Atronix Topper Help

[Jake777]

Hi Everone

 I just got an Atronix topper off of E-bay and might need some helpif anyone out their has some knowlede of these toppers. When I opened it up seems that some of the wires a pretty fried, but I think I can repair them. What I don't see is how the LED driver board is powered. Was wondering if anyone has a wiring diagram or know what type of voltage is needed to fire the LEDs and what they might be hooked to. Any help would sure help with this project

[jay]

What platform are you interfacing it too ?

[galahad]

Had mine apart last week, noticed the lighting behind glass was out. Glad I did. Found the two flurescent bulbs were touching against two of the ribbon cables for the chasing lights, and was starting to burn the ribbon cable. Not sure what topper you have , but mine had two power sources, one for the ballast for the flurescent lighting (110 volt), and a power source for the circuit board for the chasing lights. That was 110 volt pri/9 volt dc sec. I do not have mine interfaced with the machine, are switched operated. Not sure what you have, but I hope that helps!

Hi Everone

 I just got an Atronix topper off of E-bay and might need some helpif anyone out their has some knowlede of these toppers. When I opened it up seems that some of the wires a pretty fried, but I think I can repair them. What I don't see is how the LED driver board is powered. Was wondering if anyone has a wiring diagram or know what type of voltage is needed to fire the LEDs and what they might be hooked to. Any help would sure help with this project

[Jake777]

Thanks for the replies, I too will just have it switched and not interfaced to a machine. I have included some pic's of the topper showing the burnt ribbon cable. This must have been a design problem by Atronix, I found some cable and should be able to repair. I figured that the LED's needed another power source and my guess is that it plugs into one of the sockets on the board, but which one. I have also add a pic of them (not the best but you can get a idea of them). I know in the past that from this forum the LED's are polarity sensitive so which pin would be the (+). And last when I opened it up I found three metal rectangles cased in plastic floating around in the topper. One side is open metal and at first I thought they were magnets, but they are not. I have look for tall-tell signs where they might go but I am stumped and haven't got a clue what they do. Any ideas

[stayouttadabunker]

Can you give us a close up of the metal rectangles in plastic cases? That may help.
Do you have a DC power supply? Bench top type/adjustable current?
You could probe the ends of the ribbon cables with low voltages such as 3VDC - 6VDC to see if the LEDs light up.
I have no idea what goes into those white molex-type headers on the top left hand side of the board.
The older curved/tube flourescents CAN be replaced with lower heat household /closet type flourescent lighting.

[Brianzz]

Most likely those LED's run off of 12VDC, or 9VDC but a low amp 12 will run them with no problems, just watch the polarities, it'll ruin an LED right before you can smell the smoke.

[a69mopar]

Thanks for the replies, I too will just have it switched and not interfaced to a machine. I have included some pic's of the topper showing the burnt ribbon cable. This must have been a design problem by Atronix, I found some cable and should be able to repair. I figured that the LED's needed another power source and my guess is that it plugs into one of the sockets on the board, but which one. I have also add a pic of them (not the best but you can get a idea of them). I know in the past that from this forum the LED's are polarity sensitive so which pin would be the (+). And last when I opened it up I found three metal rectangles cased in plastic floating around in the topper. One side is open metal and at first I thought they were magnets, but they are not. I have look for tall-tell signs where they might go but I am stumped and haven't got a clue what they do. Any ideas

  I think I have one of these, some sort of chicken theme with speakers attached.  I will take a look at it tomorrow after work, I'm pretty sure all of the wires are intact.

Thanks,
Wayne

[Jake777]

Thanks all for the help, I worked my way through the topper and have it working, check out my other post (Atronic Topper Update). I changed the fl orecents to lower watts. I also don't know what the two molex plugs on the left side of the board are for but the plug on the right is the power. The top pin was the (+) and I am powering it with 5vdc. The led's seem to work fine.  I have attached pic's of those strange rectangles (pardon the camera quality) but my best guess by the way they seem to clamp together is they are some kind of heat sink or weight for the ribbon cable. I am not using them as I routed the ribbon cable away from the fl orecents.

I would suggest to everyone that has a topper of this style to open it up and check the ribbon cables. As mentioned by another member they were starting to see some damage also.

[stayouttadabunker]

I knew it was a low voltage!...I recently worked on one...with moderate success
When the LEDs are TOO bright, it could cause problems though...I'll know more later on this...

[dpalmi]

Looks like those might be a Ferrite bead for noise on the ribbon cables...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrite_bead

Dan #2

[Jake777]

Thanks Dan for the info. My electronic Savoy isn't the best. I didn't put these ferrite's back on the cables since i rerouted them away from the board and lights heat, do you think the cables need them. My topper won't be on for any long period of time as I shut my machines down to avoid any unexpected power bumps when I'm not around.

Thanks Again   Brian