Happ optical rotary joystick compatible w/ Loop 24 (LS30 opticals)

[zero-one]

Hi guys,  

I just received my Loop 24 optical rotary joysticks and before I go plug them into my M.A.M.E. PC, I'd like to know for sure that they are electrically compatible with the Happ Optical Rotary joysticks.

The pinouts are labeled +5v, Loop 1, Gnd, and Loop 2 which leads me to believe that everything is compatible. However, I'm worried about the active high and active low stuff.

I was reading about the Opti-Pac and the instructions mentioned that some deivces are active low and some are active high. Now, I was planning to do a USB mouse hack to wire these joysticks up but if I need to worry about this active low/high stuff than I'll be forced to purchase the Opti-Pac which allows me to choose the device type.

Anyone here have experience with these joysticks?

BTW, I was pleasantly surprised that eventhough these are optical rotary they still have the click-click of a mechanical verison. They look like SNK LS-30 joysticks except the handles are light green. I believe these were made for Caliber .50.

If all works well, these will be the best solution for playing the "Ikari" type games. It allows the easiest/most cost effective hookup, while still providing the look and feel of the orginal games. Before I saw these I couldn't choose between some LS-30s plus a Druin's interface or the Happ opticals.

Thanks.

[zero-one]

Well I thought I'd follow up to just wrap this up.

I successfully, hooked up the Loop 24 optical joysticks to a ps/2 mouse. Everthing is fine.

I figured out why they are called "Loop 24". They have 24 distinct positions while turning. Contrast this to the 12 the mechanicals have.

Cheers.

[CitznFish]

cool...got any pics of them?

[Tiger-Heli]

What are Loop 24's?  Are they made by SNK?  Who sells them and for how much?  Got any links?

Thanks!

[kspiff]

If they are green, I think they were the SNK type from Calibur 50 and TD Fever (albeit TD Fever had football-shaped handles).  Though Cal 50 wasn't by SNK, I'm pretty sure it was their stick..

I have a set of the football sticks for a future multigame .. they're pretty cool, but mine don't click distinctively like he described his doing..?  Hmm..

PS, if anybody has another small TD Fever button, e-mail me, I wants it ;b

EDIT: Woops.. as for where to get them, I'm guessing you'll have to wait for eBay to come through..

[zero-one]

I've attached a pic for the curious types like CitznFish. I can take more if you want a different angle.

Information about these is scrace. I've been looking for more than a week now and I've come up with virtually nothing. The single page doc that came with the joysticks is labeled "Loop 24 Lever Unit". Doing a search on Google for "Loop 24" turns up only one relevant link to Caliber .50 on KLOV.

I got these from an ebay auction by amusement911.com and paid $57US for them. They have never been used but it's clear from the oxydation on the switch connectors that they have been in storage for a long time.

It may not be clear on the picture but the top of the knobs have a double "S" ,sort of offset, logo.

I was hoping that an expert around here had more info.  

The only I challenge I have now is figuring out a way to mount these to a 3/4" thick control panel without having to order mounting plates. As you can see they were made to mount to metal control panels.

G'Day.

[jcoleman]

Cut yourself a hole in your panel big enough to fit the underside of the sticks.  Then rout the area that the stick's mount plate will rest on.  Be sure your routing depth matches the thickness of the plates.  Use a non-stick CPO or you will ruin it when you decide to take the sticks out and put them in another cabinet (and you will ).  I just mounted a Wico leaf stick like this.  Looks perfect.  You'll also want to cover the CP with plexi to hide everything.  If you decide not to have bolts sticking out of the cabinet, rout a little deeper than the thickness of the mount plates and use flat head screws to mount the sticks.

Let me know if you need pictures.

John

[zero-one]

thx jcoleman. I had already started thicking about the routing and the hole cutout but I hadn't got as far as figuring out the "non sticking control panel overlay" part. Great advice. These joysticks will be going on my #3 removable panel with a couple of top fire supers. The panel layout was inspired (ripped off) from Frostillicus' Assault panel.