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Initial questions before taking the plunge!
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JCHusky77:
Hello,

This site has been a great source of information and inspiration!! Ive been reading for quite sometime and have been planning in my head to build my own mame cabinet. I was thinking about building from scratch as well as scouring craigslist for a deal on an existing cab. There is a guy I met today who is helping an old lady out sell her deceased husband mismosh of arcade parts and some cabinets.

The cabinets do show signs of damage and some environmental damage on the wood. Since I was going to gut it mostly the inside will be redone. He also has a bunch of joysticks, trackballs and pushbuttons and guns. I was looking at the pushbuttons and the microtransistors in them have 3 prongs. I noticed on the ones that happ sells they have 2 prongs, any difference there?? The joysticks have 4 prongs. Basically, everything needs a good onceover with cleaning.

Should I buy an existing cab with some damage? And with the pushbuttons he has, does the 3 vs 2 prongs matter?

He also has tons of JAMMA boards, are they worth any money??

Thanks!
BobA:
Your questions are a bit confusing.   

pushbuttons do not have microtransistors in them.  Maybe you mean micro switches.   Most switches have 3 prongs, a NO NC and common.   Switches with 2 connections are usually leaf switches which are older and may need some TLC to get them to work.  Old joysticks with only 4 prongs would have me guessing that they are 2 way with 2 prongs for each direction or 4 way and you are not seeing the common wire connections. 

Water damage to the cabs can always be fixed by cutting away the damaged area and replacing it with new mdf or plywood.   

Jamma boards can be worth money if they work but you would have to test them before offering them for sale as untested boards are almost worthless. 

Pictures to go with your questions always help.   I am only guessing at what you are looking at.

Hope that helps.
JCHusky77:
Sorry..yes you are right....microswitches.

What is the best way to test the jamma boards? He has some really big ones and some smaller ones.

And the three pronged ones are the ones I need to make my own control panel hooked into an ipac into my pc?
PL1:
Welcome aboard, JCHusky77.


--- Quote from: JCHusky77 on April 06, 2013, 01:38:37 pm ---I was looking at the pushbuttons and the microtransistors in them have 3 prongs. I noticed on the ones that happ sells they have 2 prongs, any difference there??

--- End quote ---
The difference is that the 3-terminal version has a "normally closed" contact that is normally unused.

There is a HUGE range of attributes and quality in microswitches.

If you like the feel of them they might be worth getting.

Just remember that you can get a new Arcade Prime button with Standard Soft Touch switch for $1.20.

If there are any non-repro orange/blue Nintendo Donkey Kong style pushbuttons in good shape there are always collectors who want them to finish off their restoration.  Pics here if you want to see the difference.


--- Quote from: JCHusky77 on April 06, 2013, 01:38:37 pm ---The joysticks have 4 prongs.

--- End quote ---
You might want to check your count.

Should be 5 pins (right side of pic) for L/R/U/D/ground . . .


or  8-12 tabs, depending on whether the microswitches have 2 or 3 tabs each.



--- Quote from: JCHusky77 on April 06, 2013, 01:38:37 pm ---Should I buy an existing cab with some damage?

--- End quote ---
If the damage isn't too extensive, you have the skills to repair it, and the price is right, yes.


--- Quote from: JCHusky77 on April 06, 2013, 01:38:37 pm ---He also has tons of JAMMA boards, are they worth any money??

--- End quote ---
Depends on the board and whether it is working.   :dunno

Pointing out that you're buying it "condition unknown" can give you some leverage on price.   :cheers:


Scott
JCHusky77:
With regards to the joystick...from what I remember when i turned it over..when you moved the joystick, a rod touched different metal pieces which then activated the switch. There were four microswitches and the joystick did move in all 8 directions.

Can you buy the microswitches by themselves? Are the button microswitches the same as the joystick microswitch? And is a microswitch a microswitch a microswitch? meaning if you have one, it works for all??


Oh, i forgot to mention...he also have a small DMD screen about 12 inches long and like 2-3 inches wide....any idea where this came from?
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