Could someone walk me through encoder and dc hookup

[Shieldwolf]

ok so i really want to be able to switch from my encoder to a dreamcast  on the fly with out having to rewire everything or having to build another contol panel. I know it can be done and I have seen the posts, but can someone give me the cp wiring for dummies book?

[grafixmonkey]

You can do it with diodes I think, and have both connected all the time, but I'm not sure where the post about that is or how it works.  If you're thinking of a switch to flip between them, look around for an old parallel port switch, and cut some parallel port cables in half to give you an easy way to wire to the port.  Or, I believe you can find parallel port plugs by themselves that you can crimp ribbon cable to, that would make it easier to trace wires and solder the plug to your controls.  Radio Shack might have the discrete plugs and ribbon cable.  Other places to look are Newark, Digikey, and Happ.  (sometimes I'm surprised at the number of discreet parts Happ sells.  They carry a full compliment of logic chips too.)