Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Jakobud on May 18, 2024, 12:36:25 am
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I have a PacLED64 (https://www.ultimarc.com/output/led-and-output-controllers/pacled64/) and this 12v DC LED light for my marquee backlight: https://www.arcaderenovations.com/arcade-marquee-led-light-strip-kit.html
Can I somehow use the PacLED64 to control this marquee light? Can I use it to turn it on/off and/or fade it? Can anyone point me in the right direction if this is even possible?
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Can I somehow use the PacLED64 to control this marquee light? Can I use it to turn it on/off and/or fade it?
PacLED64 provides 20mA per channel, but the light comes with a 2000 or 3000 mA power supply.
- The linked site does not list the actual current draw at 12v for the light or whether it is dimmable. :dunno
You probably can't even wire that marquee light directly to all of the PacLED64 channels in parallel :dizzy: to get full brightness.
(64 channels * 20 mA = 1280 mA)
You should be able to work around that limitation (and simplify the wiring) by wiring the control side of a solid state relay to the PacLED64 in place of one of the LEDs shown in this image. For example, between "+" and "31".
(https://www.ultimarc.com/images/1/p64wiring.jpg)
The 12v operating voltage for the light flows from the wall wart through the COM and NO terminals of the relay to the red wire on the light. Ground from the wall wart connects directly to the black wire on the light.
Wall wart + ____ COM ____/____ NO ____ Red wire on light
Wall wart - _________________________ Black wire on light
That approach would allow you to turn the marquee on/off, but you wouldn't be able to automatically dim it.
Scott
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Okay I think I know what you are saying. What is a wall wart by the way? Do you mean the wall plug?
If it can't dim that is fine. Just being able to turn it on/off would be great.
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What is a wall wart by the way? Do you mean the wall plug?
A "wall wart" is a power supply that plugs directly into the outlet with no cord between the outlet prongs and the body of the power supply.
Wall wart:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/411waA5tc8L._AC_SS450_.jpg) (https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71yWX0C-ZZL._AC_SS450_.jpg)
Not a wall wart:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71AqHi3GoUL._AC_SS450_.jpg)
If it can't dim that is fine. Just being able to turn it on/off would be great.
Here's an old thread with some useful background info about solid state relays:
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,137899.0/all.html (https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,137899.0/all.html)
A relay board like this should work for your application.
https://www.amazon.com/HiLetgo-Channel-optocoupler-Support-Trigger/dp/B00LW15A4W/ (https://www.amazon.com/HiLetgo-Channel-optocoupler-Support-Trigger/dp/B00LW15A4W/)
5v to DC+. Ground to DC-. PacLED64 control channel to IN. ("31" in the example above)
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71B+IvZvueL._AC_SL1010_.jpg)
12v from the wall wart to NO (or COM). Red wire from the light to COM (or NO). Set the jumper to trigger on low.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61geaIj2tUL._AC_SL1010_.jpg)
When LEDBlinky tells the PacLED64 to turn the light on for that control channel, the channel goes low which tells the relay to enable which connects COM to NO.
Scott
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You need a PAC Drive for this use case, not a PacLed64.
https://www.ultimarc.com/output/led-and-output-controllers/pac-drive/
I'm using a PAC Drive to control a rather long LED strip in my Daytona USA Twin marquee. It pulls power directly from the 12v on the PSU power supply (+), and then the negative wire (-) is wired to the PAC Drive to switch on an off.
If you want to see my LED strip array - http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,167512.msg1768246.html#msg1768246