LED Wiz wiring question

[stephenp1983]

I am looking at getting the led-wiz + GP and approximately 6 of the nova gem buttons to be lighted.  The buttons have two wires coming from them, so the one with the resistor would just be connected to the ledwiz in of the number terminals correct?  Then the other wire would need to be daisy chained from each button into either the u5v terminal or the x5v terminal depending if I would be powering them via usb or an external power source correct?

So would a usb port provide enough power for just six of the nova gems, or would I Need another power source?  Also on daisy chaining the wires from each button would I just twist them together and leave them, or what could I use to seal each twist between buttons.

[arzoo]

So would a usb port provide enough power for just six of the nova gems, or would I Need another power source?  Also on daisy chaining the wires from each button would I just twist them together and leave them, or what could I use to seal each twist between buttons.

Yes - USB will provide the power no problem. The easiest way to combine the wires (twisted together) would be with a small wire nut.

[Games001]

If I recall correctly, a USB port will provide up to 200ma of power to any source/s.  Since the average draw from the LEDs (from GGG) used in NovaGem Buttons is 20ma, that would allow up to a max of 10 units per USB source.  An external power source will offer more units per chain, dependant on the power source itself.

[thatitalian]

Yes - USB will provide the power no problem. The easiest way to combine the wires (twisted together) would be with a small wire nut.
[/quote]

Could you provide a photo example?

[Games001]

example of wire nut installed..

[thatitalian]

I thought this was the case. But if you are daisy chaining buttons surely the twisted parts would make contact with the ground (I assume this is for the ground connection?), wiht the nut on how can contact be made?

[stephenp1983]

I read a post by kaytrim where it was stated the novagem lights use more than 20ma, and that might be a problem.  Can anyone else confirm this?

[Hoopz]

This is probably the thread you read it in:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=66217.msg669392#msg669392

[Kaytrim]

According to the GGG website the power needs for the NovaGems is 100ma @ 5v DC per button.  Since you are using 6 of these power hungry LEDs you will need to supply external power for the LEDWiz.

Your choices would be to use a Wall Wart or get the 5v from a hard drive power connector on your computer.

[rlehm]

I am looking at getting the led-wiz + GP and approximately 6 of the nova gem buttons to be lighted.  The buttons have two wires coming from them, so the one with the resistor would just be connected to the ledwiz in of the number terminals correct?  Then the other wire would need to be daisy chained from each button into either the u5v terminal or the x5v terminal depending if I would be powering them via usb or an external power source correct?

So would a usb port provide enough power for just six of the nova gems, or would I Need another power source?  Also on daisy chaining the wires from each button would I just twist them together and leave them, or what could I use to seal each twist between buttons.

when u get done lighting up your control panel don't forget to put the Christmas presents under the cab.  Just kidding. I too tried to light up my control panel when I first built my cab.

[scotthh]

I thought this was the case. But if you are daisy chaining buttons surely the twisted parts would make contact with the ground (I assume this is for the ground connection?), wiht the nut on how can contact be made?

I'm trying really hard to figure out what you're talking about. By "Twisted Parts" do you mean wire?

When you use a wire nut you are connecting two wires AND insulating them from anything else. I would personally use wire nuts for electrical mains, but they seem like over-kill for an arcade panel. Crimping two wires into each quick disconnect or some electrical tape would be enough for me. If you do use wirenuts, make sure you get ones small enough for the wire you're using.

If you look at the Printed documentation the +5V is daisy chained. You want that reaching every LED.

The External Ground is wired separately, directly from the LED-Wiz controller and not the LEDs. See this article on ground.

[thatitalian]

I'm trying really hard to figure out what you're talking about. By "Twisted Parts" do you mean wire?

When you use a wire nut you are connecting two wires AND insulating them from anything else.

Yes I mean the wire. I thought the whole point of daisy chaining is the connect one ground to the other. How can you do that if the twisted wire (the part that you connect to ground) is covered with a nut?

