Spectra Eclipse™ Illuminated Bezel Pushbutton - Question

[Soxbrother]

Can anyone tell me if these buttons (Spectra Eclipse™ Illuminated Bezel Push buttons)
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=408

can be used with a Pac-Drive led controller ?
(On the website it says it can be used with Led-Wiz controllers.)

Any users that have these and can confirm if they work with a Pac-Drive led controller ?

Thanks in advance.

[Nephasth]

Yes.

[Soxbrother]

Yes.

Cool.

How do you connect the wires ?
On the Pac-Drive you connect 1 ground + 1 led cable,
But the Spectra Eclipse RGB probably has 3 wires, so I guess you have to put all 3 wires (red, green, blue ) into the same hole ?

[DeLuSioNal29]

There are 2 flavors of the Pac Drive:
- "Pac Drive USB Driver" - Has 2 inputs for each LED.
- "Pac LED 64" - Has RGB inputs to change colors.

Depending on which Spectra Eclipse button you buy is which Pac LED to use:
-  If you buy single color LED, get the PAC Drive USB Driver.
-  If you buy the RGB LED version of the button, get the Pac LED 64.

You can use the RGB version of the buttons on the Pac Drive USB Driver, but you will only get 1 color depending on which one of the 3 grounds you connect (combinations are possible as well by putting two or 3 twisted together, see below).

You can connect it directly to a +5v power source and depending on what ground wire you connect (3 total -  R, G + B) that's what color you will generate.  You can combine wires to create additional colors as well.  Add resistors and you can achieve even more.

Primary Colors:
Red Wire = +5v source - Connect this with the following to form that color:

Ground wires:
R wire = Red LED color (ground)
G wire = Green LED color (ground)
B wire = Blue LED color (ground)

Additional colors:
B wire + G Wire = Light Blue LED color (ground)
R + G Wires = Yellow LED color (ground)
R + B Wires = Purple LED color (ground)
R + G + B Wires= White LED color (ground)

Hope this helps.

DeL

[Soxbrother]

There are 2 flavors of the Pac Drive:
- "Pac Drive USB Driver" - Has 2 inputs for each LED.
- "Pac LED 64" - Has RGB inputs to change colors.

Depending on which Spectra Eclipse button you buy is which Pac LED to use:
-  If you buy single color LED, get the PAC Drive USB Driver.
-  If you buy the RGB LED version of the button, get the Pac LED 64.

You can use the RGB version of the buttons on the Pac Drive USB Driver, but you will only get 1 color depending on which one of the 3 grounds you connect (combinations are possible as well by putting two or 3 twisted together, see below).

You can connect it directly to a +5v power source and depending on what ground wire you connect (3 total -  R, G + B) that's what color you will generate.  You can combine wires to create additional colors as well.  Add resistors and you can achieve even more.

Primary Colors:
Red Wire = +5v source - Connect this with the following to form that color:

Ground wires:
R wire = Red LED color (ground)
G wire = Green LED color (ground)
B wire = Blue LED color (ground)

Additional colors:
B wire + G Wire = Light Blue LED color (ground)
R + G Wires = Yellow LED color (ground)
R + B Wires = Purple LED color (ground)
R + G + B Wires= White LED color (ground)

Hope this helps.

DeL

Thanks for the information !!
So for the full color range,
the pacled64 would be the way to go.

I thought it was maybe possible to use the pacdrive with the rgb version of the eclipse buttons, because in the info it said 5v, and the pacdrive only uses 5v.

From the groovygamegear website :

"Helio9™ RGB Lighting Option Notes:

This option includes a special version of our Helio9™-RGB lighting unit which is permanently fixed into the light/switch holder unit.  It also includes 24" of color coded wires.  Note that this option is 5vDC only, and higher voltages will damage the LEDs.  Current requirement is 180ma."

But as you mentioned, the pacled64 has rgb inputs, the pacdrive has only input for 1 color.

I also have a question related to the pacled64 :
So you connect the pacled64 to your usb and for power it must be connected to the molex connector, like how you power your hdd.

But I will probably make an Arcade controller only for now,
not a mini arcade cabinet.
This means if I must connect my pacled64 to a molex connector for power, I then would always have to open my pc to connect it or have a power cable coming out my pc to be able to connect it.

So I was wondering if this would work as well :
Connect the usb to the pc as usual and for power connect it to a separate psu.

So this way I never have to connect it inside my pc to the psu of my pc, but just connect it to a separate psu.

Would this work ?

[DeLuSioNal29]

Just buy this $5 Molex bracket:  http://www.xoxide.com/pci-power-bracket.html

You simply plug the bracket to a free molex connector on the inside of the PC.  Then plug your Pac LED into that external connector.

Alternatively, you can also do it even cheaper if you have any molex splitters around.  Just have it stick out the back of the case through a removed metal bracket slot.

DeL

[Soxbrother]

Just buy this $5 Molex bracket:  http://www.xoxide.com/pci-power-bracket.html

You simply plug the bracket to a free molex connector on the inside of the PC.  Then plug your Pac LED into that external connector.

Alternatively, you can also do it even cheaper if you have any molex splitters around.  Just have it stick out the back of the case through a removed metal bracket slot.

DeL

The molex bracket is an excellent idea !!!
Thanks, I'll look into it.

