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Explain LEDs to me...( CarolAnne...come to da Light!!!)
SlayerAlex:
--- Quote from: arzoo on June 17, 2009, 01:40:10 pm ---
--- Quote from: garnerb350 on June 17, 2009, 12:57:45 pm ---So if I wanted to have my cab to have lighted pushbuttons and trackball...what would i need ( from A-Z)?
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There's no one single answer here - you've got lots of choices. For the buttons and trackball, both GGG and Ultimarc manufacture controls specifically designed to be lit up (and they include the LEDs). You can also go with translucent buttons and trackball and then add your own LEDs with mounting kits. Some do their own custom solutions - I just drilled holes into the bottom of my Happ trackball and inserted the LEDs. The same can be done with buttons. Search the site and you'll find tons of threads on the subject.
Next you'll need an LED controller such as the LEDWiz (from GGG) or the PACDrive (from Ultimarc). The LEDWiz is by far the most popular - it's the only device with the ability to set an intensity level for fade effects or multiple colors when using RGB LEDs (the PACDrive can only turn the ports on or off). The LEDWiz has 32 ports and you can use more than one if you need additional ports. Each port can be individual controlled via software.
Then there's your choice for the LEDs - single color or RGB? RGB LEDs allow you to vary the color - but they only work well with white or opaque buttons. The GGG Electric Ice controls are specifically designed for RGBs. Also, RGB LEDs require three ports each - so a single LEDWiz can control at most 10 RGBs (with 2 ports remaining).
Lastly, you'll need software to drive the hardware. Some frontends have dedicated LED plugins (MaLa, AtomicFE, Maximus, GameEx, others?). LEDBlinky is another option - it can work with most any FE and has native support for many (including HyperSpin).
Everybody has their own opinion on what looks best - so it's hard to get a consensus on this subject (LEDs). Many have posted pictures and details on their blinky/flashy control panels - so do some searches. And whatever your choices - get ready to put up $$ - lighting up your cp can get pricy!
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thanks that really helps me alot. One more question though is where do i get the power from? I think i can get 5v with no external power from a pacdrive, but alot of lights will need 12 V power? like it says here
http://www.ultimarc.com/pacdrive.html
what is a comman 12v power source? is it like box or something from radioshck that i plug in to an outlet or something? = /
Franco B:
You only need a 12v source if you are powering 12v devices.
90% of the time people just use 5v LEDs so unless you are thinking of driving some other devices I shouldn't worry about it.
You may need to provide the LED Wiz (Pacdrive too?) with a 5v source if the LEDs you are running draw over the 500mA available from the USB line (I wouldn't go over 400mA just to be safe).
As you will be using the LED controller with a PC, your best source for 5v (or 12v if you need it) is to take power from one of the PC drives molex cables. You can buy a splitter and just hack that if you don't want to butcher your existing PC wiring. The red cables are 5v, the yellow is 12v and the blacks are ground.
Just FYI, if you want to output voltages other than 5v you will need a Pacdrive or GGG LED Wiz revision 2. Personally I would go for the LED Wiz, the revision 2 board has four banks of eight outputs that can each be configured to output up to 50v (and 500mA per output).
I have eight LED Wiz's and one Pacdrive so that should tell you something (and I only bought the Pacdrive before the LED Wiz revision 2 came out).
csaun9001:
I got my LED's going this weekend. I have the electric Ice buttons from GGG, as well as the RGB LEd's and boards that fit into the button. Using the LED Wiz as well. I'll tell you what, totally worth the price. The look is AMAZING! I could not be happier!
Now if I could just get them configured the way I want...........in time, in time.
C-Note