The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Software Forum => Topic started by: loadman on July 18, 2006, 02:02:27 am
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If you swap the Main Led-Wiz CPU chip with an
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Where do you get this chip? That sounds appealing.
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Distributor details are at the bottom of my post ;)
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I think I lost the ability to read for a second. :dizzy: :dizzy:
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Very interesting find, loadman. Nice work!
Are you able to control the color of an RGB LED through Mala/LEDWIZ as well?
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The color is decided by which terminal you activate. A single led goes into one port (say port 1), an rgb led uses 3 ports (1,2,3) so as long as you can activate the individual ports then it would work the same. He did mention that it doesn't support light intensity, so that would limit your color selection with an rgb led somewhat. But for most I doubt that would be important.
The Led-Wiz will be a great product someday, as soon as it gets wide spread software support.
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Very interesting find, loadman. Nice work!
Are you able to control the color of an RGB LED through Mala/LEDWIZ as well?
Yes, But not very many at present. 7 I think?
Circo is right on the money with his answer
Still... My 3 Ice buttons look pretty colourful when flashing fast randomly under Mala's 'Attract mode'. You could swear there was more colours produced than that ;D Not that I personally care. 'To each his own I say'
(http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/images/RGBDrive.jpg)
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Just ordered one of the Warrior chips to install in my LedWiz. Wish me luck!
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I will post details on how to hook up a LCD soon ;D
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Thanks for sharing!!!! I need to check out MALA now.
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MalaWiz Mod to use a LCD & 16 LED's
Mod Instructions now moved to Website: http://www.members.optushome.com.au/backwash/wizmod.htm (http://www.members.optushome.com.au/backwash/wizmod.htm)
(http://www.members.optushome.com.au/backwash/wiz/malalcdmed.JPG)
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After taking the bridges out and re-inserting the original chips I can confirm that this LCD Mod is also completely reversible.
(If you do this make sure you put the chips is the correct way as they are orientated opposite to the chips on the other side of the LedWiz- See Pic Below)
The LedWiz is back how it was and working accordingly
(http://www.members.optushome.com.au/backwash/wiz/chipb4.JPG)
It's nice to have options.
O Well, I guess my work is done here.
Anyone want to buy a slightly used LedWiz ? (just kidding- I'm giving it away to a friend)
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Loadman,
Why don't you keep the LEDWiz to help Swindus figure out how to get Mala to control the intensity on each output? :-) That way Mala can fully manipulate RGB LEDs.
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Loadman,
Why don't you keep the LEDWiz to help Swindus figure out how to get Mala to control the intensity on each output? :-) That way Mala can fully manipulate RGB LEDs.
That is the friend I am sending it to :-)
FYI I live in Australia and he in Germany.
SWINDUS and I have discussed it and I have promised not to nag him about it. He has a bit of work on at the moment. I can't see it happening any time soon........ One day (maybe) :-)
[EDIT] I have since invested in more 'Wiz' for development purposes
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Loadman,
It looks like you have done some extensive work with the hardware that mala sells as well as the led-wiz. I had a couple of questions for you.
1. Is the Mala hardware a common-anode interface like the led-wiz?
2. The IO-Warrior specs call for a 6MHz ceramic resonator across pins 21 and 22. I don't own an led-wiz just yet, but all I can see on the led-wiz board is what looks like a simple capacitor on the end of the controller chip. Is that all it is or is it a ceramic resonator?
3. Any idea what the driver chips are on the led-wiz? Could they be 2803s like the mala hardware uses?
Thanks
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SWINDUS and I have discussed it and I have promised not to nag him about it. He has a bit of work on at the moment. I can't see it happening any time soon........ One day (maybe) :-)
I don't think it is SWINDUS interrest to support the ledwiz. As he sells his own hardware.... but i can be wrong, just a guess. ;)
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Loadman,
It looks like you have done some extensive work with the hardware that mala sells as well as the led-wiz. I had a couple of questions for you.
FYI I don't have anything to do with sales of MaLa hardware. But I am a volunteer for MaLa and do Beta testing of hardware and software. MaLa's hardware/software creators live in Germany and I live in Australia.
1. Is the Mala hardware a common-anode interface like the led-wiz?
Yep, But on the plug the anode is provided for each LED anyway (so you can wire it how you want)
2. The IO-Warrior specs call for a 6MHz ceramic resonator across pins 21 and 22. I don't own an led-wiz just yet, but all I can see on the led-wiz board is what looks like a simple capacitor on the end of the controller chip. Is that all it is or is it a ceramic resonator?
They appear to be both a 6 reso
3. Any idea what the driver chips are on the led-wiz? Could they be 2803s like the mala hardware uses?
The chips on the Wiz are not labled. Any questions about the LedWiz really should be directed to RandyT (from GGG). Sorry
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SWINDUS and I have discussed it and I have promised not to nag him about it. He has a bit of work on at the moment. I can't see it happening any time soon........ One day (maybe) :-)
I don't think it is SWINDUS interrest to support the ledwiz. As he sells his own hardware.... but i can be wrong, just a guess. ;)
There is some truth in that, not really for financial reasons as I understand they make very little money from the hardware as it is hand made at the moment.
I get the distinct impression that the lack of incentive to support the Wiz is more to do with the fact that a lot of time of effort was spent to support their own hardware. The LedWiz is controlled differently so a lot of time would have to be spent again. So not much incentive really I guess.
Anyway when I discovered this 'Chip swap for $20' I thought I would tell the world as it could be a solution for a lot of users (be it temporary or permanent) as the software controll of the LEDS and LCD in MaLa works well and is easy to set up.
