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Author Topic: RGB LED control panel advice  (Read 2617 times)

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ncflagg

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RGB LED control panel advice
« on: April 14, 2019, 12:59:16 am »
I have a cab project I started building around 2008 I recently started working on again. It's a two-player (six button) panel and I've decided I want to add RGB LED push buttons. I like the look of the clear case with a black opaque plunger like in this video (not my video).

 

It's a Windows XP PC with a J-Pac. I've been looking at different options on GGG, Ultimarc and Paradise Arcade but still feel a bit lost. I have a feeling I'm going to end up buying something and then have to buy more when I realize I didn't order what I needed.

I want to drive a least 12 RGB lights for the game buttons and maybe up to 19. I'll spend more if it means I can save some time (like buying a pre-built wire harness).

I'm ok doing some scripting/programming work to get the look I want. I've already got a massive batch script plus some python and auto hotkey to get everything to behave the way I want.

What should I buy?

MydknyteStyrm

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Re: RGB LED control panel advice
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2019, 01:01:56 am »
You buy the buttons you want, the RGB lights additionally if needed, a PACLed (or something similar) controller; LEDBlinky software, and go to town.


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ncflagg

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Re: RGB LED control panel advice
« Reply #2 on: April 16, 2019, 12:22:57 am »
Can I get clear buttons with concave black plungers anywhere? I've decided I want to try and light them with an addressable LED strip; are there any clear buttons out there that don't come with LEDs?

Clear w black plunger (convex):
 https://www.ebay.com/itm/White-LED-Bezel-Eclipse-Pushbutton-Black-Plunger/192358612184?epid=7009022753&hash=item2cc9777cd8:g:bFgAAOSwYwJaA3Tg&shqty=12&isGTR=1#shId

adamcian

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aevans0001

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Re: RGB LED control panel advice
« Reply #4 on: April 20, 2019, 11:08:56 pm »
I agree with @adamcian , however youI do disagree on the model of the RGB lights.  I ordered one of those rgb lights and I don't think it is very bright without drilling a small hole into the base of the button.  I also ordered one of these RGB's and it works a lot brighter.

https://paradisearcadeshop.com/en/home/electrical/pcbs-lighting/led-lighting-solutions/button-leds/1835_il-lumination-rgb-5vdc-led-rev-a

How ever with this you will also need this connector, you can use either one

https://paradisearcadeshop.com/en/home/electrical/wiring-power/harnesses/301_4-wire-100-header-wiring-harness

or

https://paradisearcadeshop.com/en/home/electrical/pcbs-lighting/led-lighting-solutions/paradise-arcade-kaimana-led-series/1071_paradise-kaimana-3-wire-harness

The second one you would cut off the white end, it would cost .25 less but have less wire leads attached.  All you are really looking for is the brown connector.



I have also talked to them and for $1.00 more you can get the plungers switched out to any other color. So I am going to do this one with some green, some red plungers

https://paradisearcadeshop.com/en/home/controls/buttons/il-industrias-lorenzo/il-psl-l-series/275_il-psl-l-concave-button-translucent-white#/choose_a_microswitch-75_gram_cherry_microswitch/pushbuttons-white


and finally this is the same button adam suggested except in CONCAVE

https://paradisearcadeshop.com/en/home/controls/buttons/il-industrias-lorenzo/il-psl-l-series/2309_il-psl-l-concave-button-clear-white-black-plunger
« Last Edit: April 20, 2019, 11:24:44 pm by aevans0001 »

adamcian

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Re: RGB LED control panel advice
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2019, 10:30:03 pm »
I agree with @adamcian , however youI do disagree on the model of the RGB lights.  I ordered one of those rgb lights and I don't think it is very bright without drilling a small hole into the base of the button.  I also ordered one of these RGB's and it works a lot brighter.

https://paradisearcadeshop.com/en/home/electrical/pcbs-lighting/led-lighting-solutions/button-leds/1835_il-lumination-rgb-5vdc-led-rev-a

How ever with this you will also need this connector, you can use either one

https://paradisearcadeshop.com/en/home/electrical/wiring-power/harnesses/301_4-wire-100-header-wiring-harness

or

https://paradisearcadeshop.com/en/home/electrical/pcbs-lighting/led-lighting-solutions/paradise-arcade-kaimana-led-series/1071_paradise-kaimana-3-wire-harness


I was actually curious about this other option @aevans0001. They didn’t have it when I bought mine and I need to light some more buttons in my setup. What I was confused about is where they go on the button. Do they actually live inside the plunger somehow? They don’t have a picture of it on the website that you can see that part and I could tell where/how it attaches. Do you happen to have a good shot?

The ones I have, as you correctly mentioned, I had to drill a small hole with my drill press in the bottom of the housing below the switch to let the LED shine brighter through the top, had forgotten about that part. Don’t love that this other option requires some extra wiring though, mine came with nice super-long wires that plug right into my controller. So either option requires a little work: wiring vs a bit of drilling. 



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Re: RGB LED control panel advice
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2019, 11:11:42 pm »
What I was confused about is where they go on the button. Do they actually live inside the plunger somehow? They don’t have a picture of it on the website that you can see that part and I could tell where/how it attaches. Do you happen to have a good shot?
The LED goes in the button body under the spring.



You'll probably want to mod your buttons like Nephasth did for his Two-Headed Beast build in this post.

ChanceKJ has a tutorial thread here for a similar mod inspired by Nephasth.


Scott