Last month I promised that the insert-lighting half of Aurora was on its way. I'm pleased to say it's arrived. Aurora Matrix is now in stock and ready to order.
Aurora Matrix fitted in a WPC backbox, just below the power driver board.
Why Aurora Matrix?
If you've put LEDs in your playfield inserts, you've probably noticed that they don't behave quite like the bulbs they replaced. The original lamp electronics were designed for filament bulbs, which glow on and fade off. LEDs snap on and off instantly, so flashing inserts look harsh. Depending on your power driver board and the LEDs you've fitted, lamps that should be off can also ghost with a faint glow.
Aurora Matrix takes over the lamp matrix and drives all 64 lamps itself. It gives you:
- Filament-like ramps. Every LED ramps on and off smoothly, so fast-flashing inserts look the way the designers intended.
- No ghosting. Lamps that should be off stay off.
- A lamp check at every power-on. Dead or missing bulbs and short circuits are found straight away.
- Lamp protection during play. If a fault develops, the lamp responsible is found and switched off in a fraction of a second. The other lamps carry on as normal.
- LEDs and filament bulbs together. Any filament bulbs still fitted are recognised and driven as filaments automatically.
Easy to fit
Aurora Matrix uses your machine's original wiring. Swap the ribbon cable, move the lamp matrix connectors from the power driver board to Aurora Matrix, and screw the board down on its mounting feet. Everything plugs in, apart from one screw for the ground lead. There's no soldering, no cutting and no changes to your machine.
All the connections are plug-in.
Set every lamp your way
Aurora Matrix works straight out of the box. If you'd like to fine-tune it, the free configuration tool runs in Chrome or Edge over a USB-C cable, with nothing to install. You can give every lamp a friendly name, see what the power-on lamp check found, and set each lamp's brightness and ramp times. Tame an insert that dazzles, or give a big one a softer, warmer ramp.
The Lamp Matrix tab, showing every lamp in The Addams Family with its name and lamp check result.
Works with Aurora GI
Aurora Matrix and Aurora GI work side by side: Aurora GI handles the general illumination and Aurora Matrix handles the inserts. The ribbon cable supplied with Aurora Matrix has a connector for Aurora GI too, so you can fit Aurora GI now or later.
Availability
Aurora Matrix fits WPC-89, WPC-S and WPC-95 machines. You can order it now from the Aurora Matrix page. The Quick Start Guide, full User Manual, two technical notes and the configuration tool are free to download from our support page, so you can read up before you buy.
As always, if you have any questions or feedback, get in touch via our Contact page.
Simon
MC Circuit Works