Electrical disconnects needed or can I just solder?

[Knightlore]

As the title suggests.  I'm off out to get some bits to finish off my control panel, I went into a local electrical store and they only sold "male" connects but no female    I was wondering if I can just solder the wire to the microswitches + led fittings and that would work okay?

[leapinlew]

As the title suggests.  I'm off out to get some bits to finish off my control panel, I went into a local electrical store and they only sold "male" connects but no female    I was wondering if I can just solder the wire to the microswitches + led fittings and that would work okay?

Yup. Thats the best way to do it.

[Knightlore]

As the title suggests.  I'm off out to get some bits to finish off my control panel, I went into a local electrical store and they only sold "male" connects but no female    I was wondering if I can just solder the wire to the microswitches + led fittings and that would work okay?

Yup. Thats the best way to do it.

Cool, thanks.  Off to get a soldering iron then

[Nephasth]

I would recommend getting female disconnects. I've gotten a few games with the wires soldered onto the microswitches, made it a PITA to work on. The tabs on the switches were designed for disconnects, the holes in the tabs were put there for the lazy ones. I would say soldering directly to the microswitch should be reserved as a last ditch effort. That's just me though.

[Cakemeister]

I also recommend disconnects, better for troubleshooting and maintenance.

[milkit]

yup.. in the long run, disconnects will be much less pain

[CheffoJeffo]

Bloody kids and their damned disconnects! Soldering is no big thing and usually results in the best connections.

Although, in truth, I typically use QDs for microswitches and solder everything else. 

[syph007]

Ya, I would rate soldering better and NON lazy way.  QD are the lazy way in my mind.  If you arent planning to swap around buttons and sticks alot, then I'd solder, its a superior electrical connection.

[Knightlore]

Thanks for the wealth of info guys, no-where near me had any QD's.  I did a rather large order from Ultimarc recently and should have maybe included them but wasn't 100% sure if I need them.  I've got a wiring harness which I did buy from Ultimarc that does have QD's on them.  I'll probablly use this for grounds and solder everything else.

[leapinlew]

I would recommend getting female disconnects. I've gotten a few games with the wires soldered onto the microswitches, made it a PITA to work on. The tabs on the switches were designed for disconnects, the holes in the tabs were put there for the lazy ones. I would say soldering directly to the microswitch should be reserved as a last ditch effort. That's just me though.

Really? I don't think desoldering a joint is a PITA. I can solder a little faster than using the disconnects. For me, dealing with weird connectivity issues from loose connections is a bigger PITA.

I think disconnects work a majority of the time, but over the years I've had more luck with my soldered connections.

[Nephasth]

Ya, I would rate soldering better and NON lazy way.  QD are the lazy way in my mind.  If you arent planning to swap around buttons and sticks alot, then I'd solder, its a superior electrical connection.

Should have clarified. Soldering is definitely the least lazy way to go about it. The lazy ones thread the wire through the hole and wrap it around itself.

Really? I don't think desoldering a joint is a PITA. I can solder a little faster than using the disconnects. For me, dealing with weird connectivity issues from loose connections is a bigger PITA.

In the time it takes to get out my soldering iron, wait for it to warm up, and desolder the first connection, I could have disconnected and repaired the problem wire or switch. That's why I view it as a PITA. But yes, soldering does provide a rock solid connection.

[ChadTower]

Soldering is way faster and easier if you are doing it well.  They also get secured a whole lot better.  If you are swapping controls that much then you need a harness anyway.

[Vigo]

Really? I don't think desoldering a joint is a PITA. I can solder a little faster than using the disconnects. For me, dealing with weird connectivity issues from loose connections is a bigger PITA.

Then you haven't see some of the disconnects that I have had to desoldier not long ago. Massive blobs of soldier on each lead. Wire wrapped around the hole in the lead like 7 times. I used a desoldering iron, and filled my little solder cup halfway up.

Lets say that if you plan on making bad soldier points, just use QD's. 

[Nephasth]

Soldering is way faster and easier if you are doing it well.

I don't see how. To crimp a terminal onto the end of a wire takes less time and is easier than soldering a wire to a microswitch terminal. And I'm pretty sure sliding a QD on and off a terminal is much faster than desoldering and resoldering. I just got done wiring my CPs and to cut, strip, and crimp each wire end, I was averaging about 12 seconds each for 172 wire ends.

[brad808]

All quick connects can burn in hell. The amount of times I've struggled with those pieces of .... For 5 plus minutes. Quick ---my bottom--- now when I see them I cut them off and solder the thing on there properly and throw those things in the garbage where they belong.



There that feels better. I've been wanting to get that out for a while.

[Ed_McCarron]

Fight nice, kids.

With a good crimper, QD's are easy.  Soldering is a superior electrical connection, but harder to disassemble.  They each have their pros and cons.

Sheesh.  You'd think this thread was about LCD vs. CRT.

[Knightlore]

Hola, back again.

Well I'm about half way through - it's slow going for me but then this is the first time I've soldered anything EVER.  It looks okay (I think) but got a quick question in regard to grounds.  I'm wiring up U360's and LED buttons.  When I come to the last button is that where the ground ends?  Or do I have to then have a wire attatched to that, that will touch something metal?

Edit - while I'm here, save making a new thread.  Does it matter what colour wires from the 360 goes to player 1, Player 2 etc?  E.g: Can I use Brown wire (button 1) for player 1 or does it have to be for the control panel?

I plan on having P1+P2 on one of the 360's and Coin button on the second player.

[Knightlore]

Bump, anyone?

[TopJimmyCooks]

using the u360 harness in input mode, the black wire is the ground or common, and your button ground should chain from button to button common terminal and then connect to this black wire. 

The button #'s don't really matter on the other color wires, you will reprogram them in your emulator anyway.  but the chart is here if you want it http://www.ultimarc.com/ultrastik_inst.html

[ChadTower]

I don't see how. To crimp a terminal onto the end of a wire takes less time and is easier than soldering a wire to a microswitch terminal. And I'm pretty sure sliding a QD on and off a terminal is much faster than desoldering and resoldering. I just got done wiring my CPs and to cut, strip, and crimp each wire end, I was averaging about 12 seconds each for 172 wire ends.

Work on pins for a while and you get really good at soldering leads.  You can solder them upside down, sideways, in tight spaces, in a box, with a fox, on a train, in the rain...

[JustMichael]

As the title suggests.  I'm off out to get some bits to finish off my control panel, I went into a local electrical store and they only sold "male" connects but no female    I was wondering if I can just solder the wire to the microswitches + led fittings and that would work okay?

Just a word of caution, if you apply heat too long to a led (led gets too hot) you can destroy the led.

[yotsuya]

On a side but somewhat related note, inspired by a thread of smalltownguy's, I recently invested in heat shrink tubing and a heat gun. I like it so much better than electrical tape.

[TopJimmyCooks]

CT: thats so f'in true.  since I got a pin I've recertified myself as a soldering/desoldering ninja.  (well, maybe Mall Ninja).  I NEVER thought I would do soldering on PCB's.  Now I'm considering removing and replacing half the components on a MPU. 

[DashRendar]

I have the same set up with U360s and the harness.

The bad thing about that harness is the gauge of wire is so small, it makes it really hard to use quick disconnects.  If you do, you need to fold the wire over to thicken it up (and even then they liked to slide out of my QDs).

I do think QDs are good for troubleshooting and managing your wiring, but I would recommend soldering the U360 harness instead.