Need advice on wiring a control panel.

[BLACK KNIGHT]

I'm thinking about building a control panel...I have an X-arcade but want some other things in a control panel.  I plan on using an I-pac.  I was wondering if it's possible to have more than one joystick as the player 1 joystick in case I want to use a 4 way for some games and an 8 way in others.  I've seen arcade controllers that have a dedicated 4 way joystick and an 8 way joystick but I'm not sure how that would work wiring wise.  Are both joysticks wired to the exact same place on the I-pac somehow and you just use the joystick that you want?

[zaphod]

Yes, it is possible and very easy.

Just wire each connection from the joystick 1 to joy 2.  That way you can use either joystick at any time.  You can duplicate buttons on your panel the same way.  Just wire them in series.  You need to only make a single connection to the I-pac.

[BLACK KNIGHT]

Oh, duh...so that will work!    Thanks a lot!

Oh Zaphod!  I recognize that name...didn't know you were on here.  I'm the guy from Forumoc that built a MAME cabinet based off of your design!

[zaphod]

Oh Zaphod!  I recognize that name...didn't know you were on here.  I'm the guy from Forumoc that built a MAME cabinet based off of your design!

Yep, I'm here.  Do far more reading than posting, though.  This is a great source of information.  I see you are following the same path as I did; starting with the X-arcade and soon thereafter moving up to a controller of your own design.

[papaschtroumpf]

Just wire them in series.  You need to only make a single connection to the I-pac.

You meant parallel right?

[zaphod]

You meant parallel right?

No, serial.  Maybe I should have used the term 'daisy chaining' instead.  As an example:  I connect to to the left switch on the 8-way joy.  I run a wire from there to the left switch on the 4-way.  Then to the I-pac.  Here's an example using two buttons'  ground connection.

[screaming]

No, serial.  Maybe I should have used the term 'daisy chaining' instead.  As an example:  I connect to to the left switch on the 8-way joy.  I run a wire from there to the left switch on the 4-way.  Then to the I-pac.  Here's an example using two buttons'  ground connection.

  Uh, I'm a newb so I might be totally off, but wouldn't this require me to have both buttons pressed at the same time in order to a button press to be registered?

/Steve

[zaphod]

 Uh, I'm a newb so I might be totally off, but wouldn't this require me to have both buttons pressed at the same time in order to a button press to be registered?

No.  The signal would be passed from connection to connection with no problem.  Just think: Every single ground in your controller is daisy-chained to a single I-pac slot.  Trust me, it works.

[papaschtroumpf]

Yep, that's parallel  
Series would be connecting the GND terminal from the 1st switch to the Normally open terminal of the next.
Regardless of terminology, I agree with you that it works just fine, I've wired the pinball buttons (side buttons) of my CP so that they're seen a P1B1 and P1B2 by doing just what you describe.


 

[zaphod]

Yep, that's parallel  

My bad.    I was thinking that they are physically linked in series but they are indeed electrically in parallel.  Must be too close to Turkey Day to think clearly.

[screaming]

Yep, that's parallel  
Series would be connecting the GND terminal from the 1st switch to the Normally open terminal of the next.
Regardless of terminology, I agree with you that it works just fine, I've wired the pinball buttons (side buttons) of my CP so that they're seen a P1B1 and P1B2 by doing just what you describe.

  Okay, I get it now.   I was thinking that parallel would require me to have two wires coming out of the P1B1 slot out of the I-PAC (for example).

Thanks for clarifying.

/Steve

[MinerAl]

Definitley parallel.

regardless... something you might want to do with this set-up is run the ground to a toggle switch between the two sticks, then run ground to each stick from a different pole of that switch.  This would disable one or the other of the sticks whenever you weren't using it, so that you don't bump the wrong stick in the middle of a game.

just a thought

another good option is the new breed of 4/8 way sticks that have popped up this week that you can switch from 4 to 8 without opening the CP.  

[Tiger-Heli]

I'm thinking about building a control panel...I have an X-arcade but want some other things in a control panel.  I plan on using an I-pac.  I was wondering if it's possible to have more than one joystick as the player 1 joystick in case I want to use a 4 way for some games and an 8 way in others.  I've seen arcade controllers that have a dedicated 4 way joystick and an 8 way joystick but I'm not sure how that would work wiring wise.  Are both joysticks wired to the exact same place on the I-pac somehow and you just use the joystick that you want?

