Electric ICE Lightable Horizontal Pushbutton question

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

Quick question about the Groovy Game Gear Electric Ice pushbuttons. I have been searching for a couple days and can not find this info. I'll update the BYOAC wiki with what I find here.

I am putting together a control panel for my PC, and I want to have two illuminated buttons. The Electric Ice buttons seem perfect. Here are my questions, though:

- What power source do they take? I will have access to a USB hub and then +5 and +12 from the Ultimarc board I am using to hook up my Major Havoc roller for this thing. If it is something else, I am probably out of luck.

- My options for purchase include a radio button for Cherry w/ RGB-Drive and 2' cable. Do I need two RGB-Drives for the two buttons? What does the cable connect to? (Probably answers my power question).

I assume that the RGB drive controls the desired color of the pushbutton, therefore I assume I need one for each. (I do hope to have them both lit up as blue.) I am not going to have them act in a custom manner for games or anything.

Thanks in advance. They look fantastic, and I am psyched to go forward.

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

OK, I found the answer looking at the ggg page for the RGB-Drive:

Note: These modules are intended for use at 5v DC and consume 20ma per color for a total of 60ma when all 3 colors are at full intensity.

This page also helped: http://www.retroblast.com/20061130284/Hardware/RetroBlast-Mini-Review-LED-Wiz-Accessories.php

[fjl]

If you want the buttons to be blue you can either get a transparent blue button and put a white LED behind it or get the Electric ICE button and a blue LED. The RGB drive is perfect for the ICE buttons since they hold an LED and fit inside the button pretty snugly. You should buy the bare RGB Drive circuit board and solder on a blue LED cause the pre-built board comes with and RGB LED and you will REQUIRE the LED-Wiz to change the color to blue or other colors. And that LED wiz is not cheap!

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

Seriously? I just bought two ice buttons and the RGB Drive for each. I really, really don't want to have to add another component at this point. Is there a workaround if you just want the thing to display one color, all the time, so long as power is given to it?

[RandyT]

If you are only looking to have 2 blue, illuminated buttons, then the NovaGems would be a good choice.  You should have the ~200ma available for them.  You could go clear with blue leds, or blue, which come with blue LEDs by default.

The earlier recommendation of using a white LED in a blue button would probably work to some extent, but the color of the LED should be paired to the color of the button.  If you tried putting white in a blue button, the button would act as a filter so that only the blue component of the white light would be transmitted and the rest would be blocked.  As only a small portion of the white light is actually "blue", it is much less efficient than an LED which is designed to emit it's full output at a more compatible frequency.

Seriously? I just bought two ice buttons and the RGB Drive for each. I really, really don't want to have to add another component at this point. Is there a workaround if you just want the thing to display one color, all the time, so long as power is given to it?

You can wire up one color of the RGB drive directly so it is always on, with no extra components required.  Shoot me an email if you need your order changed or would like to explore other options.

RandyT

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

You can wire up one color of the RGB drive directly so it is always on, with no extra components required.  Shoot me an email if you need your order changed or would like to explore other options.

Ah, right on! Yeah, that will work perfectly. (I was the guy who just ordered two buttons to Colorado.) So yeah, I am cool, wiring it up that way is fine.

Much appreciated, Randy (and efjayel)! Thanks a bunch.

-- Robb

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

These arrived today and look great. Does anyone know of a page or forum post that says what is involved in getting them to shoot out one color at all times?

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

Ah, I figured it out - the wire with the red paint is for +5. The other three determine the color. They look great, I'm stoked.

[cmoses]

Ah, I figured it out - the wire with the red paint is for +5. The other three determine the color. They look great, I'm stoked.

Any pictures to post?