Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: rlemmon on March 10, 2008, 03:51:28 pm
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Hi guys. I want to install a ggg nova matrix marquee light in my cab.
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=307
My trouble is that I have no idea how to wire it into my pc. I understand that it has to be spliced into the 12v wire and a ground . How do i know were to locate the wires on the power supply.
I see they sell a molex wiring harness to. If i get this do I just plug it into the connector on the nova matrix ?
One last question. There are two molex connectors in my pc my extra cooling fan is plugged into one. Is it safe to assume there both 12 volts.
Anny help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks guys, Ron
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If you look at the molex connector there should be black, red and yellow. Black is a ground, red is 5 volts and the yellow is 12 volts.
I would find a multimeter and verify those voltages.
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I thought that the pin layout was a such with voltages:
red-black-black-yell with the red/black combination being your 5V supply and the yellow/black being the 12V supply.
To make things easier, here is my suggestion. Instead of splicing any wires on the computers power supply, I would look at the following website.
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556052166.html
They have a nice PCI Molex connector. I belive all these connectors will be using the 5V and 12V supply from the PS. I would disconnect the red/black cable if there is any on the GGG hardware. If not great, just plug the device into the molex connector and your 12V will be supplied. That is if the 12V is already tied into the appropriate male/femal molex connector. It would be easy enough to splice into a molex connector by obtaining a molex Y splitter and or a molex extender.
Hope this helps out. Thanks, Shane
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In case you were wondering, you don't have to wire it to your PC. I didn't want to do that because my pc is always on, and I didn't want the light always on, so I bought a wall adapter from radioshack and connected the wires to that, didnt even have to splice anything.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2552560&cp=&sr=1&origkw=1000ma&kw=1000ma&parentPage=search
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My trouble is that I have no idea how to wire it into my pc. I understand that it has to be spliced into the 12v wire and a ground . How do i know were to locate the wires on the power supply.
I see they sell a molex wiring harness to. If i get this do I just plug it into the connector on the nova matrix ?
I would suggest that anyone not comfortable chopping the wires on their PC drive power cables purchase the optional splitter cable. It comes with loose male QD crimp connectors to attach to the ends of the wires leading to the light unit. This allows one to plug it into the fully-insulated female QD's on the splitter. No splicing into the PC power cables is required.
In case you were wondering, you don't have to wire it to your PC. I didn't want to do that because my pc is always on, and I didn't want the light always on, so I bought a wall adapter from radioshack and connected the wires to that, didnt even have to splice anything.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2552560&cp=&sr=1&origkw=1000ma&kw=1000ma&parentPage=search
This is a good suggestion as well. But I just want to stress that if this approach is used, one needs to make very certain that the wall adapter is of similar quality to the one in the link. It must be a regulated 12v supply. I have seen non-regulated 12v supplies run at over 16v with no load! As the lights don't draw much current, the voltage would stay way too high and result in very bright light for a very short time. :P
RandyT