While searching I found something like this as well :
http://www.dhgate.com/product/hard-disk-external-power-supply-5v-12v-dual/212770268.html

[gumby510]

Monoprice also sells a molex bracket with three 4 pin molex. I use it to power my happ trackball, marquee light and my Ipac. I got the idea from Delusional and his great how to videos. 

https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=104&cp_id=10421&cs_id=1042102&p_id=2372&seq=1&format=2

[Soxbrother]

I found several brackets online, but none of them can be installed on the front of the pc, maybe they exist but I need to do some more searching.

When I have the bracket and I have installed it in my pc,
what's the procedure for connecting the pacled64 ?
1) Before you power on your pc connect the pacled64 to molex bracket and then when the pc is started connect the pacled64 to usb port
Or
2) When the pc is started connect to molex and then to usb

Thanks in advance.

[RandyT]

Using a current limited controller for the Helio9 RGB lighting units, will severely curtail the capablities of those modules.  They will still work, but you'd be limiting the output to less than half of what the lighting is capable of delivering.

[Soxbrother]

Using a current limited controller for the Helio9 RGB lighting units, will severely curtail the capablities of those modules.  They will still work, but you'd be limiting the output to less than half of what the lighting is capable of delivering.

By "current limited controller", do you mean the pacdrive ?
If yes, is the pacled64 in the same category,
or is the pacled64 ok for the helios9 rgb

[gumby510]

Using a current limited controller for the Helio9 RGB lighting units, will severely curtail the capablities of those modules.  They will still work, but you'd be limiting the output to less than half of what the lighting is capable of delivering.

By "current limited controller", do you mean the pacdrive ?

Yes Randy's stuff puts out more power to the helio9 than a PAC will. I'm using some Helio 9 with a ultimate from ultimarc and it's bright enuff for me.


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[Soxbrother]

Yes Randy's stuff puts out more power to the helio9 than a PAC will. I'm using some Helio 9 with a ultimate from ultimarc and it's bright enuff for me.


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Is this also true for the Ultimarc Pacled64, it delivers 12v, so surely that's enough

[gumby510]

Yes Randy's stuff puts out more power to the helio9 than a PAC will. I'm using some Helio 9 with a ultimate from ultimarc and it's bright enuff for me.


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Is this also true for the Ultimarc Pacled64, it delivers 12v, so surely that's enough

It's measured in milliamperes Randy's led unit produces more so the led is brighter.


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[Soxbrother]

It's measured in milliamperes Randy's led unit produces more so the led is brighter.

Ok, so the ledwiz gives a brighter led.
The only importance for me is that the Helios9 rgb buttons work with the pacled64,
so if they're a little less bright, that's no problem,
and the pic you showed seems bright enough to me.

[Soxbrother]

I will try to make the molex bracket into someting like this for the front of my pc:

See the attached picture.

[DeLuSioNal29]

If you have a spare 3.5 drive bay in front of your computer, you could use this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/280909798163?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

Monoprice also sells a molex bracket with three 4 pin molex. I use it to power my happ trackball, marquee light and my Ipac. I got the idea from Delusional and his great how to videos. 

I didn't think people still watch my older tutorial vids.     I need to re-shoot those in HD with better lighting (on my to do list).

DeL

[Soxbrother]

If you have a spare 3.5 drive bay in front of your computer, you could use this:

I've also found that while searching. That one will be easiest to install, but the other one has 3 connectors,
so I'm still deciding which one I'll get.

[Soxbrother]

Yes Randy's stuff puts out more power to the helio9 than a PAC will. I'm using some Helio 9 with a ultimate from ultimarc and it's bright enuff for me.

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From looking at the picture at the Ultimarc Ultimate and Pacled64,
I see that connecting the wires is the same.
You connect the wires through a connector housing.

The wiring have special connectors on them which then goes into the connector housing.
I didn't actually find a picture of it,
but I'm guessing the Helios9 wiring on the end is something like this :


So how did you manage to connect that into the connector housing ?
Did you cut off the special connectors of the ultimarc wiring and soldered them on the Helios9 wires ?
Or did you cut the wires just above the special connector and used something like a butt connector to
connect the Helios9 with the Ultimarc wire ? 
The "Extension Harness pack" you can order on Ultimarc has either 4,8mm or 6,3mm crimp connectors
on one end and the special connector for the housing on the other end.
I don't think the Helios9 wires are attached this way ( with a crimp connector ),
I think they are soldered on the Helios9, so for connecting it to the Pacled64, something must be altered.

But how can it be done ?

Thanks in advance.

[Nephasth]

A million ways to skin a cat. Pick your flavor.

[gumby510]

A million ways to skin a cat. Pick your flavor.

Buy this wire from amazon the connectors from the company on the bag or wherever and a crimper


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[PL1]

A search term that will help you find the correct 0.1"/2.54mm pins/housings/ratchet-crimper is "Dupont".   


Scott

[Nephasth]

A million ways to skin a cat. Pick your flavor.

Buy this wire from amazon the connectors from the company on the bag or wherever and a crimper


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[yotsuya]

A million ways to skin a cat. Pick your flavor.

Buy this wire from amazon the connectors from the company on the bag or wherever and a crimper


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Props to Gumby. That wire box is the ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---. Got it myself, no regrets.

[Soxbrother]

I will try to make the molex bracket into someting like this for the front of my pc:

See the attached picture.

I've succefully added the molex bracket to the front of my pc !!!