Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Quarterhorse on April 24, 2006, 11:00:53 pm

Title: Easy coin door lighting solution
Post by: Quarterhorse on April 24, 2006, 11:00:53 pm
Thought I'd contribute in my own small way.  I found some small little usb-powered led lights on eBay.  They come complete with a little clip in the back that fits perfectly on the coin door mechanisms after clipping a small back piece of it off.  Worked well for me as I am using a laptop and didn't want to thunderdome the case and muff up the whole thing.  Hope it helps somebody down the line.  Pic on my coin door below. 
Title: Re: Easy coin door lighting solution
Post by: CartmanDP1 on April 24, 2006, 11:21:56 pm
Nice little solution, your cab seems to have some interesting wood grain any chances of a pic of the whole thing?
Title: Re: Easy coin door lighting solution
Post by: Dizzle on April 25, 2006, 01:10:21 am
Nice..  how well does it light up the returns?
Title: Re: Easy coin door lighting solution
Post by: gord on April 25, 2006, 01:11:40 am
Yeah the wood looks beautiful!  I second pics of the cab, and let's get a shot of the coin door from the front!
Title: Re: Easy coin door lighting solution
Post by: mccoy178 on April 25, 2006, 02:43:34 am
Linky for the lights?
Title: Re: Easy coin door lighting solution
Post by: whatzcrackn on April 25, 2006, 03:09:10 am
what did you search for under ebay search?
Title: Re: Easy coin door lighting solution
Post by: Quarterhorse on April 25, 2006, 09:32:15 am
Thank you for the compliments.  More pics to come -- I'll get some up tonight with it lit up. 

The wood is birch plywood.  Stain was minwax red mahogany (2 coats) followed by 2 coats of polyurethane.  It really looks nice. 

The LED lights light it up pretty well IMO.  First glance you think real arcade coin slot.  That's what I was looking for.   I tried to post a link on here but not sure how to do it to the actual products on ebay.  Do a search under "usb led swivels".  Now that I am at the office I can't access eBay on our system (THEY don't want us shopping).  There are several usb-powered led lights, but these were the only ones that came with a clip that will directly attach to the coin door.  Anybody want to throw up a link?  Cost was great too -- I got both delivered for under $10. 
Title: They also have fans that are usb powered
Post by: Quarterhorse on April 25, 2006, 09:59:41 am
I am also using a fan that is usb-powered to cool the case.  It is extremely quiet and obviously an easy install.  Using a USB hub inside I'll have all this stuff neatly wired to it and almost have a "plug and play" laptop ready to go in the cabinet. 
Title: Re: Easy coin door lighting solution
Post by: quarterback on April 25, 2006, 11:17:00 am
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6873698030
Title: Pics of lights in action
Post by: Quarterhorse on April 25, 2006, 05:31:48 pm
Here are some pics of the lights in action and more of the cabinet.  I'll post the final cab when complete (waiting on a usb cable from ultimarc and then attach the control panels).   Somehow, the pics barely show the brightness -- I think they could be better and brighter but the effect works overall. 
Title: Re: Easy coin door lighting solution
Post by: JeepMonkey on April 25, 2006, 06:29:38 pm
Sweet cab, looks great.
Title: Re: Easy coin door lighting solution
Post by: The 80s Man on April 25, 2006, 09:46:20 pm
I hope those LEDs work out for you, I tried the exact same ones and they burnt out in less than 8 hours of use. I'm glad I only paid 1 dollar each for them from a dollar store called Dollar Tree.
Title: Re: Easy coin door lighting solution
Post by: Quarterhorse on April 26, 2006, 10:26:41 am
Suddenly I feel like a big thundercloud is coming to my picnic after reading you had some go out earlier.   :badmood:

If these peter out in a week or two I'll repost to let you guys know. 
Title: Re: Easy coin door lighting solution
Post by: Quarterhorse on May 25, 2006, 12:25:37 pm
Update. 

The 80's man has it right.  Avoid this solution!  Mine went kerplunk last night.

So....

I got a 12 volt wall wart (previously powered a cable modem), hacked into the end of it, and spliced into my two lamp bases (14 volt) that came with my happs coin door.  Lit them fine.  Down the line I'll get some wedge type LED's to drop in them after these current lamps go out.  Am I going to set my cabinet on fire?  Did I need to put a resistor on it?  Electrical is not my forte.....
Title: Re: Easy coin door lighting solution
Post by: DrumAnBass on May 25, 2006, 04:01:06 pm
This is what I am planning on using for my coin door lighting; one of the 3 LED clusters. Molex connecter built in for power...

http://svc.com/ledlicl13or4.html
Title: Re: Easy coin door lighting solution
Post by: Quarterhorse on May 25, 2006, 04:22:07 pm
Looks like those will work great for you.

I'm not using MOLEX as I'm using a laptop and didn't want to hack into it.  Hence the wall wart solution.  Anybody else done anything like this with an external power supply?
Title: Re: Easy coin door lighting solution
Post by: Stingray on May 25, 2006, 04:35:17 pm
I hope those LEDs work out for you, I tried the exact same ones and they burnt out in less than 8 hours of use. I'm glad I only paid 1 dollar each for them from a dollar store called Dollar Tree.

I bought a handfull of them at Dollar Tree for a buck apiece too. I only use them now and then, but none have burned out yet.

-S