Can you guys please look over my LED-WIZ wiring diagram?

[laserbones]

I've worked up my LED-WIZ wiring diagram and wanted to know if you guys would take a look tom make sure I don't fry anything. I also have a couple questions below.

Is it ok if I plug player 1 and 2 controls into the same LED-WIZ terminal since they can hold 500ma each?

What sources can I get the 5V from? I'd like to know for both a computer tower with a power source and a computer like a macbook.

Do I need an inline fuse as shown? If so how would I calculate this load?

Where is the best place to run the GND? Do I need to run it? I'm assuming the USB ground will only support so much current?

[laserbones]

I spent a few hours drawing the diagram in illustrator in hopes that I would minimize the explanation I would receive if something was wrong. Should I be posting somewhere else? Am I going about this wrong haha? I'm new and assumed this was the right board. Thanks! 

[Nephasth]

Not trying to sound like an ass... But that's how it's going to sound.

READ THE DIRECTIONS.

THEN READ THEM AGAIN.

You'll find that you need to run your voltage source to the 1-8, 9-16, 17-24, and 25-32 lugs (if using the same voltage for all the mentioned banks). Also, you can run multiple LEDs to the same terminals if you wish, just keep in mind that they will always be the same color.

[laserbones]

I've read the instructions multiple times. and looked over them in detail while I was creating the graphic to ask for help. I in no way came here empty handed and wanted to prove that I had done leg work (thus the diagram). From my understanding there have been 2 revisions of LED-WIZ and I have the second version which enables the 4 banks for separate voltage. Everything I'm running is 5v which I included in the graphic. I'm also only running LEDs. Do I still need to run voltage to the banks? I'm also not trying to sound like an ass but if you have to preface your post clarifying you're not trying to be an ass and then capitalize your next sentences you will obviously look like an ass. I appreciate your help but I would still like more information if anyone would be so kind as to share. Any clarification on the banks would help a lot. The instructions are very vague/unclear in certain areas and searching fro similar LED wiring diagrams have not turned up any similar results. If this is the wrong forum please let me know. I may also be typing in the wrong keywords when I search so if anyone could point to a proper post or proper keywords that would be great.

Last from what I have read of the instructions the voltage bank is for inductive loads. I'm not running any inductive loads? If this is still something I need to look into please let me know. Thanks all!

[RandyT]

Is it ok if I plug player 1 and 2 controls into the same LED-WIZ terminal since they can hold 500ma each?

Keep in mind that the total current on one driver chip could go as high as (55ma x 8 ) x 2 in the configuration you are planning.  So long as they aren't all at full power (white) for extended periods of time, you should be ok.  If you have the pre-installed heatsink option, the drivers will be a bit more forgiving, but check them occasionally after installation and using them a bit to make sure you aren't pushing them too hard. 

What sources can I get the 5V from? I'd like to know for both a computer tower with a power source and a computer like a macbook.

Any well-regulated 5v supply, capable of supplying the total current you need, will suffice.

Do I need an inline fuse as shown? If so how would I calculate this load?

Fuses are always a good idea for safety reasons.  Calculate the total load, and select something just a bit over that.

Where is the best place to run the GND? Do I need to run it?

You absolutely need to run a ground wire.  Connect it to the ground of your power supply.

[laserbones]

Randy, again your customer service for groovygamegear.com is impeccable. Thanks for the top notch support!

[laserbones]

I think I have my head wrapped around most of this. I've been searching for a couple hours but I'm still scratching my head a bit with the Bank Voltage Select. Can someone please clarify why you would run voltage to the Bank Voltage Select? If I'm wiring RGB LEDs and I use the bank voltage select do I wire the RGB wires to say LED-WIZ port 1, 2, 3 and the LEDs 5v wire to ground?

The way I'm reading it is:
For inductive loads like motors current passes through LED-WIZ 1-32 (powered by Bank Voltage Select) > inductive component > terminal block going to ground
For LEDs current passes through 5v terminal block > LED > LED-WIZ 1-32 terminal/grounded

This doesn't feel right to me. Does this instead just "specify" the bank's voltage difference?

Why specifically if I'm only using LEDs do I not have to use the bank select? Is it because I'm using the same voltage for each bank or because the board is designed to default to 5v?

[Nephasth]

If I'm wiring RGB LEDs and I use the bank voltage select do I wire the RGB wires to say LED-WIZ port 1, 2, 3 and the LEDs 5v wire to ground?

Might as well spend a few more hours searching and read about basic electrical theory. If someone tells you exactly how to do it, you're not going to learn anything.

