Damaged PCB?

[EvilGreenDevil]

OK so minor freak out moment.

Quick backstory: I'm just getting ready to start installing the cp on my new cabinet when I figured I would test my LED push buttons and their wiring.



each button has a 12v led powered by a 12v line from my pc power supply. I wired them as such that they turn off when pressed and light back up when depressed. To achieve this, the common ground for the LEDs is shared with the same ground as the button signals which is wired to my PCB

The board I'm using is a Lono2 from Paradise Arcade. It operates via USB and is recognized by windows as a USB gamepad. All was fine for about 10 min until the board suddenly stopped being recognized by Windows XP. I restarted a few times and did everything I could to get windows to see it and still nothing.

I'm wondering did having the LED ground run through the board damage it?

I'm really not looking to send away for. replacement

[yotsuya]

Did you use any resistors in your setup? I'm afraid the 12v may have fried something.

[EvilGreenDevil]

Did you use any resistors in your setup? I'm afraid the 12v may have fried something.

I think you are exactly right. I went off what I thought was normal and was suggested to me by others. I'm sure these suggestions were made not knowing that the LEDs were operating at 12v.  I'm not even sure how I would have set up resistors.

[HaRuMaN]

Have you tried removing all the LED circuits that go to your Lono board?

I would try that, reboot your PC, and then reconnect your Lono.

[EvilGreenDevil]

Have you tried removing all the LED circuits that go to your Lono board?

I would try that, reboot your PC, and then reconnect your Lono.

Tried that and also attempted to connect to another windows computer....nothing. Again the board is seeing power and the indicator light on the board confirms this. I took a close look at the Lono2 and didn't see anything significant that looked "bad". I reached out to Bryan at Paradise Arcade so hopefully we can work something out.

BEYOND FRUSTRATED  and feeling pretty dumb about it. 

[Nephasth]

There are also LED indicators for each header on the LONO². With the board powered up, do one of the indicator LEDs light up when an input is activated? Have you tried another USB cable?

[EvilGreenDevil]

I have buttons connected to one harness. I have tried connecting that harness to each of the 4 player slots, no green light. I have restarted both with and without anything connected to the Lono2. I have also tried another USB AtoB cable from an old external drive and still nothing.

Hoping to hear from Bryan at PA later this afternoon....I'm preparing for the inevitable repurchase and waiting game for it to be shipped. Sucks because I was going to install the CP this weekend...now nothing. BAH 

[BobA]

If the LED pbuttons were ordered from PA with the 12V option they should already have the proper resistor built in.  But that being said your longo is a USB 5v powered device so does not match your choice of LEDs.

[PL1]

If the LED pbuttons were ordered from PA with the 12V option they should already have the proper resistor built in.  But that being said your longo is a USB 5v powered device so does not match your choice of LEDs.

12V Paradise Arcade LED buttons do come with the built in resistor inside the LED holder.

The ones on my system light up just fine on 4.25V. (Just measured it.)

The lower voltage is enough to forward bias the LEDs at slightly lower brightness and much lower current flow which should increase the lifespan of the LEDs.

Using just one 10 ohm current limiting resistor for all 14 buttons, I can light the buttons and a trackball with 3 Buttonblaster LEDs/resistors from GGG and the whole circuit draws less than 100mA off my USB power line tap--low enough to stay within the USB spec for an unpowered hub port.

tl;dr version:
resistor in PA 12v button = yes
running 12v LEDs on 5v = not as bright + lower current + longer life


Scott

[EvilGreenDevil]

so basically just run them at 5v instead of 12v?

[EvilGreenDevil]

double post

[PL1]

so basically just run them at 5v instead of 12v?

My earlier post was only focused on BobA's comment on the 5v device "not matching" the 12v LEDs, not about your specific wiring configuration.

Reviewed your original post closer and noticed that you were powering the LEDs with 12v from your computer power supply, connected through the buttons to the ground on your 5v encoder.

Question 1 - Can 12v LED buttons light up with only 5v? - Definitely yes, though not quite as bright.

Question 2 - Can using the power supply for 5v and the encoder for ground cause damage to the encoder?  -   You might want to ask Bryan about that.  Your picture showed 5 lit buttons.  Assuming that each is drawing 20 mA, that gives you 100mA flowing through the encoder ground.  Personally, I'd rather not risk it unless I knew for sure it would be fine. --Who knows, I might have to reorder and wait for Susan to ship it.  I Keed. I Keed. Luv ya Susan.--

Question 3 - Is your heart absolutely set on the LEDs turning off when you press the buttons? -  If you don't mind them constant on, wire them with either 12v or 5v and ground from your computer power supply.

Wish I could give you a definite answer on Q2.  Maybe someone who is using a similar setup can throw their 2 cents in.


Scott

P.S. Are you just lighting your 5 admin buttons, or will you be lighting other buttons as well?

[EvilGreenDevil]

Spoke with Bryan and worked everything out. PA is sending me a replacement Lono2 so they are freakin awesome 

I went ahead and sent in the Lono2 that wasn't working along with my own local treat (as a thank you and to share my version of the Hawaiian cookies they like to include).

At this point, no my heart isn't set on having the lights turn off when pressed so I really don't care anymore, I just want to play and enjoy it. I'll repeat again, Paradise Arcade is awesome.

[yotsuya]

Spoke with Bryan and worked everything out. PA is sending me a replacement Lono2 so they are freakin awesome  .

 

[BobA]

Spoke with Bryan and worked everything out. PA is sending me a replacement Lono2 so they are freakin awesome  .

 

Very Very True.  Nice people deserve to live in Paradise. 

[EvilGreenDevil]

Quick update:

Replacement Lono2 came in (with cookies) and it works perfectly. My only concern is I'm scared to fry the board again. At this point i just have the push buttons connected to the Lono2 and not the LEDs. what I was planning on doing was have the LEDs and signals run on separate circuits, completely ignoring the EZ-off option.  So:

Microswitches signal/ground ----> Lono2
12v LED lights power/ground----> PC Power supply

both are separate so I don't see there being an issue but figured I would ask just for some reassurance.

thanks

[PL1]

You should be fine as long as you don't short the 12v to the Lono2. . . but you already know that part. 


Scott