Button doing funny things

[juggle50]

Hey guys,

I got a button that works when you press it but sometimes (in games like Galaga) it will double fire and sometimes it fires when I release the button.

To me it sounds like a bad micro-switch but I've got a cocktail table and it's a big pain in the butt to get to my control panel so I wanted to see if you guys thought this could be anything else i.e bad mapping of shift functionality in ipac, poor ipac terminal connection etc.

Basically, would love any troubleshooting ideas before ripping up the control panel and changing out the switch. 

Thank you!


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[BobA]

A bad microswitch sounds like the most likely suspect

[PL1]

I agree that a bad microswitch is the most likely scenario, but if you want to confirm that before tearing open the CP, use an analog voltmeter (digital responds too slowly) set to the DC 5v range.

With power off, connect the black lead to ground and the red lead to the IPac input for that button -- clip onto the wire or push a straight pin in next to/touching the wire and clip to that.

Place the meter where you can see it and the game screen at the same time.

Fire up the system and see if the game fires and the meter dips down to ground and back up in time with the button being pressed/released.

There is often a few nano-seconds of chatter (bounce) on the microswitch contacts as the button is pushed, but the firmware in the IPac will filter (debounce) that chatter.


Scott

[RandyT]

If using a digital meter, and it has a snappy continuity test tone (some are fast, some aren't) then use that across the switch terminals.  Beep.quiet.beeeeeeep, or  something similar upon release = switch problem.

[juggle50]

Cool. Thanks guys!


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[Vigo]

Another culprit to check after the switch is a loose/poorly connected/faulty wire.