Uh, you talking about this?
If so, no, you don’t want that. That’s for if you setup a PC inside a MAME cabinet. See the USB cable? It takes commands from the PC telling it what to light, which your 360 or PS3 doesn’t do. Completely different beasty.
I use hacked PCBs for PC inside my MAMEcab and use the +5V provided by the USB cable to do light-up activation. Both PCBs still work fine, no missed input and the LED shine as if they were new. I figure doing this with the TE would work just the same.
Thanks for the answers! 
Toodles: Got it, will go with another solution then.
Harry: Ok, I will try that then.
Hi thar Toodles and all you other great contributors!
We are still in development of a wireless+wired pcb with led control. Now we are wondering if we should implement rgb-LED support. In that case, each button must have pin connector because of the extra wires from the rgb LED.
Toodles: Do you have an opinion regarding a pin solution as opposed to going the Cthulhu way of screwing the wires? Will custom builders be pissed for having to make or buy these connectors?
Is rgb-LED support something that the community would like or is it just useless (is 1 color per button enough)?
Ok, So I have some 74HCT14 inverters left over from my Madcatz Padhack, would these work for this? The padhack said that either 7404 or 7414 would work, so I’m hoping this is the same way. Thanks alot! You guys are awesome!
I have no idea. Give it a shot.
Yup, those will work fine.
Sweet! Thanks Toodles!
I am having a issue with my batteries I am trying to use to do this mod.When I put new batteries in it is like 3.13v but the vlotage just keeps going lower and lower. Am I a moron? Am I doing something wrong? Should’nt a battery give off the same power till it is dead? I cant figure out what resistors to use b/c my power is never the same. I am working in a very cold garage when I do this, is this messing it up? Once again I am not the most knowledgable guy about electronics but w/ a little help from the gods I think I can do it. Damnit I need my buttons to light up people!:shake:
Ahoy! In the first post it was mentioned that other 7404 Hex Inverters would work for this mod. I was just curious if the suffix matters at all. For example, Fairchild has a MM74HCT04N, MM74HCT04M, etc. Thanks in advance!
Do you know if it would be possible to use the Cthulhu PS3/USB board to make a battery-less version of this mod? I’ve only made one stick and I’m looking to make a second one, hopefully using this mod. Sorry in advance for any stupid questions I throw at you guys, and thank you for your time and expertise.
If I’m not mistaken you shoud be able to tap the vcc on the cthulhu to power the LEDs. Beneco posted this a few pages back. Look here
Nope, doesn’t matter. I think the ‘MM’ is just what Fairchild puts into the part number to differentiate them from the 74HCT04N that other companies make, and the ‘N’ signifies what package (DIP, various surface mounts, etc.) the chip is in. ‘N’ specifically is the DIP package, the easiest one to use because it isn’t surface mount.
I figured as much, but I wanted to make 100% sure before I ordered them. Thank you, sir! I appreciate your reply. Be well!
Just placed an order for buttons / electronics for an illumination mod. Going to go for the switchless one, since it’s obviously the sexiest.
Thanks for all the great information in this thread!
Thank you very much.
Before I embark on my soldering journey, could someone quickly verify that this is working correctly? I read through a lot of posts here and some people seems to have run into issues going the switchless route?
Also, is there any particular reason for running the battery ground together with the pad ground?
Im doing the led button mod on my TE and was wondering if I can daisy chain the line from the VCC to all the LED in the buttons. Im using bencao’s method of installing the LEDs. So far I just soldered a line on the slide terminal of each button ( the signal wire ) to the cathode. Its ready to go once I connect the VCC.
jep, just did this in this one
left side the black screw terminals is vcc line
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Thanks ben! I appreciate it. I just finished up my LED button mod with the VCC daisy chained. Works very well.
is there an online store when i can purchase all the tools required for this mod?