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Just ordered one of the Warrior chips to install in my LedWiz. Wish me luck!
Let Me know how you go :)
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Mod Instructions now moved to Website: http://www.members.optushome.com.au/backwash/wizmod.htm (http://www.members.optushome.com.au/backwash/wizmod.htm)
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This worked out to be a perfect solution for me. Almost too easy! I am using it to control the 32 LEDs on my CP. The chip swap was a piece of cake and the modded LEDWiz was recognized by my XP system and the MaLa software with no problem. A true plug and play solution. Thanks for a great find. Here is a pic of the completed install.
LEDWiz modded with an IOWarrior:
(http://home.comcast.net/~stoli16/mame/cp/images/ledmod.jpg)
http://home.comcast.net/~stoli16/mame/cp/images/ledmod.jpg (http://home.comcast.net/~stoli16/mame/cp/images/ledmod.jpg)
More pics can be found here:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=56185.0 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=56185.0)
and at my website.
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Thanks for the tip Loadman the mod worked like a charm.
It is so nice to just have the controls you want light up for each game.
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Timoe,
Nice job. Question about your wiring... I see only one red wire going into the +5 input on the LedWiz. Do you have some sort of bridge somewhere else? Should every LED/RBG LED have one wire going into that +5 input?
Thanks.
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I ran that one wire over to a wiring block and ran all the other red wires to the wiring block (terminal).
Yeah, I didnt want to try and cram 32 red wires into that one little slot.
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I ran that one wire over to a wiring block and ran all the other red wires to the wiring block (terminal).
Yeah, I didnt want to try and cram 32 red wires into that one little slot.
Also Keep in mind that one could also "daisy chain" the +5v going to the LEDs, just like most do with the ground line going from the encoder to your buttons.
Either way works.
RandyT
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Hey Randy, just wondering why you used 28g wire, that stuff is tiny.
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Somehow I thought that would reduce the power eventually to say the last LED in the "chain"
I am wrong?
Cause dang that would have been easier.
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Hey Randy, just wondering why you used 28g wire, that stuff is tiny.
For that amount of current, 28g wire is fine. It's also smaller, easier to route and connected in ribbon form. With the average panel having 20 or more buttons, you are looking at 80 wires so small is good.
For those that might want to use bigger wires, there are through-holes spaced .100" apart on the RGB-Drive boards. If you order them without wires, you can put a header on there and use molex connectors, or solder directly to them with up to ~ 22 gauge wire.
Somehow I thought that would reduce the power eventually to say the last LED in the "chain"
I am wrong?
Yep ;)
They would be connected in parallel, so no power loss. You are thinking of series connection, which is something you wouldn't want to try on these anyway.
However, you would want to use at least a 22ga for the connecting wire so the current doesn't overload it.
RandyT.
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I have no idea what you mean by a "header" and my soldering skills sucks. I got mine with the wire already attached which is fine, its just kinda small and a little delicate.
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Happy Father's Day to me ;D (It's my thread :laugh2: )
Also Keep in mind that one could also "daisy chain" the +5v going to the LEDs, just like most do with the ground line going from the encoder to your buttons.
That would be my vote for this low amp LED action.
I did something bizarre this morning. (on my test bench) and the Wife was in the shower ...Where is this leading? :o
I Put TWO LEDS in on Button. One RGB (controlled by unmodified Led-wiz) and One ultra bright LED controlled by Iowarrior.
Mala Talks to the Iowarrior and Powermame talked to the Ledwiz during a game.
No conflictions of any nature
FULLY MAD!
[LATER ] This was just for fun I don't intend to use that on my cab :-)
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It is so nice to just have the controls you want light up for each game.It is so nice to just have the controls you want light up for each game.
Can't powermame do this as well?
I'm confused about this Mod, maybe because I haven't had enough time to experiment w/ the LedWiz. But, from my understanding, doesn't it just allow the Ledwiz to be used with MaLa in the same way it can be used with Powermame (although without intensity controls)? or are there advantages/differences?
mrC
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Can't powermame do this as well?Can't powermame do this as well?Can't powermame do this as well?
Mala hardware works with more than just Mame.
And I can set up Event Triggered sequences like a swirling animation when I exit a playstation game and a flashing animation when the FRONT END starts or exits.
Plus I can have only two buttons light up when playing a Nintendo game or 3 buttons when playing a Genesis.
Its easy to use, easy to configure and its not locked to one emulator, its just locked to one front end.
Its unfortunate that the "intensity" feature is not supported by the mala hardware, I dont know that I would use it though. I DO have (4) leds hooked up to my Tball and I can run sequences that go from 1-4 leds that somewhat seems like its fading in and out.
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Ahhhhhhh. Sweet. Thanks.
mrC
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Can't powermame do this as well?Can't powermame do this as well?Can't powermame do this as well?
Mala hardware works with more than just Mame.
And I can set up Event Triggered sequences like a swirling animation when I exit a playstation game and a flashing animation when the FRONT END starts or exits.
Plus I can have only two buttons light up when playing a Nintendo game or 3 buttons when playing a Genesis.
Its easy to use, easy to configure and its not locked to one emulator, its just locked to one front end.
Its unfortunate that the "intensity" feature is not supported by the mala hardware, I dont know that I would use it though. I DO have (4) leds hooked up to my Tball and I can run sequences that go from 1-4 leds that somewhat seems like its fading in and out.
You MUST send out some vids of this action soon!
I love my LEDS on my cocktail table but the downside is you usually can only see half of them on one side at a time