"Finished" but already planning modifications to my cab...

[welshjpc]

Hello all,

I hope you have already seen my current ex-Golden Tee cab job http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,131509.0.html. now I am thinking, I am pleased that my control panel is fairly minimalist but I suppose I should consider a pause button - however I don't really want to either:

(a) add more buttons to my panel or
(b) place buttons that won't be connected to the current IPAC-2 fitted to the panel, I am happy that the panel is connected simply by the two USB cables.

Therefore I am thinking of buying a second IPAC-2 board to fit under the panel near the audio amp (if you've seen my project you will see there's ample space) allowing me to place a button on the underneath of the controls near the P1 speaker for a "pause" button, then I can wire a button in the coin mech compartment for service (F2) and MAME menu (tab). As I've got a 4 year old I don't want him getting to those buttons, who knows what he'd do!

The cost would be another £40 or so but I think that if I cut corners and wire up to the current IPAC2, then leaving the potential for pulling wires should - sorry - when I need to lift the control panel (I don't like acronyms, I have them all the time at work) I will always have that "could have done it better" feeling.

Does anyone else use such a configuration or do you all think I'm some sort of OCD weirdo?

Thanks.

[PL1]

Since you're only going to wire a few more buttons and want to do that on a separate keyboard-type encoder, I'd recommend using Degenatrons' AVR Encoder or the KADE firmware.

An AVR-based encoder costs a lot less than an IPac and it acts just like a keyboard, so there are no conflicts between the AVR and the IPac.


Scott

UPDATE:  KADE loader has just been publicly released.

Details here.

It is easy to use and can program several types of AVR and Arduino.

[CpCaveman]

dont get another i-pac if you dont need it, unless you really want to spend the money that is   just run the cables so you have enough slack or theyre run in a way that pulling the cables wont be an issue, you could also run them through a connector you can unplug when needed to remove the control panel. use the next i-pac for the next project would cost a lot less too