I was wondering if anyone has installed switches that control the light and sound simultaneously. Go ahead and post what and how you did it, whether it be a proptronix, exoray, or hyperdyne light kit. I am really interested in what ppl have done. I think this will help many ppl out. So, if you have installed lights let us know how you did it and what kit you used, if you installed sound tell us about it, and if you installed both so that they work together, then you should really let us know. I plan on looking for a way to do it myself I will post anything I find or do.
The easiest way (I think) to install lights and sound into your pack and have the switches control both would be to use DPDT switches. They basically have 2 sets of leads on them so you can wire two separate things to them and the switch would work for both. It’s pretty easy to locate DPDT switches but it takes a little more homework to find am accurate looking DPDT momentary push button (for the intensify button that controls the gun’s firing). I actually had to buy a DPDT momentary push button and modify the top of it so it would have the black plunger that the screen accurate guns have.
By using DPDT switches, you can mix and match different sound and light kits without having to wire them together to get them to work. So you can be sporting Proptronix lights and use a hyperdyne sound kit you won’t have to wire them together except have them each attached to the same switches. Believe me, this takes away a lot of the headache. I’ve worked with all the hyperdyne lab light kits for the pack and the sound kit along with both of proptronix’s light kits for the pack as well. Using these switches will save you a lot of time and emails. I must say though, having used different people’s light kits, both hyperdyne labs and proptronix supply quality lights that look amazing in anyone’s packs.
That answer couldn’t have gotten any better, sounds a lot easier the way you wrote it then the way I had imagined it in my mind, So the hyperdyne sound kit could be hooked up to any light kit as long as I use DPDT switch? When I start to work on the lights this is what I’ll have to do, I’ll try my best to post pics of it when I get started.
The only thing that is hard was finding the DPDT push button. I had to buy buy one and take the black plunger off an accurate one, drill out the plunger, and super glue it over the plunger peg on the new switch. Everything else is easy. That’s how I have my new pack wired up. I don’t have sound yet but I pre-wired it for sound using this method.
Don’t know how well this matches up with the inputs on the hyperdyne sound kit, but the green wire on my gun kit goes to +5 volts when the intensify button is being pressed, and 0 volts when it is not (10 mA max). I had intended to use this to trigger a sound kit.
With my gun kit all the necessary switches are included, and once the gun kit is installed it controls the sound kit as well as the pack kit all in sync…
Beyond that DPDT have their uses, if you want to interface other devices…
Depending on the light kit used you may have to use a DPDT switch.
With my newer integrated board kit, all switches/buttons are included to control the lights and sound. All are synchronized and the connections are a plug and play type system.
If you are connecting up an older version of our sound boards to the wand light kits, you typically do use a DPDT switch for vent control. Here is a diagram I made up some time ago for a DIYer to connect up the powercell, wand lights, and sound module together to synchronize it all.
http://www.hyperdynelabs.com/docs/GB%20pack%20wiring.pdf
Note: This diagram doesnt apply for my new integrated board, as that is a one-board solution to the entire pack lighting and sound control! It is much easier and cost effective to use one of these over the multi-board solution.
As always, there are many different ways to wire up a pack. If you ever have questions feel free to email me. I can always draw up a diagram specific to your needs.
Regards,
Jim
Thanks Jim, you were always very helpful to me when I worked on previous packs with their lights and sounds!
No problem, I want anyone who acquires my kits to be happy with them.
As others can attest, I stand by their workmanship and operation. I will even repair them free of charge in most cases (no matter what happened). Hopefully most know by now I am not a fly-by-night operation and strive to make things copacetic for everyone involved…
Could you draw up a diagram of how your economy plus sound board is meant to work with a light kit (any light kit)? The basic idea of it, including speakers.
I can make a diagram. I already have one on how the economy plus kit wires together to the sound module. Did you want that?
I guess you are asking for a secondary diagram on how that board hooks to a wand light kit?
Both would be fine if it’s not much trouble to make. Where could I find the ready made diagram.
I used a small DPDT 12v relay. The “Fire” button activates the relay coil, with one side of the relay switching the sound board and the other side switching the light board in the gun.
The only problem I had was signal feedback to the sound controller chip when the button was released. With Hyperdyne’s help, this was fixed with the application of a diode across the relay coil wires.
(There’s a pic of the coil in my Proton pack prop pages)
So I purchased a sound chip from Rob at replica props and I was convinced by the videos posted by him and other GBFans members who have also purchased the chip. It seems small and convenient and it’s pretty loud with the 7watt amp which I also purchased, not to mention it’s a lot cheaper than a hyperdyne sound kit, and to me thats important with being a student and all the quality also seems great and Rob seems very willing to help if any of us had any problems with any of the chips sold. I also bought a momentary and latch switch both are DPDT and I’m just waiting to receive everything in the mail. Total cost ~$90
I will post the results.