Mini-PAC support LED?

[Witchboard]

Does the same apply to the Mini-PAC as the I-PAC?

LEDs: The three LEDs use the following inputs, which become bdirectional:
Player 1 Button 7
Player 2 button 7
Player 1 button 8
These inputs can still be used for buttons even if LEDs are connected but note that when the buttons are pressed the LEDs will light. You can wire your own LEDs to these connections.

[SirPoonga]

I'd have to look again, but I don't remember seeing a LED header anywhere on the minipac pinot info.

[Tiger-Heli]

Does the same apply to the Mini-PAC as the I-PAC?

LEDs: The three LEDs use the following inputs, which become bdirectional:
Player 1 Button 7
Player 2 button 7
Player 1 button 8
These inputs can still be used for buttons even if LEDs are connected but note that when the buttons are pressed the LEDs will light. You can wire your own LEDs to these connections.

I think so - based on these statements on the Mini-Pac page:

The Mini-PAC works identically to I-PAC2 board. All programming features identical, same number of inputs (28). Works in PS/2 or USB mode. For complete details check out the I-PAC pages.

It Does have the header so if the above doesn't work, you could use (or make) the LED Harness and use that.  Note that the LED's will still flash when P1B7 or P1B8 is pressed, even if you use the harness.

TIP - wire P1B7 or P1B8 to your coin inputs and the flashing will be less noticeable.

The bigger question is the I-PAC VE.  It does not have the header, but says that LED's are supported if wired manually.  I ASSume that means it only uses the bi-directional inputs, but you know what that means.

Hopefully, Andy Warne will see this thread and clarify.

[Grasshopper]

I'm a bit concerned about this whole sharing of inputs thing. It sounds like a design flaw to me.

I understand that on earlier Ipacs the buttons that were shared with LED inputs could be unreliable if used over a long cable.

Even if this problem has now been fixed, it appears you have to sacrifice 3 inputs if you want to use LEDs.

I have a personal interest in this. I'm building converter boxes so that I can use my panels with either my PC or Dreamcast. I'm wondering whether it's worth waiting until Ultimarc produce a 36 input version of the Minipac so that I can simply avoid using the shared inputs.

I emailed Andy about a week ago to see whether there was a fix to the sharing problem on older Ipacs (I already own a 28 input Ipac), and also to see when the new 36 input Minipacs were coming out but he hasn't replied.

Has anyone here got any info/ personal experiences thay could share?

Thank in advance

[Tiger-Heli]

I understand that on earlier Ipacs the buttons that were shared with LED inputs could be unreliable if used over a long cable.

I haven't heard of a long cable problem.  I have heard of these inputs becoming unreliable over time - possibly b/c of voltage being supplied to these inputs.

BTW, I'm not sure it matters whether you use the inputs or the header - the voltage goes to those inputs on the microprocessor either way and causes the problems with the switch inputs becoming unreliable.

Also, I would not consider this widespread, but I have heard reports of it.

Even if this problem has now been fixed, it appears you have to sacrifice 3 inputs if you want to use LEDs.

No, the LED's are inputs and the button switches are outputs (or vice-versa) so you don't sacrifice anything unless you are paranoid about inputs eventually not working (or really bothered by LED's flashing when you press a button.)

I'm wondering whether it's worth waiting until Ultimarc produce a 36 input version of the Minipac so that I can simply avoid using the shared inputs.

If you're THAT worried about it, there's the I-PAC VE (http://www.ultimarc.com/ipacve.html) if you're okay with USB only and RAM instead of EEPROM.