I-PAC Inquiry.

[Alpha17X]

After being reffered to Ultimarc, for the Aim-Trak yesterday, I took a deeper look at their site.  I had heard of them before but never given it much thought because I wasn't much into building to the extent others often are.  I like to make the cabinets but I like to use mostly modular components that sort of 'plug and play' as much as possible for the electronics.

Anyway, the I-Pac caught my eye, something I assume, due to knowing, that a lot of you have been using for years and I was curious about it's usage.  

I understand for the most part what it is, but is it as simple as it appears?  From what I gather for example. if I want to wire movement for Player 1, I would quite litterally wire the appropriate switches to  '1up 1down 1left 1 right' followed by connecting the grounds for all buttons in a chain to a singlular ground for player 1 on the I-Pac?

Forgive me if I stated the obvious there I'm just so used to seeing thigns that need to be soddered and routered that it stuns my mind for there to be something so simple out there.

*edit: Spelling correction*

[Malenko]

its VERY simple and clearly labeled. Just run the wires to the buttons and call it a day

[Alpha17X]

If that's the case I need to hit myself in the head for not looking at it sooner.  Like I said, I had heard of it, but when I did people were still talking about soddering things together with technical lingo so thick I thought they might all be people from Star Trek on shore leave from the enterprise.

[ubiquityman]

If that's the case I need to hit myself in the head for not looking at it sooner.  Like I said, I had heard of it, but when I did people were still talking about soddering things together with technical lingo so thick I thought they might all be people from Star Trek on shore leave from the enterprise.

There is both a screw terminal version of the iPAC and a 0.1in header pin version depending on what you think will be best.
Personally, I'd pick the screw terminal version.

[Malenko]

There is both a screw terminal version of the iPAC and a 0.1in header pin version depending on what you think will be best.
Personally, I'd pick the screw terminal version.

yes yes, get the screw terminal version

[divemaster127]

If you are in the us I have both the ipac & the aim-trak in stock
dm

[SNAPCHRIS]

I just got my miniPac with harness in the mail today. it came alot faster than I thought it would from the UK.

[DeLuSioNal29]

Here's a couple of vids I made on connecting an i-pac.  Easy peasy.






DeLuSioNaL29

[Alpha17X]

Thanks Delusional,

Have a question regarding wiring.  Two actually.


1. How do the wires actually connect to the I-PAC.  the only wiring I'm familiar with is some speaker wiring, for my home entertainment system. a small portion of the speaker wire is exposed (the copper.. if it is copper)  and that is 'clamped' into place by a clamp on the speaker or sub-woofer in question.

For the I-PAC do you simple 'twist' exposed copper around the screw? how does it actually connect in there? Or do you pin it down with the scew?

And lastly, something I have no experience on at all.   What are the connections that are used to connect the wiring to the grounds and open/closes on the microswitches?

I tried to detach them on my old hotrod joystick to examin them but do not currently have the tools or knowhow to detach them without breaking them.

I've been tried to find information on this for a while actually.  'How do the wires actually connect?'

Thanks those videos are great btw.

*edit*  included picture to show what I'm talking about. I don't know what those things are called so I've never been able to look them up to learn how to use them, where to get them.

[DeLuSioNal29]

It actually "pins" the wire down when screwed down.

Here are some pics of similar screw blocks to give you an idea:






The connectors you can find at your local home depot store.  .187


P.S. - Once you crimp them they are permanent, so the only way to remove them is to break it off the wire.  I plan to make a video on how to crimp in the future.

D

[Alpha17X]

Excellent, thank you.  That pretty much clears everything up now.