In case you haven't, you might consider the KeyWiz from www.groovygamegear.com instead of the I-PAC.  While you're there, check out the Omni-Stik Prodigy.  It allows you to change from 4-way to 8-way without a second joystick on your panel.

The (parallel) wiring method suggested by others will work if you go that route, though.

[BLACK KNIGHT]

Zaphod:  I understood what you meant as soon as you said it.  I guess I think messed up too!  

Tiger-Heli:  Thanks!  I forgot about the Keywhiz...there's lots of info on the Ipac but I do remember hearing of the keywhiz on this site before...it's cheaper and has more inputs than the basic Ipac.  With 32 inputs I might be able to make a 3 player console.  I see some stuff going on my Christmas list from that website!

BTW, the dedicated 4 way/8 way joystick was just an example.  I plan on getting either the omnistick that's switchable to 4way/8way or the T-stick...not sure yet.  But I also want a joystick that has a top fire button and possibly a joystick similar to a Tron stick.  Still debating what I want to be honest.

Thanks for all the info tho!

[Tiger-Heli]

>With 32 inputs I might be able to make a 3 player console.  I see >some stuff going on my Christmas list from that website!

3-Players is no problem with either the I-PAC or the KeyWiz, 4-Players and 1-button is about the limit for the I-PAC/2.  With some planning 4-Player 3-button is no problem for the KeyWiz.  With A LOT of planning 4-player 4-button is do-able.

>But I also want a joystick that has a top fire button and possibly a >joystick similar to a Tron stick.  Still debating what I want to be >honest.

I would lose the top fire button stick for the Tron style stick.  You need two buttons for Assault and Discs of Tron, BattleZone, etc. will play fine with the Tron stick.

Also, at some point, you will probably want to consider swappable panels, at which point the whole wiring issue changes.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[BLACK KNIGHT]

Actually, I do plan on swapping control panels.  I have an X-arcade now...I was thinking of swapping the joystick out for a switchable 4way/8way...I'm thinking the T-stick might be a direct swap as far as size goes.

My secondary controller I want a joystick w/fire buttons and I'm going to put a spinner in it.  It's also going to be at least a 2 player controller possibly 3 player as my X-arcade controller is spaced a little close for 2 players...I wish the X-arcade was a few inches longer...so my secondary controller will be.

[Tiger-Heli]

>Actually, I do plan on swapping control panels.  I have an X-arcade >now...I was thinking of swapping the joystick out for a switchable >4way/8way...I'm thinking the T-stick might be a direct swap as far as >size goes.

Well, size-wise, most of them are pretty standard.  I think the T-Stick uses a different mounting hole pattern.  The Omni-Stik Prodigy needs a 5-inch square around the stick, so it might not work, but the Omni-Stik Basic will work fine and use the standard bolt locations (you will need to cut a 1-3/4 inch hole for it, though.)

>My secondary controller I want a joystick w/fire buttons and I'm >going to put a spinner in it.

You realize you could just move the X-Arcade PCB to a project box and connect the original or the secondary controller to it instead of buying the KeyWiz, right?

[BLACK KNIGHT]

You realize you could just move the X-Arcade PCB to a project box and connect the original or the secondary controller to it instead of buying the KeyWiz, right?

I was thinking about that...but I'm a little afraid of messing up my Xarcade and not having any controller for my cabinet...and then I'd suffer from arcade withdrawals!    So I thot it might be safer to just buy another interface and have two controllers.

[zaphod]

Another option: You could always build the new controller, then sell the X-arcade.  Should not have any problem finding a local buyer.  That'd help pay for a lot of the new expenditures.  You really won't be swapping out your new controller to play the X-arcade, I don't think.  I only have to show visitors how the X-arcade works.  Otherwise, its the custom all the time.

[BLACK KNIGHT]

Another option: You could always build the new controller, then sell the X-arcade.  Should not have any problem finding a local buyer.  That'd help pay for a lot of the new expenditures.  You really won't be swapping out your new controller to play the X-arcade, I don't think.  I only have to show visitors how the X-arcade works.  Otherwise, its the custom all the time.

That thought has crossed my mind too.  But we'll save that until after I get my custom controller built.