Using the same buttons for an ipac2 & x360 controller-what circuitry is needed?

[nugarp]

Hi guys,

So I am in the process of sorting out getting everything working for a mame cabinet that I'm building (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,138229.0.html).

Right now, I have my joystick/pushbuttons hooked up to the computer using an IPAC2. Tonight I began tossing the idea around of also having an Xbox 360 in there in addition to a PC and then having my pushbuttons control one or the other via a non-easily-accessible switch (e.g. behind the coin door). The idea would be when the switch is off (default), forward the signal + gnd to the ipac2, but when the signal is on, forward the signal + apparently-non-common-ground to an X360 pad. I'm not great on my hobby electronics but I was thinking I could do something like this using relays - the X360/PC switch would control the coil and each pushbutton's + and - would be connect either to the ipac or a 360 pad via the relay. However, I noticed on the IPAC anyway, the signals being sent are 5V @ 1mA, which is lower than the minimum load of the relays I was looking at (10mA), not to mention it would be annoying to wire up 60+ relays (and expensive...). Does anyone have any ideas on how else to accomplish this, or if this is even possible with relays (given that the current on the IPAC is already so minimal)?

Thanks!

[PL1]

Rablack97 did something like that here for the original XBox using a KADE encoder.


Scott

[ArcadeNerd]

I have a PC, PS2, Dreamcast, and 360 hooked up to my machine.  I wired the buttons up to a DB25 cable (old printer cable with 25 wires in it).  2 joysticks U,D,L,R, 6 buttons each player, Start for both, and ground for both comes out to 24 wires.  Then I used a DB25 cable for each set of inputs.  Then I used a DB25 switch box to switch what inputs were active.  This way I could get multiple inputs to the control panel but they are all isolated because of the switchbox only have 1 set active at a time.

This has worked well for me and I have used it on other machines as well like my DC/360 candy cab.

[nugarp]

Thanks for the replies. ArcadeNerd - do the 360 controls have a common ground? I thought they didn't, so I was counting on having to have way too many relays. I'm still thinking relays as I have since found that there is something called a Reed relay which is designed to work with much lower currents. http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Hamlin/HE721C0500/?qs=X8LBAgEWIKJdSQEcljPTdQ== . I was under the impression that 360 controllers did NOT have a common ground, but if they did (or if certain models of them do) that would make life so much better! Also, do you have a manual AV switch in addition to the controller switcher?

I was planning on having a 2-state switch to flip between 360 and pc. The PC would always be on. & when the switch was set to 360, the the 360 would turn on and the buttons reroute to the 360. Using a sensing HDMI switcher, switch the monitor to the 360 automatically.

[ArcadeNerd]

The madcatz fightpad/brawlpads have a common ground.  They are the controllers that are set up with the 6 buttons on the front and 2 trigger ( SFIV, some WWE game, and tekken x street fighter I think had them). The contacts are really easy to solder to as well.  I wired up the 6 buttons and start button.  I wired up a separate button by itself for the home button and have it under the CP in case I need access to it.  24 inputs were perfect for me so the switchbox works perfect.

[nugarp]

Nice, thanks! Just got 2 for $25 each http://www.ebay.com/itm/221253810110?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649