Here it is in black and white: http://groovygamegear.com/PDF/LEDWIZv2_INSTALL.pdf

[laserbones]

Nephasth, as I've stated a couple times I've read over those instructions multiple times. I've also searched this site up and down, as well a google, and although I have gathered most information I'm still trying to understand how the LED-WIZ is handling the current. I'm sure I could study electrical theory for several hours and finally stumble across the answer. That said, this site is supposed to be a resource. I'm in no way an electrician or electrical engineer and have no desire, at this time, to further my knowledge in electricity passed getting my controls to work. I assume many people on this board, especially the newbs, have the same feelings. While searching this board I have found you posting the same types of responses to dozens of peoples questions. In other words... there is not much of a breadcrumb trail to find the information I need if you just keep saying "read the instruction manual" in every thread where people ask for help. That is extremely passive gesture. If you would instead, at the very least, link to the proper forum post you would create a knowledge loop and not have to see posts similar to mine on this board which you obviously despise. Sometimes on other posts Randy follows up and provides perfect insight and support for his product and I then mark those question(s) off my list. People on this board don't have to be an electrical wiz before they ask a question. If they do I need to leave this board all together. All you're doing is diluting the responses of people who are actually helping. I understand some of my questions may come off as elementary to you but I think I've asked the proper questions and I also provided a visual diagram that took over an hour to create that I doubt you have looked at given your first response in this thread. Thanks for taking the time to look over my post but you could help me instead of shooting me down every time and, in turn, assist all the people that will search for similar things in the future. Again, any additional information on my last question would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to bother Randy as I have no doubt he is an extremely busy person AND I would like the responses to be on this board for future members who have the same questions.

[laserbones]

To clarify my question above. I understand how the wires should be wired. For instance if I'm only using 5v I know I don't need to use the Voltage Selector Bank and understand that it is just "good practice". I also understand that in good practice I would wire my fused 5v source to my Voltage Selector Bank, daisy chain the bank's terminals, and then proceed to my terminal block which will then be routed to my LEDS. I'm asking, why in practice do we wire the LED-WIZ this way and also how does the LED-WIZ handle the current? Is it as I stated above? I'm literally trying to understand how the LED-WIZ board operates. Again thanks all for taking the time to help.

[yotsuya]

I keep it simple - on the button LED, one leg goes to a fused 5v line, the other directly to the LED-Wiz. I don't work about banks or selections or anything like that. I use LED Blinkly to coordinate all lighting, and everything works fine. I too was slightly confused initially, but it's best to keep it simple. No issues!

[Nephasth]

I did look at your diagram, and it screams you don't know what you're doing. I get that you condensed the RGB wires of each LEDinto one line, but you can't just go around creating your own schematic standards when there are already standards in place.If you don't want to take the time to learn the subject, I'm not going to take the time to "help" you, because you wouldn't learn anything when it's being forced down your throat so fast you don't have time to digest it. If electricity, especially low voltage DC, scares or is unsettling to someone, that someone shouldn't be in this hobby. Hundreds of people with limited knowledge of electricity, such as yourself, have used the LED-Wiz with success. It's not that hard when you take the time to read the directions and actually try to understand what they're saying, instead of giving up and wanting someone to either do it for you, or tell you exactly how to do it. There's plenty of threads on here showing how people have wired their controls and LEDs. Digest the information, use your brain, and you'll figure it out. I've held other member's hands through wiring before, even built a CP (fully wired) for a member I have never met, and it did none of them any real good. Don't be afraid to try to learn something you don't currently understand. Knowledge doesn't come instantly, you've got to work to earn it. Follow the breadcrumbs...

[laserbones]

I'm a designer and know illustrator fairly well. I didn't think it was necessary to use industry standard software to create a diagram. I was simply trying to communicate to a message board how I was planning to wire my hardware prior to doing it so I could make revisions if necessary. Maybe this is where I fell short. Thanks for the input.

[Nephasth]

I'm a designer and know illustrator fairly well. I didn't think it was necessary to use industry standard software to create a diagram. I was simply trying to communicate to a message board how I was planning to wire my hardware prior to doing it so I could make revisions if necessary. Maybe this is where I fell short. Thanks for the input.

I didn't mention anything about the software you used to create the diagram. I think this is where you're falling short: reading comprehension. You're reading the directions, but not processing the information. It's all in there, trust me, it's all I used to wire mine up.

[yotsuya]

I'm a designer and know illustrator fairly well. I didn't think it was necessary to use industry standard software to create a diagram. I was simply trying to communicate to a message board how I was planning to wire my hardware prior to doing it so I could make revisions if necessary. Maybe this is where I fell short. Thanks for the input.

Again, I was confused too, but it's really not that hard. One leg to your power source, the other to the LED-Wiz. Try one button and see what happens. 

