In addition to controlling servos, is it possible to plug up some LED lights using the red/black/yellow cables (like those on servos) to the SSC-32 board and then control them (on, off, dim, blink, etc) using the VSA software? I have a project in the works that uses VSA to control several servos connected to a SSC-32 board and was hoping to add some LED lights to this project using the same equipment. Is this possible? Any advice or instructions is greatly appreciated.
Thanks…
Mike
The servo control pins on the ssc-32 can be used in an on/off mode. Refer to the ssc-32 user’s manual for details.
can you direct me to the section in the manual where this is explained?
thanks… Mike
I had been directed to that before but I guess I am not sure I understand. Is this saying that the LEDs can only be set to ON (H) or OFF (L)? What about dim, blink, etc - can this be done as well?
And as far as the wiring goes - I would assume that you would only use two of the pins on a given channell - wire the +(anode) side of the LED to the VS pin (red) and the -(cathode) side of the LED to the Ground pin (black). Is this correct? Is the pulse pin (yellow) used?
Also, can these H / L commands be sent to the SSC-32 using the VSA software?
The pin where the yellow wire goes is the signal. It is where you connect the cathode. The anode side goes to a resistor, value determined in the calculator I linked to. The other end of the resistor goes to 5vdc. This will turn the LED on with a low and off with a high. Remember the max current is 8.75mA if you need the ability to have all of them in at once.
Never used VSA. Don’t know how they do on/off commands. There is no easy/cheap way to dim using just an LED. You would need a servo board, then you could dim the LED by varying the “position” of the “servo”.
What I mean by servo board is the guts from a cheap servo. You could use it to vary the brightness of the LED, but replacing the motor with an LED. Not sure how well it would work though.
Maybe not so well. I’d go for a PWM signal out of the Atom. Not an R/C “PWM” signal, as the duty cycle range would be very small, and low.
Alan KM6VV
Oops this is an SSC-32 thread. 
The servo board actually creates a similar PWM at the motor output. Just pick one side to drive the LED and the other goes to ground.
The PWM going to the servo motor is different than the R/C control PWM. I haven’t checked (no o-scope), but the PWM to the servo motor may have a wide 0-100% “on” control range.
Nah, The R/C servo PWM signal drives 8 R/C servos in a 20 ms refresh rate. So the PWM for one servo at 100% is 1/8 of that, or 12.5% tops. The LED would be way too dim, and not have much range of control.
Alan KM6VV
There are digital pots but then your talking more parts and a more complex setup. For simple on, off, and blink, you can use the pins as Jim sugested. For dimining I’d make a custom board for that vs hacking servos unless you have a few on hand.
No Allen,
Servo control pulses are PPM pulse position modulation. But the servo control board (guts from a servo) uses that signal to create 0-100% PWM for the motor. That’s where I’m recommending he attach the LED.
Yes, the “guts” may be able to generate a range of 0-100% PWM signal, but what are the guts going to use for a feedback (error) signal from the LED? Where do you hook up the pot? ;>)
ALAN KM6VV
Swoooosh! Think continous rotation servo and associated control.
Maybe that’s the answer! Just wire up a pair of resistors to simulate a “centered pot”. You’d get some kind of control. I don’t know if it would “match” the PWM (500-2500 us at a 20 ms rep rate) of the control signal into a true PWM (0-100%), 'tho. Yeah, a 'scope would tell a lot!
I’d consider one of the LED controller chips. All kinds of control there!
Alan KM6VV
When you say that “the other side of the resistor goes to 5vdc”, does that mean that it goes to the VS pin (where the red wire normally goes). If so, then the last pin (where the black wire normally goes) is not used. Is this correct?
Mike
Can you recommend a particular LED controller chip?
16 channel LED drivers.
Try the TLC5923 or TLC59116, both TI parts.
Alan KM6VV