Some doubt with the resistors

[rafaliyo86]

Ok this is my doubt:

I normally when I have installed R/F (for me and my friends) have been in CG or CG2 controllers but now I´m going to install in a Matrix controller and when I went to buy resistor a doubt came me.

I have to buy 330 and 470 ohm resistor but I always had bought of 1/2W but there is any noticeable difference if I bought of 1/4.

What do I have to take into account when I buying them?

Maybe it will be nooby but I didnt have ask me before

Thanks

[Frankie.R]

the 1/4 what's should be fine, that's what i use and they should be easier to fit into the controller as their physically a bit smaller. Just install the chip as normal but add a 330 ohm resistor on the trigger pin's and diodes are needed to connect to the led's.

[Modded Matt]

use 1/4 and try a 100 ohm for the leds

[rafaliyo86]

use 1/4 and try a 100 ohm for the leds

ok, thanks!! Its better to use 1k ohm for the leds than 470? If is this better for me becuase i bought a 100 pack on ebay one month ago and i dont have to buy 470 ohm resistor now

[Modded Matt]

100 not 1k=1000..... this resistor directly affects the brightness of the led, that is all. it was put in place to protect the leds, however 470 is slightly over kill

[crazy-modder]

Well you dont really need diodes on the leds, its just recomended.  I never use diodes on the leds and they still work good for me.  But ya, you want 33ohm 1/4w 5%, and 100ohm 1/4w 5% resistors

[rafaliyo86]

@ matt, 1k sorry was a mistake lol

@ crazy modder, would be 330ohm not 33ohm or i am wrong?

Thanks

[crazy-modder]

ya sorry thats what i meant,  330ohm 1/4w 5%, and 100ohm 1/4w 5%

[rafaliyo86]

ya sorry thats what i meant,  330ohm 1/4w 5%, and 100ohm 1/4w 5%

Ok, so much thanks I am going to buy 100 packs on ebay lol or do you know where i can buy cheap resistor in packs?

[crazy-modder]

The best would be ebay.  If you dont care about waiting, you can get packs of 500 from china for like $7 but they take FOREVER like 3 weeks to get to you.  You can get those on ebay.  Im sure you can find USA dealers on ebay but its always gonna be more expensive when you buy stateside. Probably between $10-$20 more

[Hazer]

OK folks, time to set some thigns straight:

The resistors for the triggers should be 330 Ohms. 1/4 watt are fine as there is no real current going through them what-so-ever. Also, they are only needed for the matrix. You dont need them at all for the CG. The reason for the resistors is becuase the trigger input to the microcoft ASIC is expecting 1.5-0V DC and the PIC outputs 2V. The resistor divides the output so as to not over-volt the ASIC chip.

The diodes are there because when the controller turns itself off, the PIC leeks current since the matrix 'common' is left floating. In laymans terms: The controller turns off, but the LEDs stay lit. This means your batteries get drained while the contorller is off. The diodes force the leakage current to levels acceptable for battery life (the controller actually pulls 110 microamps from the batteries in the off state in an unmoddified controller. The diodes keep the leakage current to below 10 microamps.).

The resistor for the LEDs should be no greater than 100 Ohms. Its a protection that may or may not be neccesary. Honestly, my codes do not need it as the duty cycle is 50%. But since other people have released codes similar (or modified from my code), it would be a bad assumption that all rapidfire codes can be directly connected to the LEDs. They are after all, 2VDC forward current LEDs. The PIC provides 3V outputs and could easily burn out the LEDs if the code did not pulse the output, or better yet get stuck in a loop with the output forced on. In the end, a 2 penny part is worth the effort over replacing a 0603 LED in my book.

[crazy-modder]

Hazer, once again your awesome!! lol well i guess im going to start using diodes... Ive been such a nub and thinking to myself why the  do the leds stay lit when the controller is off.  Thanks for the knowledge you provide to us nubs lol.