MANY Multiple color LEDs. Too much?

[hypernova]

Edit:  for updated topic, please scroll down.

(Original post) Ok, I can't seem to find anything about the wiring of the happ trackballs.  I'm guessing the two red wires running into the same connector is the 5v, and the blacks are the ground.  (Am I correct?)  Now, the other four...which is which?

Also, I have the one with a 12v bulb already mounted underneath.  Do I need any type of resistor?  I'm guessing no, since it's a 12v bulb, so long as I hook it up to the 12v on my power supply.  Plus, which is positive and negative on it?  If you need pictures, I can go down and grab some, but it's a whole thing I don't like doing unless I have to.

[LPZ]

http://ultimarc.com/optipac4.html

Andy's pic of a happ optical sensor with labeling on which wire is which.  I used this to wire up my happ 3" trackball and it helped alot.

LPZ

[hypernova]

Figured I'd resurrect this.  Anyone got an answer to my other questions about the trackball bulb?  Pos/Neg and whether I need a resistor?

My guesses are that it doesn't matter which is which, and I don't need a resistor.  Am I correct?

[quarterback]

Figured I'd resurrect this.  Anyone got an answer to my other questions about the trackball bulb?  Pos/Neg and whether I need a resistor?

My guesses are that it doesn't matter which is which, and I don't need a resistor.  Am I correct?

Is it an LED or just a normal incandescent bulb?  If it's the latter, you shouldn't have to worry about a resistor or the polarity.  It should just have two support wires with a filiment in between them.  When electricity runs through it, the filiment gets hot and glows.   

If you have some other kind of bulb, ignore all of the above info

[hypernova]

Well, on Happ's site, they call them "lamps" so I assume they're just regular bulbs.  So that's good.

New queries:

I'm getting ready to light up a crapload of LEDs.  They're 12v variety from FXbuttons, with resistors.  Here's all the colors I'll be using:

8 Green
8 Orange
12 Red
12 Blue
3 White
4 UV (Purple)
4 Yellow

This makes a total of 51 LEDs (It is a 4P panel, using Knievel's lighting method, along with some single LEDs in some Happ pushbuttons.)  After doing some searches, I've come up with some questions:

1.  I'm already drawing power for two P360 sticks, a 12v bulb under the trackball and another 5v for the trackball itself.  Assuming 20-30 ma for each LED, that equals 1-1.5 Amps.  Anyone have any problems with THIS many LEDs off one power supply in addition to all these other controls?  Should I have a separate psu (I have access to) to power the LEDs?

2.  Since I have a resistor for each LED itself, can I just run these all parallel off one 12v wire from the psu?  Or again, will I need extra power from another psu?

3.  Again, since these have all their own resistors, as provided by shawnzilla, can I hook up the different colors to the same psu source?  Was reading something about different color LEDs and it worried me a tad.  I assume I can, since they all have their own resistor connected to the +.

4.  I can daisy chain the - leads, can't I?

[BobA]

1. Check your 12V amp rating.  Most supplies have more than enough to power a couple of amps for 12V LEDs

2. The resistors are set for your LEDs to run on 12v.  They should all run quite well off 1 12V wire but you can use more than one 12V lead if you want.  The telling factor is the 12V lead.  If it is warm use more than one to split the load. They all come form the same 12V in the supply.  The extra lead just beefs up the amount of copper in your 12V feed to overcome any internal resistance.


3 the resistors should be sized for the different colors so they are safe to use on a 12 v supply

4 not sure what you mean by daisy chain.   If you mean like daisy chain the ground on switches yes you can do that with the ground and the supply as long as the LEDs are all oriented correctly.

[hypernova]

BobA, you're one of the most technical and helpful guys I've seen on these boards, and you came through for me.  Thanks a ton!