duty cycle, when animated, that is less than 100%, so it would be even less.

4) <snip> I want to get Clear Translucent IL and use the RGB LED in those to produce any colour i see fit, and not be limited by buying a couloured translucent.

The IL clear (or any clear button, for that matter) does not blend the colors as well as a diffuse button, like the Electric ICE 2 buttons, will.  It's not a bad effect, just different.  But if you want RGB with the IL clear buttons, we have some leftover stock (just a few more than you need, actually) of the clear IL buttons we can fit with the RGB-Drive boards and light diffusers.  Send me an email if you want more details.