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Wiring 12 volts into a controller setup without destroying the board?

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sfetaz:
I am going to wiring up Playstation controllers for use with my cabinet for my DDR Machine.  In the DDR Machine there are lights.  I am setting it up so when you press a button or step on an arrow, the lights light up.  This uses DC 12 volts.  The positive of the 12v goes to the common wiring of the switches, while the negative goes directly to the negative of the light, and the postive of the light goes to the normally open of the switches.  When the switch is closed, the light will light.  I have been told that since this will run 12 volts to the playstation board, it will damage it making it unusable.  Is this true and if so how would I prevent this?

paigeoliver:
A DDR pad is pretty darn big, have you considered maybe like putting more than one set of switches under there? Of course you are using playstation controllers (WHY?).

NoOne=NBA=:
You need to rig it so that the 12V goes to the lights only, and is triggered by the 5V signal from the switch.

That way when you press the switch, the 5V sends a signal back to the Playstation, as normal; but also triggers a relay, that closes the circuit on the 12V light associated with that switch.

The only other concern I would have is whether the 5V signal from the PS will provide enough current to drive the coil(s) on the relays.
It may be a TTL (low amperage logic) signal, that is not designed to actually power things, but to just show a conductive/non-conductive state--like a transistor.

sfetaz:
Ok, I own a DDR Arcade Machine.  I am developing a product to market and sell that converts the DDR Arcade Pads to work with playstation, while still allowing easy switching between arcade and PSX.

So playstation controllers do receive 5 volts?  If so where can I learn more about your relay idea?

StephenH:
I would recommend using some sort of a solid state switching device for the lights.   For example, if you used a 12V AC (not DC) supply, you could use an SCR or TRIAC to control the lights.   Additionally, some high power transitors may also work.    Another way, is to use a CMOS chip and transitior setup for when input and output voltages are different, and set the output voltage of the setup to 5V and the input as 12 connected to the light.

I would not recommend a direct connection, because it could send 12V to the 5V inputs.    They need some sort of isolation.

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