Making cheap encoder?

[honkey]

Is there a tutorial on how to do this? I want to wire up my coin door.

[Thenasty]

if you just want to wire up the COIN inputs, just hack a keyboard or use a mouse (buttons).

[BobA]

Or you could hack a $5 dollar gamepad.

[honkey]

if you just want to wire up the COIN inputs, just hack a keyboard or use a mouse (buttons).

I have a spare keyboard. How would I go about this?

[BobA]

Usually a keyboard has a matrix setup of keys.   You have to match the rows and columns to whatever key you want.  There are alot of old articles on how to do it but I stress that these are really old and not the easiest way to go.   

[honkey]

Usually a keyboard has a matrix setup of keys.   You have to match the rows and columns to whatever key you want.  There are alot of old articles on how to do it but I stress that these are really old and not the easiest way to go.   

All right... Is it easier to hack a gamepad? How would I do that?

[RabidRabit]

Here ya' go.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=84548.0

[leapinlew]

Just your coin door? Like... just 1 or 2 inputs? How about hacking a mouse?

[drventure]

+1 on hacking a mouse. Get a cheap, old one (I picked up several from a guy off Craigslist for 2$ each), if they're ball mice, all the better,

Open it up, the buttons are simple mini switches soldered to the internal board. just note the connections desolder the button and solder your own switches in.

If you have another mouse attached to the system, the coin switches will also act like mouse clicks.

Most of the time, that should be OK, but if not, you can use AUTOHOTKEY and some addonscripts to independently read specific mice and specific buttons, translate them to something else (say keypresses) and discard the button click.

[Vigo]

Trying not to be that guy who pimps his wares on the forum, but I do sell a mean little encoder with wiring for cheap. Only $15 and you have something nice, compact and clean looking. Plus it will give you room to expand or add admin buttons.

Ok, now that I got that very shameless plug out of my system, I just wanted to add that if you haven't gotten a spinner for your machine and want one, you could get an old spinner, and do the mouse hack for dual purposes. Get both a spinner and coin door buttons going all in one hack. 

[Malenko]

Trying not to be that guy who pimps his wares on the forum, but I do sell a mean little encoder with wiring for cheap. Only $15 and you have something nice, compact and clean looking. Plus it will give you room to expand or add admin buttons.

I was about to plug your thread anyway. +1

[Vigo]

Too bad I wasn't more patient, I could have come off looking completely altruistic about the matter. Now my ulterior motive is showing. 

Well, there is no point hiding it now, thanks for the +1! 

[honkey]

Trying not to be that guy who pimps his wares on the forum, but I do sell a mean little encoder with wiring for cheap. Only $15 and you have something nice, compact and clean looking. Plus it will give you room to expand or add admin buttons.

Ok, now that I got that very shameless plug out of my system, I just wanted to add that if you haven't gotten a spinner for your machine and want one, you could get an old spinner, and do the mouse hack for dual purposes. Get both a spinner and coin door buttons going all in one hack. 

That looks perfect! I would like some admin buttons instead of all the button combos i am currently using. Would you happen to have an EBay listing for these? I just remembered I have a gift card.

[Vigo]

Awesome! Well, I don't currently have an ebay listing, but have been planning on making one in the not-too-distant future. The thing about listing on ebay is that I would have to make it a slightly more expensive to compensate for the fees they charge. If you need to find a use for your ebay gift card though, I can get my rear in gear and try get a listing up for you within a week. Otherwise, direct Paypal is the only method I use right at this time.

[BobA]

+1 on Vigo's encoders and other products.   They work great service is also great.