Alternate power source for single light led push buttons

[kyomagi]

Is there a way to wire or power 16 LED push buttons without having to purchase a LED wiz? 

[Nephasth]

Directly to the computer's power supply. If they have a voltage in their description, they've got built in resistors and use that voltage with them (5V red wire, 12V yellow wire, black wire is ground). If they're not specified 5V or 12V, you'll need to wire them in with the appropriate resistors.

[kyomagi]

Is there a wiring guide for the 12v?  i have a spare PSU that i can use

(i am no longer using a PC to power my front end)

[Nephasth]

What are you running? A console?

But if you do use your spare computer PSU, you can jump the green wire to ground on the motherboard connector to turn the PSU on. Then just wire your + leads of your LEDs to a yellow wire of one of the Molex connectors and your grounds of your LEDs to a black wire of the same Molex connector.

[molton]

Here's a tough question, if you hook up a computer power supply to power some leds only, will the power supply be drawing the 250W-1000W it's rated for or will it be more efficient? Does it vary from power supply to power supply?  Using a PC power supply to light 16 led's could potentially be a huge waste of power.  take a look at some of the led drivers they have at ledsupply.com, even if you have to drop $40 on a 12W power supply, the energy saving costs could far outweigh the price, if in fact the power supply is pulling 100 Watts or more.

[kyomagi]

What are you running? A console?

But if you do use your spare computer PSU, you can jump the green wire to ground on the motherboard connector to turn the PSU on. Then just wire your + leads of your LEDs to a yellow wire of one of the Molex connectors and your grounds of your LEDs to a black wire of the same Molex connector.

I am running a "special" xbox 360

Can i run all 16 positives and negatives to one molex?

I dont understand "you can jump the green wire to ground on the motherboard connector to turn the PSU on" what you meant there.  I was going to power on the psu with its plug in my cab

Molton, from my understanding, the psu will run at 200w, but will only draw in the voltage demand. 

[Nephasth]

What are you running? A console?

But if you do use your spare computer PSU, you can jump the green wire to ground on the motherboard connector to turn the PSU on. Then just wire your + leads of your LEDs to a yellow wire of one of the Molex connectors and your grounds of your LEDs to a black wire of the same Molex connector.

I am running a "special" xbox 360

Can i run all 16 positives and negatives to one molex?

I dont understand "you can jump the green wire to ground on the motherboard connector to turn the PSU on" what you meant there.  I was going to power on the psu with its plug in my cab

Most power supplies don't turn on with out a signal from the mobo. They get the signal when the green wire is grounded. So if you plug in your PSU and turn the switch on (if it has one), it most likely will remain off until you ground that green wire. And yes, you can wire all 16 LEDs to 1 Molex connector.

[Nephasth]

Here's a tough question, if you hook up a computer power supply to power some leds only, will the power supply be drawing the 250W-1000W it's rated for or will it be more efficient? Does it vary from power supply to power supply?  Using a PC power supply to light 16 led's could potentially be a huge waste of power.  take a look at some of the led drivers they have at ledsupply.com, even if you have to drop $40 on a 12W power supply, the energy saving costs could far outweigh the price, if in fact the power supply is pulling 100 Watts or more.

It won't be drawing that wattage... That's like saying if you flip a light switch "on" and there is no bulb in the socket, it's still using power... Almost no load is present (except the PSU fan) until you connect components that use the power.

[kyomagi]

How should i ground that green wire?  Just connect to a metal plate?  sorry its been a while lol. 

Now each led is 12v each, will a cheap 200w psu be enough?

[capsule]

Here's a tough question, if you hook up a computer power supply to power some leds only, will the power supply be drawing the 250W-1000W it's rated for or will it be more efficient? Does it vary from power supply to power supply?  Using a PC power supply to light 16 led's could potentially be a huge waste of power.  take a look at some of the led drivers they have at ledsupply.com, even if you have to drop $40 on a 12W power supply, the energy saving costs could far outweigh the price, if in fact the power supply is pulling 100 Watts or more.