See my diagram below. On the left is a daisy chain connected to the ground of a button, and on the right is a wire nut daisy chain, but how do you connect that to the ground or to anything for that matter?

Maybe I am just missing something, in which case if I am I apologise for being a dumb *ss!

[unclet]

I soldered wires to each of the LED nodes (with the resistor inline as well of course) and used shrink tubing to protect all the soldering points.   The wires coming from the LED lights are very thin and twisting them was not an option as they would most certainly break off.

[scotthh]

See my diagram below. On the left is a daisy chain connected to the ground of a button, and on the right is a wire nut daisy chain, but how do you connect that to the ground or to anything for that matter?

Maybe I am just missing something, in which case if I am I apologise for being a dumb *ss!

Ah, now I SEE your question. Not dumb. Look more closely at the picture Games001 attached, there are 3 wires connected and twisted inside the wire nut.

[arzoo]

Here's how I think the NovaGems need to be wired - each has two wires, one with a shrink wrapped resistor on the end. The wires with the resistors (cathode side of the LED) should be wired to the individual ports on the LED-Wiz. For reference, the individual ports are the ground side. The resistor leads may need to be trimmed shorter. The second wire from the NovaGem (anode side of the LED), the ones without the resistor, can all by twisted together and secured with a wire nut. You'll also need to add an additional extension wire from the twisted group which will connect to the 5v output on the LED-Wiz (see the pic Scotthh posted above).

The deal with the 5v jumper on the LED-Wiz is this - the USB connection to the LED-Wiz can only supply 500ma. If all the LEDs wired to the LED-Wiz draw less than 500ma, then you would leave the jumper in place and the common extension wire from your twisted group would connect to either side of the jumper. The jumper is heavy gauge, but you should still be able to add the additional connection. BUT, each NovaGem requires 100ma (wow) so if you have more than 5, you'll need to provide an additional +5v power source to the LED-Wiz. In this case, the jumper must be removed. You would then wire a +5v source from your computer to the X5v port on the LED-Wiz and a ground source from your computer to the G port on the LED-Wiz. The U5v port will be left unused. Finally, connect your common extension wire from your twisted group to the X5v port. I've included a diagram from Randy's documentation.

Hope this helps.

[thatitalian]

See my diagram below. On the left is a daisy chain connected to the ground of a button, and on the right is a wire nut daisy chain, but how do you connect that to the ground or to anything for that matter?

Maybe I am just missing something, in which case if I am I apologise for being a dumb *ss!

Ah, now I SEE your question. Not dumb. Look more closely at the picture Games001 attached, there are 3 wires connected and twisted inside the wire nut.

Ahhhhhhhh!!! Now I see! This is actually a really good idea as in theory you could wire several button grounds into one nut and just have a wire from that nut running to the ground! No?

[arzoo]

Ahhhhhhhh!!! Now I see! This is actually a really good idea as in theory you could wire several button grounds into one nut and just have a wire from that nut running to the ground! No?

Yes!

[stephenp1983]

So say I went with the electric ice buttons and the rgb drives.  I would hook the three wires to the terminals on the led wiz, and the the forth wire from each of my six buttons could all be twisted together into one wire nut and have one wire run into the u5v terminal?  I wouldn't have to daisey chain one wire to the next?

and if I was only using the usb power I wouldn't need to run anything to the ground terminal right?

[arzoo]

So say I went with the electric ice buttons and the rgb drives.  I would hook the three wires to the terminals on the led wiz, and the the forth wire from each of my six buttons could all be twisted together into one wire nut and have one wire run into the u5v terminal?  I wouldn't have to daisey chain one wire to the next?

and if I was only using the usb power I wouldn't need to run anything to the ground terminal right?

Correct. 

Edit: This was my 666th post... creepy!

[thatitalian]

Correct. 

Edit: This was my 666th post... creepy!

DON'T LISTEN TO HIM! HE IS THE DEVIL IN DISGUISE

Do not stare directly into the beasts eyes!!! (not that you are a beast, I can't comment, I have never seen you before! )

But seriously, this is very good knowledge that I now possess!