I am totally thinking about doing this method, but I have a question about it if just the Arc-Eyes are powered by the second USB cable. Simply enough, that means that if you wanted the LEDs “turned off” temporarily, all you’d have to do is unplug the cable so they wouldn’t be powered. However, would that have any repercussions when they’re set up to activate-on-press, since the Arc-Eye boards wouldn’t be powered but they’re connected to button grounds and such? Or am I over-analyzing this?
The Y cable i’m talking about is simply one usb cable stealing power from the next port… xbox and ps3 have 2 available USB ports, so you’d be taking the port away from a 2nd USB joystick… so instead of using a 2nd port, you can simply plug into that AC adapter i mentioned…
With the Y cable, unplugging it basically cuts 500ma of available current…
Plugging it in gives you a total of 1000ma (= 500ma + 500ma = 1A) to share between LEDs and controllers…
Or you could wire your stick to use a DC power adapter, but thats not a very nice solution…
How I handle the problem personally is go dual wireless using Gummowned’s LEO board, and get a big battery (which has no limit… only its capacity is the limit) and never have to worry about power again… lol
Ok I neasured some joysticks and here are some quick power consumption results:
TE Stick (stock 360) = 20ma
Cthulu = 30ma but can spike to 50-60ma during sync
Cthulu + Madcatz dual mod = 50-60ma, but can spike t 70-80ma during sync
And i seem to remember (not 100% sure):
Wireless 360 controller = 60ma
Wireless PS3 controller = 30ma
So maybe a nice safe amount of current to reserve for controller operation is maybe 80-100ma.
This leaves 400-420ma for leds and other stuff
So where is Bencao and his announcement for the Master Strike? 
Here, but not finished yet. PCB is in order 
I wanted to see a full list of the features/what it is capable of, since I’m going to be getting one.
of course 'll post them as soon I`ve some time.
wow, very cool and interesting project !
maybe this has been asked before but would running wires from the resistor pads to custom made panel with “variable resistors” (sorry I don’t know the exact english name for it) work ? (ability to set the intensity and color on the fly)
okay, that would prolly make wiring in the stick a mess but that could make a pretty nifty use of the otherwise useless turbo panel/turbo panel-area…
A variable resistor? You mean a potentiometer (a dimming switch?)
Bencao is working on a LED controller that will let you do all sorts of fun stuff… But thats for later… most people who use LEDs in their setups can use the Master Strike to control it =)
yup, potentiometer, that’s what i meant! (and it’s the same word in french too, I feel stupid for not remembering at the time I posted xD)
Glad to hear bencao is working on somthing for that too ^^ (I was thinking about something like having only the useful buttons lit up for different games(maybe with different colors), like for the SNK layout, classic Capcom fighters, Arc sys, shmups etc ^^)
ahh… habitez-vous en France? ma famille vit palliseau!
Sweet! so my calculations on everything put together will leave me in the safe zone with these numbers =D light show here i come lol
omg sweet!!! this looks like its gonna be a ton-o-fun in 1 stick XD… im so tempted to jump on this right off the bat but i think i need to calm myself down and see how things connect lol ill probably wait till Purplearms updates with the setup instructions,pricing and faq so that i can make sure im not getting in over my head =/
I’m so there. But now I have to make a Japanese based stick for the Arc Eye lights (with a JLW) and another one for happ or Ultimarc buttons. I may have to give my first stick away at this point…
awesome lighted shaft no homo
purplearms, hehe, Paris then ^^ I live in the alsacian area, so north-east, very close to the swiss/german border 
Hehe… Masterstrike will also use a little power, but not too much… Yeah i’d say up to 400ma should be ok. As long as we dont exceed a calculated maximum of 500ma on USB
I think you can even go a little higher than 500ma, but don’t quote me on that…
Masterstrike will be reasonably priced. Working out the details with Bencao74 now
That’s very interesting news and an excellent idea. Waiting on that…
Also, regarding your custom clear plungers purplearms:
Judging from the photos posted here, I saw they consist of two pieces. Have you tried to use a differently colored acrylic of varring translucency for the top piece?
I’ve tried different levels of white translucency, but not colored ones. Those would work too, but would be expensive to cut them just for the sake of testing. An alternative is to get some transparency sheets (like the types they use in school for overhead projectors back in the day)…