gamepad hack problems

[cush]

Hi to all,
Just built my first bartop and decided to do a gamepad hack to keep cost down as it is the fist go at making a cabinet. I had a usb logic3 gamepad that I used for mame a few yrs ago so I butchered that and used it to wire up my panel.
All seemed to go well, I can start a game and usually get to say level 2 or 3 in Donkey Kong or any game tbh and then it just stops working,sometimes the stick is ok and buttons have gone or vice versa..have even hooked CP up to lappy and same thing happens.
If anyone has any ideas for fixing this I would be very grateful, starting to think it could be cos I used a cheap pad but then everthing I read beforehand says to use the cheapo ones.
All wiring looks good,surely it wouldn't work at all if it was wiring ? really hit a wall atm and cant see the wood for the trees lol.
Sorry my first post is a cry for help but getting desperate.

[PL1]

Welcome aboard, Cush.

There are two possible causes for what you describe -- hardware and software.

Since it does the same thing on your laptop as on your main system, it's probably not software.

If you go into Control Panel-Gamepad and bring up the calibration window for your gamepad, does it stop showing your button/joystick presses after about the same amount of gameplay action that it fails normally?

The most likely culprit is that one or more wires and/or poor solder joints are shifting and losing contact during gameplay.

Given the low current flow of encoders, the very distant second possibiility is that you might have a thermal problem caused by a high resistance solder joint.

The high resistance joint would allow current to flow at first, causing the joint to heat up.

As the metal in the joint heats up it expands slightly which can cause it to lose contact until it cools, contracts, and makes contact again.

If redoing the solder joints so you have solid electrical and mechanical connection doesn't fix the problem, consider posting some close-up pics of the solder joints.


Scott

[UFO]

I would record the time it took for something to stop working; several times.

If it is near enough to the same time every time, could be some kind of power saving issue, or usb timeout.

Just a thought...

Edit: sorry didnt see you'd tried it on laptop too... back to you scott!! )

[paigeoliver]

If all else fails a real encoder is like $35 shipped.

I stopped doing gamepad and keyboard hacks 10 years ago. Overall the savings just aren't worth the complications. Basically it is the wrong place to chop money out of the budget.

[cush]

Thanks for your replies, I ended up buying another gamepad - 3quid posted and it worked properly. I fully understand the encoders are worth the cost and once I decide what I am going to build for keeps I will invest in one.
This bartop is just a "hmm I could build one of those"  so I had a bash and put it together as cheap as I could, in all it has cost me an old pc and around 60 quid in materials ( have enough left for a 2nd bartop too) so well pleased.It has turned out pretty well tbh,will put pic up if there is a thread for it.
Been really good fun to do so may pass this on and do a full height one. I just need to work out the best software versions and such now so I will be reading plenty on these here forums.