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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: dipdog on February 12, 2018, 11:26:57 am

Title: Convex, translucent, colored LED buttons
Post by: dipdog on February 12, 2018, 11:26:57 am
This is probably a newbie question and I've honestly tried to research it myself, so I apologize in advance if this has been answered somewhere else.

I have an older, pre-built arcade with a SlikStick controller and original, I assume, Happ buttons.  I'm using MALA.  I've been toying around with the idea of replacing some or all of the buttons with LED buttons and using MALA to control the lighting.  I'm no pro, so I'd like to keep it simple and I'd like to keep it as true to the feel and look of the original buttons as possible.  When I look around, I see that there are options like Ultralux with a PACDrive or PACLED64 board that would probably make it very simple.  But the shape is flat, I'm not sure if I 'd like that, and it might not mix well with the other buttons if I decide not replace all of them.  Ultramarc ClassicRGB buttons look like the right shape, but I'd like to have something that's colored, not white, when the arcade is turned off.  It sounds like it's more difficult to find Novagem buttons, but IL PSL buttons look like they might be what I'm looking for; translucent, colored, and convex.  But it doesn't look like the lamps or lamp wiring come preinstalled.  So, I'm wondering.

Is there an option for colored plastic, translucent, convex LED buttons, like the IL PSL, that have preinstalled lamps and wiring, like the Ultralux?
If not, what needs to be purchased and done to install and wire lamps for IL PSL buttons?  And, can they be connected to a PACDrive or PACLED64 board, or is there another board that I should look at?     

Appreciate any help you can offer!
Title: Re: Convex, translucent, colored LED buttons
Post by: lilshawn on February 12, 2018, 12:54:21 pm
are you planning to have RGB lights in these buttons or just a single color?

reason I ask is that if you have a translucent colored button and try to drive any color that is NOT that color, it is going to skew the color (tinting blue light purple) or make it imperceptible (for instance blue through red will almost be completely filtered out.)

What color are you going for here?

I feel translucent might be something that is going to be tough to find in the style you are looking for. An idea to think about is consider buying a transparent button in the exact style you are looking for and having someone lightly sandblast them to make them a little more opaque to scatter the light. not ideal, but it will be the exact switch style you are looking for.

I know adafruit have a bunch of translucent colored buttons, but their switch style may not be what you are looking for play wise. (some people are pretty stickler when it comes to their button action.) but it's a ready made solution with LED's in them and everything.

https://www.adafruit.com/category/757 (https://www.adafruit.com/category/757)

Title: Re: Convex, translucent, colored LED buttons
Post by: dipdog on February 12, 2018, 01:10:44 pm
Thanks for your reply lilshawn. Yah, what I'm looking for is just translucent, colored buttons with a clear led lamp. So the red buttons will glow red, blue will glow blue, etc. Basically, just looking for Ultralux buttons (colored, led, prewired, easy to install), but with a convex shape (ultralux are flat).
Title: Re: Convex, translucent, colored LED buttons
Post by: Titchgamer on February 12, 2018, 03:57:41 pm
Here ya go:
http://www.ultimarc.com/ClassicRGB.html
Title: Re: Convex, translucent, colored LED buttons
Post by: dipdog on February 12, 2018, 05:43:33 pm
So here's the thing, just aesthetic. I really like the shape of the ClassicRGB, they're supposed to look and work just like the Happ. But I don't want a board of white buttons when the power is off. I was hoping to get something colored and translucent.
Title: Re: Convex, translucent, colored LED buttons
Post by: dipdog on February 12, 2018, 05:48:15 pm
And I'm assuming that's what the IL PSL would be, but they don't come with the led lamps preinstalled, so I'm not sure what bulbs go with them, how you wire that up, or what led control board you can use. I see them at paradisearcadeshop, but there's no details about how to hook them up.