416 replies to this topic

[russdx]

Plasmas have a slighty diff look to led. The pixels are smaller and are perfectly spaced. Plus are what the older pinballs used

[clutester]

@Russdx: So I was trying to diagnose a problem with the whole DMD thing. While everything was powered up I unplugged the PinDMD and one line on the DMD CAME ON! then when i pluged pinDMD back in it went blank. I was pretty excited because to me that meant it was just a software thing and I wouldn't need to buy new hardware.  So I went into the PinDMD settings program and messed with the intensity and that made a dot in the lower right of the DMD flash a few times then go off every time I saved.

I've run the debug program which I suspect sends frames to the DMD but it shows nothing. I've run through the PinDMD2 installation guide multiple times to see if I've missed something. I'm running the 2.5 custom VpinMAME.dll.

Does it have something to do with the way I'm powering the DMD? I have the transformer always powering the piggy and it only receives 5v, 12v & ground when the computer starts up. 

I feel like I'm so close now.

[randr]

Clu tester, have re tried re flashing pindmd2? I mean if you have proper power(sounds like you do) the thing should boot up with logo as soon as you turn pc on. Try flashing if you haven't done it. Also on a side note....if you do get it working if pindmd2 is unplugged via USB cable vp will crash. May be a good way to test your configuration? At least it crashes for me if pindmd is unplugged running dll's and cabinet version of pin mame.

[russdx]

@clutester it is starting to sound like a problem with the pinDMD, would you like me to send you another unit out? If you could send back your current one I can run some tests my self

 

Your be seeing the firmware logo and if your not seeing this there is definitely some thing wrong.

 

PM me your address

 

Regards

Russell Pirie

Edited by russdx, 05 August 2013 - 07:13 AM.

[nickeltitanium]

Cannibalised an old broken Dell Power Supply.

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[russdx]

now thats cool!

[clutester]

That is pretty cool. I wish i kept my old dead PSUs now. What exactly did you wire up on the bottom? Is that to power the fan?

[antropus]

Very cool! And you still got some space left to add that "giant" pinDMD2

-Kris

[nickeltitanium]

Yes, I cut the idc connector (under) that would have gone to the original power board and linked it to a female computer plug.  The 5v/12v still comes from your computer power supply.  The bottom wires do power the PSU fan.  I was surprised that the transformer fits right in place.

 

There definitely is enough room for the pindmd.  I figure it would make more sense to mount it next to your dmd.  That way, if you want to convert back to an LED dmd, then it is not tied in with the plasma dmd power supply.

Edited by nickeltitanium, 06 August 2013 - 08:26 PM.

[russdx]

Id prob keep the pinDMD away from the box due to interference

 

Love this compact power unit

[duffbeerman]

zeb out of curiosity what is the status on your board?

[randr]

I tried the pindmdclr.exe and did not work for me. did anyone else try it?

[russdx]

Ill test it tomorrow properly

[zebulon]

Sorry guys,

 

Went on vacation for a week, works been crazy and life just seems to keep getting in the way.

 

I'll be sitting down tomorrow an trying to get caught up on the pricing and designs and should have answers for everyone tomorrow night.

[duffbeerman]

Sorry guys,

 

Went on vacation for a week, works been crazy and life just seems to keep getting in the way.

 

I'll be sitting down tomorrow an trying to get caught up on the pricing and designs and should have answers for everyone tomorrow night.

 

no worries, life is always 1st and for most. hope you had a good vacation.

[The Loafer]

Sorry guys,

 

Went on vacation for a week, works been crazy and life just seems to keep getting in the way.

 

I'll be sitting down tomorrow an trying to get caught up on the pricing and designs and should have answers for everyone tomorrow night.

 

You better not have gone on vacation near Ottawa!

[zebulon]

LOL...no, I was in the Kawarthas....thanks for all the well wishes for the vacation, it was a needed rest.

 

I'm still trying to find a decent price for a 3 pin pcb mount power socket for the transformer board. I figure it best to mount that, a fuse and the transformer to a separate board based on the size of the transformer. It would keep the cost down and also allow for people to just buy the board by itself, much like the piggy board.

 

The main board is going to be $45, that's the lowest I can get it down to using the components that I am. Between the board price and the component price it leaves me a whopping $7.50 profit margin for soldering and such....not going to get rich off of this one I'm afraid....

[Slydog43]

I want I want, glad your back

[Carny_Priest]

Hi, total noob question.

 

I'm testing a set-up like this:

 

http://www.vpforums....e=8#entry229172

 

I'm using this as a 5V/12V source:

 

http://www.amazon.co...0?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Voltages from this PSU and from the transformer were as expected. I wired up to the DMD and powered up and blew the 500mA fuse on the main hot. I blew through a second fuse, and called it quits. As I was merely testing, my connections were not very good. I was just sticking the stripped ends from my hookup wire into the holes on the connectors. I figured I just had a short.

 

Now, here's my issue: I went back today to try again, and I tested this little switching adapter and instead of 5V/12V it now reads 10V/24V. I tested it directly. It was not connected to the DMD Piggy. I figured maybe I damaged this unit somehow with my test. I didn't feel I could trust it. I pulled out the PSU from my ancient ten year old desktop PC. It's old, but I know it is still good as I used this machine less than a week ago. I also measured the output on this old PSU as 10V/24V. I still read the output from the transformer as expected, around 100V and 80V. So I don't think it is the meter. 

 

Seems strange to me, but I'm a total noob dealing directly with electronics. Any idea what causes this? Do I have a problem here trying to power up my display with these voltages? I wouldn't want to try it if it's just going to damage the display.

[randr]

I'm sure someone else will respond but I suspect your adapter for the 12v/5v dc is the issue. It's probably a non isolated supply. Do not use it! Just use ground, 12v and 5v from the molex on your computer power supply(extra hard drive power connection. You will be good to go! Unless you blew the trace on piggy pcb with that cheap adapter!? But that's easy to repair also.

Edited by randr, 16 August 2013 - 03:09 AM.