Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: JRoz on March 26, 2012, 12:00:34 pm

Title: Name that LED! - Joystick Top - SlikStick CP
Post by: JRoz on March 26, 2012, 12:00:34 pm
Hey Guys,

One of my LED joysticks started getting very dim recently and eventually died out. I checked the connection with the 3 other joysticks and they all plug in and light up just fine, so I know its not the wiring and probably just the LED. I have pictures of it below, anyone know where I can get a replacement LED for it? Just need to solder it back to the bottom where the power cable plugs in to.

thanks!
Jason
Title: Re: Name that LED! - Joystick Top - SlikStick CP
Post by: RandyT on March 26, 2012, 12:07:13 pm
One of my LED joysticks started getting very dim recently and eventually died out. I checked the connection with the 3 other joysticks and they all plug in and light up just fine, so I know its not the wiring and probably just the LED. I have pictures of it below, anyone know where I can get a replacement LED for it? Just need to solder it back to the bottom where the power cable plugs in to.

Have you measured the diameter?  That could be a smaller one than normal, but it's hard to tell from the photo.

If not, then it looks like either a flat top LED or a standard one which has been ground down.  Regardless of which, you can take a normal "superbright" and grind it flat.  Just don't get closer to the innards than the current one shows and you should be fine.  Don't forget to use the proper resistor for the LED you end up using.
Title: Re: Name that LED! - Joystick Top - SlikStick CP
Post by: JRoz on March 26, 2012, 05:33:26 pm
Damn, I was hoping someone would know of an exact replacement.  I'll measure the actual LED, its rounded but the top is flat, not rounded.  Doesnt look like the original had a resistor. 
Title: Re: Name that LED! - Joystick Top - SlikStick CP
Post by: Mysterioii on April 02, 2012, 08:50:20 am
There's a lot of variation in LEDs...  3mm, 5mm, 10mm, domed top or flat top, viewing angle, brightness, clear material or diffused...  As Randy said that one's either a flat-top or one that's been ground down.  But even if you get another flat top, there's MAJOR differences in brightness and viewing angle out there.  For lighting up buttons and such you really want a wide-angle LED (and preferably diffused) so the light doesn't just shoot out the top of the buttons.  (And I think Randy sells some diffusion discs for buttons?  Or did I get those someplace else?)  For the joystick balltops they might be diffused enough on their own that the LED angle doesn't matter as much.

I think if you just replace the one LED you may find that it might not match your other joystick(s).  You could try, but I would suggest getting several LEDs of the same style and replacing them all.  LEDs are pretty cheap on ebay... yeah it's stuff from China, and the quality of chinese ebay electronics is pretty shaky, but I've gotten tons of LEDs from there and never had any real issues.  Be sure to add the current-limiting resistor, usually 100-150 ohms is fine.
Title: Re: Name that LED! - Joystick Top - SlikStick CP
Post by: JRoz on October 13, 2012, 12:03:15 am
alright I finally got an LED that would work with my stick and have been trying to get this thing working...I tried to solder this thing and really got frustrated and went ahead and burned 3 of my fingers some how. 

1. Not soldering anything every again
2. Want to just buy a damn replacement wire for this thing haha.

Its an illuminated Happ 360 controller, and the joystick was made by SlikStik...not sure if they make replacements for these but does anyone know where I can buy one?
Title: Re: Name that LED! - Joystick Top - SlikStick CP
Post by: Nephasth on October 13, 2012, 12:17:48 am
If you want, you can send it to me and I'll fix it for you.