[laserbones]

Thanks guys. yotsuya your avatar reminds me of pee-wee haha. I did run a few tests last night as you mentioned and they work great! Very excited to get the all of them in my cab. I'm just trying to understand where the current is going when you plug a line into the Voltage Bank Select. I know I don't need that for this install in-particular but if I ever need to use two voltages I'm trying to understand if plugging a different voltage into one of the bank terminals notifies LED-WIZ what voltage to allow through either pins 1-8, 9-16, etc. or if it is actually passing current through the voltage bank terminal and to one of the 4 main pin groups like 1-8. In other words, why do I have to notify LED-WIZ if I'm going to properly group the component on 1-32 (in groups of 8 ) anyway. So far all the posts seem to just tell you how to do it instead of why you have to first connect the voltage to the Voltage Bank Select. Thanks!

Nephasth, honestly thanks again. I've read through the instructions twice more as you suggested on the bank wiring configuration and it's still vague. I've carefully read the instructions probably close to 30 times now. As I'm sure you are well aware of, even the instruction section describing the banks also state to ask for help, "Note: If this section is not understood by the user, it is highly recommended that an email be sent to [groovygamegear.com support email] for clarification." Again, I assumed it would be good to have the knowledge added to this site instead of filling up Randy's inbox. If there is a thread on this site that describes how/where the current flows from the Bank Selection in more detail can you please link me to it and I will read it thoroughly. Again, I'm wanting to educate myself on how the current is being handled at the bank. I'm confident I understand everything else and can hook my setup with zero problems as I've verified it by reading multiple threads on this board. I'm just wanting to know so that I have a better understanding of the device. In my eyes this isn't an issue of reading comprehension but my inability to find the forum posts I'm searching for to verify what I assume. This is because I'm semi new to this hobby but I have been active in it for a few months now. I don't need my hand held just a finger pointed in the direction I should be looking. Thanks!

Thanks all!

[ed12]

laserbones
i think what u miss in the doc's
is they are grouped
so lets say 1-8 u run at 5volt and 9-16 u run on 12 volts
2 seperate feed's
+5 +12 so what ever u put on the :feed line: must be the matching voltage for the :load: the same,so on 1-8 u have a switched +5 on 9-16 u have a switched +12
so u would expect to put a 5v load on 1-8 and 12v load on 9-16
that is the basic skinny of it

ed

[RandyT]

To keep it simple, I usually recommend that where higher current loads are concerned (such as would be the case when doubling up Helio9 units on the outputs) the +5v be attached to the Bank Voltage Select terminals for the banks to which they are attached, as they are 5v units.  Is it absolutely necessary?  Probably not, but for the 5 extra minutes it takes to do, it won't hurt anything and could offer some extra protection for the driver.  Just don't use devices which are over +5v on those banks of outputs after doing so.

It really is simple to wire these, but there are different ways they can be used.  Sometimes the simplicity gets lost in the extra info and warnings, but we have to supply them.

[laserbones]

Thanks guys, that helps a bit. I went ahead and worked up a drawing that asks my exact question. I hope this helps both you and me haha. Thanks for staying with me through any of my faulty communication!

[RandyT]

The first one allows for stored current, as a result of a collapsing electrical field, to find a safe path to ground through a built-in diode, rather than backfeeding into the driver and damaging it.  It's usually only a concern for inductive loads, like coils and relays, but can also occur with larger currents over long distances of wire.

The second one should work fine with just LED's over reasonable wire lengths.

The exact path doesn't matter.  You can get the +5v line there any way you wish.

[laserbones]

Crystal clear! Thanks so much Randy! That helped me get it! 

[yotsuya]

I do it the "...and not this?" way. 

[Nephasth]

I do it the "Why this?" way.

[yotsuya]

I do it the "Why this?" way.

Show off!

Wait, should the LED-Wiz be grounded?

[Nephasth]

Wait, should the LED-Wiz be grounded?

READ THE DIRECTIONS!





 

Depends on your application. See figures 1 & 2.

[yotsuya]

Wait, should the LED-Wiz be grounded?

READ THE DIRECTIONS!





 

Depends on your application. See figures 1 & 2.

TL; DR

[RandyT]

Wait, should the LED-Wiz be grounded?

You guys crack me up.  Not sure if this is a serious question, but I'll answer anyway

If you aren't using an external supply, then the ground path through the USB cable is fine.  Otherwise, the ground terminal should have a wire going to the external supply's ground.

[yotsuya]

Wait, should the LED-Wiz be grounded?

You guys crack me up.  Not sure if this is a serious question, but I'll answer anyway

If you aren't using an external supply, then the ground path through the USB cable is fine.  Otherwise, the ground terminal should have a wire going to the external supply's ground.

Uh, yeah... I was just kidding.... 

* yotsuya goes off to ground his LED-Wiz...

[Louis Tully]

.

[Nephasth]

Thanks man!

[yotsuya]

I do it the "Why this?" way.

wiring professional. Level:10

He's a modest guy, but everything I know about wiring, I learned from Neph. Except for grounding my Led-Wiz, that is!