Help and advice needed: Illuminated buttons.

[Gryizor]

Hi all,

I am currently building a new arcade cabinet, and would like to use LED-buttons for it this time around – problem is that I have no previous experience with this.

I have read through the different posts here in the forum and have decided that I am most likely going for some of the products from Paradise Arcade Shop. I have always preferred the Sanwa OBSF-30īs and would prefer to continue using something like them, but with LEDīs as stated.

Problem is, I donīt really know where to start.

I am currently using a I-Pac 2 (8 buttons pr player), but does something like the Kaimana Kameleon replace that or is the Kaimana only used for controlling the LEDīs? (would I still need to use the I-Pac 2 alongside the Kaimana?).

If the Kameleon is the way to go, would something like the following link + buttons and clear plungers be all that I need pr player?: https://paradisearcadeshop.com/kaimana-led-series/1744-kaimana-kameleon-led-driver-pcb-8-button-kit.html?search_query=Kaimana+J2&results=46

Finally, as I am planning on using LaunchBox as the frontend (supports LEDBlinky), does the Kaimanas work with LEDBlinky and if so, is it possible to setup individual lightning profiles for each system/game?

I would highly appreciate any help – thanks

[keilmillerjr]

Kaimana only controls led lights. It's fully programmable with rather easy scripts. If you optionally "splice" into your button inputs, the Kaimana can read button presses and your script can do some cool things. If you don't care about buttons being lit for each game as instructions (stupid in my opinion), then this is the best solution.

[Gryizor]

Thanks for the reply

Is there anywhere where pre-made scripts for the Kaimana can be downloaded, since I am not entirely sure what you mean with "splicing" the button presses into the script. Also it sounds like you would NOT use the Kaimana for individual lightning profiles for systems/games, but is there anything out there that is better for that, if that is the way I wanted to go?

[SelectiveReviews]

I'm in the same boat as you Gryizor, so perhaps we can figure this out together.

I recently purchased some of Paradise Arcades OBS-MX kits with clear plungers for 30mm clear OBSF Sanwa buttons. They do say on the page that the OBS-MX comes with some holes where you could solder on your own LEDs, although I wasn't able to find examples of anyone doing this. The only other option for Sanwa that I can find is the Paradise Kaimana J2 RGB LED that fits in below the buttons, but I believe since it uses Indexable LEDs it's not compatable with anything but the Kaimana controller. PAS also sells the Pele LED rings that sound like they worked with Sanwa, but 30mm is currently out of stock and I've seen posts going back a few years about them being out of stock.

Original Kaimana RGB LED board Announcement Post on the Forum, October 15, 2013:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=135128.0

armi0024: The Hina board will be released in the future with the goal of LED Blinky compatibility and a much larger repertoire of computer controlled LED functions

Unfortunately, LED Blinky still not supported AFAIK. Also, there are probably a limited amount of scripts out there since it's based off Arduino unless you want to program it yourself, but on the plus side you can probably program it to do anything you want.

I was actually hoping there would be a solution that would allow me to use I-PAC Ultimate IO for the RGB LED control since it's LED Binky compatible and PC Interface/LED controls in one.

[Gryizor]

Thank you for your input SelectiveReviews.

It might end up that I am going to go with the Ultralux RGB-buttons and PacLED64-combo instead, since they have native support for LEDBlinky. The primary concern here of course, will be how they compare in use the the Sanwa OBSF-30. Having to make specific scripts for the Kaimanas is not really something I look forward to, and besides that I have been pretty disappointed with the lack of response in trying to contact Paradise Arcade.

Combining the OBS-MX/Kaimana J2īs with either one of the Pac-boards, was actually something I had also thought of, but it doesnīt seem to be compatible?

[SelectiveReviews]

Using UltraLux buttons and PacLED64 definitely seems like the best plug and play solution as it's specifically designed to work together, and they offer premade wiring harnesses made to work with that combo.

In my case, I was actually planning on doing my wiring with custom sleeving myself instead of buying a harness so I might just wire my own RGB LEDs into the OBS-MX.

Here's a guide I found: http://www.instructables.com/id/Arcade-Button-RGB-LED-Conversion/?ALLSTEPS

Now I just need to figure out what type of RGB LEDs & Resistors to buy to work with I-Pac UIO

[keilmillerjr]

There are links to downloadable scripts on the paradise arcade product page. The scripts are really easy. This is a selling factor in my opinion. I have no idea how you would use led blinks to do the things the Kaimana can do, without a computer. The only thing a Kaimana can not do is lighting based on rom selection crap.

[Gryizor]

keilmillerjr:

Since you seem to have experience with Kaimana, can you tell me which board I would need to buy for an arcade machine, if I were to hook up 16 buttons with lighting? - Kaimana Kameleon? (https://paradisearcadeshop.com/kaimana-led-series/1744-kaimana-kameleon-led-driver-pcb-8-button-kit.html?search_query=kaimana&results=46)

Another option I was considering, was to see if the Uila S Flash (Seimitsu) would work with the PacLED64 from Ultralux - can anyone confirm/deny? (https://paradisearcadeshop.com/button-leds/517-uila-s-flash.html).

[keilmillerjr]

Here is the guide: http://support.paradisearcadeshop.com/support/solutions/articles/14000021693-kaimana-led-install

I believe there is only 15 inputs, but could output to as many LEDs as you can chain together while retaining sufficient voltage. Guide says about 30.

15 INPUTS could include-
2 joysticks with each action wired individually, plus 7 buttons.
15 buttons

You could also use 2 kaimanas, but that has its limitations. Remember that these are intended for fight sticks.

I already have Pele rings. Intended on wiring buttons only to a Kaimana on my neogeo. Awaiting funds. Finally got a decent job again and start in less than two weeks. Cool things I can do is have buttons fade out or fade in on presses, all with like 2 minutes of coding. And it can work with my mame setup I'm making, or if I swap back in my 2-slot board. It's independent of a computer. Very cool! Paradise arcade should revise for more inputs. More arcade people would use them.