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LED control idea

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NoOne=NBA=:
That's similar to the circuit I was playing with in my head.

Aren't the diodes coming off the encoder redundant though?

The diode nearest the button on the LED line will isolate the LED from the encoder, won't it?

cholin:
Now looking at gates, they seem smart to use, but are they worth it?  Which is easier to implement.  Which is cheaper?  Can I find parts locally?

Trimoor:

--- Quote from: NoOne=NBA= on February 15, 2005, 10:14:52 pm ---Aren't the diodes coming off the encoder redundant though?
The diode nearest the button on the LED line will isolate the LED from the encoder, won't it?

--- End quote ---
It probably is, but I left it in just in case.  I don't have an encoder to test right now, but there might be some internal circuitry that would mess this up.


--- Quote from: cholin on February 15, 2005, 10:56:15 pm ---Now looking at gates, they seem smart to use, but are they worth it? Which is easier to implement. Which is cheaper? Can I find parts locally?

--- End quote ---
For our purposes, discrete components are cheaper, and are probably easier to use.  You might be able to find gates at radio shaft, but they would certainly have diodes.

radio shaft sells gates at about $.80 apiece in small quantities, whereas diodes are about $.04 apiece.  You would still need resistors for the LEDs, which they overcharge at a whopping $.20 per resistor.

If you can, buy electronic parts anywhere but radio shaft.

cholin:
I don't know if you mean Radio Shaft, but around here we have one called Radio Shack.  Sounds about the same, overpriced.  I dont know where to get any of these pieces though without resorting to Radio Shack.  That's why they get away with their prices, there's no competition.  Gates sound more efficient, but cost more.  Diodes sound like they'll get the job done and cost WAY less.  I figure I might as well do it right the first time using gates, but if I can wire the whole thing for like $5 with LEDs included because of diodes, sounds like a plan to me :)

ShinAce:
Gates will be cheaper. I paid 50 cents(canadian) per IC, and used 2. Plus 1$ worth of led's, and some resistors I already had. Total cost to me, under 3$. It took me about 2 hours to get the pcb prepared, and another 2 hours to install it. But the reason I chose gates is because my controls are already connected to 2 different pads(USB and Dreamcast), so adding the gates just counts as a third system.

If I wanted to buy some 40 diodes, 10 led's, resistors, and whatnot at Rat Shack, I'd be paying over 10$. Not to mention you'll end up with a decent amount of wiring. If you think you can do it for 5$, what are you waiting for?

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