It won't be drawing that wattage... That's like saying if you flip a light switch "on" and there is no bulb in the socket, it's still using power... Almost no load is present (except the PSU fan) until you connect components that use the power.

Ditto. The indicated power is the MAX available power, not the power it's using when running idle.

[Nephasth]

How should i ground that green wire?  Just connect to a metal plate?  sorry its been a while lol.  

Now each led is 12v each, will a cheap 200w psu be enough?

I do this for testing, but I just take a short piece of wire with both ends stripped, put one end into the green wire's pin and the other end into one of the black wires' pins next to the green wire. You could hot glue it in place so it doesn't fall out if you want. A 200w PSU is more than enough for your LEDs. I would recommend using a smart strip with this setup as well. Have your console in the master outlet and this PSU in one of the slave outlets, that way it is only on when your console is on.

[kyomagi]

How should i ground that green wire?  Just connect to a metal plate?  sorry its been a while lol.  

Now each led is 12v each, will a cheap 200w psu be enough?

I do this for testing, but I just take a short piece of wire with both ends stripped, put one end into the green wire's pin and the other end into one of the black wires' pins next to the green wire. You could hot glue it in place so it doesn't fall out if you want. A 200w PSU is more than enough for your LEDs. I would recommend using a smart strip with this setup as well. Have your console in the master outlet and this PSU in one of the slave outlets, that way it is only on when your console is on.

Put them in the female green and black?

[Nephasth]

Yea, that's all there is in that connector (male connector, female pins).

[lilshawn]

Here's a tough question, if you hook up a computer power supply to power some leds only, will the power supply be drawing the 250W-1000W it's rated for or will it be more efficient? Does it vary from power supply to power supply?  Using a PC power supply to light 16 led's could potentially be a huge waste of power.  take a look at some of the led drivers they have at ledsupply.com, even if you have to drop $40 on a 12W power supply, the energy saving costs could far outweigh the price, if in fact the power supply is pulling 100 Watts or more.

power supplies are only moderately efficent to begin with. it's alot better than they used to be. You aren't going to be using all 1000 watts or whatever in your power supply. it's just an outline of what the supply is capable of. If you take a look at your specs for your supply, you will find the bulk of the wattage available is reserved for the 3.3 volt and 5 volt lines. the 12 volt line is somewhere in the neigborhood of 100 or 200 watts (about 20 amps)

your 1000 watt powersupply is made up of basically 200+300+500 watt supplies (12/5/3.3 volt supplies) added together (total 1000 watts)

only using a portion of the 12 volt out of the WHOLE supply is only using a fraction of it's power.

where things get tricky is that the efficiency is low (under 80%) under low load...gets better as the load goes up (90% or better)... then goes back down again as the load approaches maximum.

the actual values where this can happen vary WILDLY even between supplies of the same run.

if efficency is important, use a amp meter (or the amp function of your volt meter if it has one) and measure the ACTUAL load at full operation. Let's say it's 2147mA. I would then allow a little overhead and try to source a 2.5 or 3 amp power supply...

the load is close to a full 2500mA (or 3000mA) so it's efficent, but not so full your taxing the supply or running into the overload area. I would think a 4 amp supply (4000mA) will be in the low load area.

[PL1]

If you want something you can plug into a USB port, this post will give you a parts list and circuit diagram.  Drop the left half of the circuit if you don't need the trackball light.

If no USB port is available, you might have a "wall wart" lying around the house.
(Look for 12v, 350+ mA) Like this one.

Amazon also has some power supplies like this one.

Many ways to do it.  What is your experience/comfort level with wiring?


Scott

[kyomagi]

ok last two questions i think.

On these leds, http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/en/led-pushbuttons/231-green-led-convex-arcade-pushbutton.html, does it matter which is ground and which is power?

And should i just snake the cables together, then strip the yellow and black wires at one end, then connect?

[PL1]

ok last two questions i think.

