How can I turn off LED lights even though my computer remains on?

[unclet]

I bought the LEDWiz and I am using it with the LuminAudio software so all of the lights connected to the LEDWiz dance with the music.    Now, I would like to have a few lights which do not dance to the music (ie: stay full on) while the jukebox is playing, however, the LEDWiz LuminAudio software does not allow for some lights to "not dance" while others "do dance".  Anyway, I was thinking of simply connecting the LED lights directly to my computers 5V/GND power supply wires.   This will light them up for sure, but since I plan on keeping my computer on all the time I would like a way of turning off these LED lights ....... for when it is time to go to sleep,  when no one is home, etc....   I don't want them on all day long every day ......

So ..... what is the best way to be able to turn these LED lights off when I want to?  Should I be using a special type of switch in which I can connect multiple LED lights to with 5V/GND connections?

NOTE:  The LED lights which are wired to the LEDWiz only light up when music is playing so as along as no music is playing then those LED lights turn off..... which is nice.

[SavannahLion]

If you're not necessarily looking for fine control over your LED's through other means, you only need a SPST switch to accomplish your goal. You can wire it a number of ways, but the LED's will have a common leg tied together (usually ground), place the switch on this common line and you can globally control them.

[unclet]

So does that mean I use a standard arcade pushbutton .187 cherry microswitch to control the on/off power to the LED lights?

Noe sure what you mean by "fine control" ..... but I am not going to these LED lights to a LEDWiz or any other sort of hardware.   I just want a switch which will let me turn them full on or full off.

A quick wiring diagram would be nice if you have the time.    I am assuming I would wire the LED lights in parallel and then supply all power and all ground connections to each of them ..... threw the switch of course ....... correct?

[Green Giant]

A standard arcade pushbutton will not do for what you want here.  Pressing the button would either turn them on until you let go, or they would already be on and just turn off while you are holding the button down.

What you need is a standard toggle switch you can find a radio shack.  I made a crappy drawing to show you how to wire them.  You would wire them in parallel to the power, into a switch, and to ground.

[SavannahLion]

GG is correct, a standard arcade pushbutton will not do what you want here.

By fine control, I mean control of the LED's through other means, such as through an LED-Wiz for whatever reason.

I don't have my laptop with me, so I won't be able to sketch a working diagram until this afternoon. However, GG's self professed crappy drawing should give you a general idea on what you need to do.

[unclet]

I would assume I could use a normal light switch for this .... is this true?

I mean I am already going to use a dual switch for other purposes so I could change that into a triple switch and be set ..... will a normal light switch work here ?

I attached a picture of the dual switch I am using ..... but I could change this to a triple switch box if I could use one of these type switches to control the LED lights.

[Malenko]

its over kill, like killing an ant with a sledgehammer, but it'll do

[unclet]

Yeah I understand that .... but it would match the other switches and not look out of place .....  thanks for the information

[SavannahLion]

its over kill, like killing an ant with a sledgehammer, but it'll do

You need to remember that some of the earliest MAME cabinets made extensive use of standard light switches for simple signal switching. In the end, it really doesn't matter. A lot of switches I've come across are vastly overrated for their end purpose. Better to go over spec, then to come in under.

[DeLuSioNal29]

A standard arcade pushbutton will not do for what you want here.  Pressing the button would either turn them on until you let go, or they would already be on and just turn off while you are holding the button down.

What you need is a standard toggle switch you can find a radio shack.  I made a crappy drawing to show you how to wire them.  You would wire them in parallel to the power, into a switch, and to ground.

That's one hairy LED! 

Seriously though, Green Giant is correct.  You can't use a normal pushbutton which was designed for a quick connection when pressed.  Although a pushbutton will work with turning on a computer, it will not work with the on/off switch for the LEDs.  The opposite is true as well, a normal switch with stays in the on/off position will not work to power on a computer, which needs just a temporary "connect" or "momentary" connection which the pushbuttons provide.

So to sum it up:
Computer:  pushbutton or switch that temporarily stays in the on position when held and off when let go.
On/Off: normal switch that stays in each position when clicked over.

~ DeLuSioNaL

[unclet]

Yep .... sounds good.    Just got my triple switch tonight .....   

All the wiring stuff will not actually take place for a few weeks since the next step of the agenda is wood putty, sanding and painting.   However, it was quite important to resolve all this wiring stuff before continuing since I found I needed to cut some more holes to do what I wanted to do ...... and I do not like making holes after the paint has been applied.

Thanks for everyone's help