On these leds, http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/en/led-pushbuttons/231-green-led-convex-arcade-pushbutton.html, does it matter which is ground and which is power?

And should i just snake the cables together, then strip the yellow and black wires at one end, then connect?

If you're placing an order with Bryan, he has 1/4" daisy chains.

30 Connection Black Daisy Chain (.250") - Makes wiring the LED buttons really easy http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/en/jamma-harnesses/406-30-connection-black-daisy-chain-110.html

30 Connection Red Daisy Chain (.250") - http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/en/jamma-harnesses/407-30-connection-black-daisy-chain-110.html

If the wiring is backward, just unplug and reverse the LED holder (red cylinder between the black socket and red button) -- no damage done.

If you have a power extender/splitter/adapter cable, you can avoid cutting into the PSU wiring.


Scott

[kyomagi]

ok last two questions i think.

On these leds, http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/en/led-pushbuttons/231-green-led-convex-arcade-pushbutton.html, does it matter which is ground and which is power?

And should i just snake the cables together, then strip the yellow and black wires at one end, then connect?

If you're placing an order with Bryan, he has 1/4" daisy chains.

30 Connection Black Daisy Chain (.250") - Makes wiring the LED buttons really easy http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/en/jamma-harnesses/406-30-connection-black-daisy-chain-110.html

30 Connection Red Daisy Chain (.250") - http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/en/jamma-harnesses/407-30-connection-black-daisy-chain-110.html

If the wiring is backward, just unplug and reverse the LED holder. No damage done.

If you have a power extender/splitter/adapter cable, you can avoid cutting into the PSU wiring.


Scott

I am buying a molex cable and i will cut into that.  In fact, i have a bunch of spare pc fans that have molex connectors.  i'll just cut those

[kyomagi]

So i am changing the buttons on the wwe brawlstick from madcatz.  I am modding the graphic too.  But these buttons are too big with the microswitch, and when i add the daisy chain i made, its about .5" too big and it wont fit.  is there anything i can do? maybe some washers for space between the base and top?

rather than using the quick disconnects, can i just solder the led daisy chain?

[PL1]

   Now I'm confused. 

First you wanted to light 16 buttons.

Now you're changing buttons on a Madcatz Brawlstick. (8 button stick.)

To answer your specific questions:

1. Soldering the daisy chain - I'd strongly recommend against it. .250" QDs are cheap and widely available. If you decide/need to change something later, desoldering/resoldering is a real pain.

2. Buttons are .5" too big. - From the context, I assume too long? Consider using something like these .250" "flag" QDs.  You can probably find them locally at auto supply stores, hardware stores, walmart , etc.
If Bryan's buttons fit without the LEDs being wired, the flags should allow you to daisy chain with almost no additional height added.  Also, washers/spacers will make the buttons stand way too high.


Scott

[kyomagi]

  Now I'm confused. 

First you wanted to light 16 buttons.

Now you're changing buttons on a Madcatz Brawlstick. (8 button stick.)

To answer your specific questions:

1. Soldering the daisy chain - I'd strongly recommend against it. .250" QDs are cheap and widely available. If you decide/need to change something later, desoldering/resoldering is a real pain.

2. Buttons are .5" too big. - From the context, I assume too long? Consider using something like these .250" "flag" QDs.  You can probably find them locally at auto supply stores, hardware stores, walmart , etc.
If Bryan's buttons fit without the LEDs being wired, the flags should allow you to daisy chain with almost no additional height added.  Also, washers/spacers will make the buttons stand way too high.


Scott

ya, i have two fight sticks, 16 buttons total lol.

But i was thinking of extending the buttom, not the buttons.  make the bottom plate site 1/2" off the unit itself

[PL1]

OK, that clears things up a bit more.

Sounds like extending the bottom might be a good plan.  It's certainly better than raising the buttons.


Scott

[Nephasth]

I did an LED button mod on a fight stick last summer by tapping into the controller's 5V: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=113154.0