Is Keywiz wiring easy???

[BLACK KNIGHT]

I have one of these on order...it hasn't arrived yet...and I already recommened to my friend to buy one.  I would assume there are detailed instructions on how to wire it?

[SirPoonga]

if you can solder, yes.

[BLACK KNIGHT]

It's a Keywiz Max...so I don't think I have to solder even?

[Tiger-Heli]

I have one of these on order...it hasn't arrived yet...and I already recommened to my friend to buy one.  I would assume there are detailed instructions on how to wire it?

Yeah, it's simple.  Assuming you want the default MAME mappings, here's how you do it.

While you're waiting for it to arrive, see http://www.groovygamegear.com/Page2.html the picture is for the Eco, but the terminals are the same on the max - You have U,D,L,and R for the two joysticks on the right hand side, and player one buttons 1 thru 8 on the left hand side, across the bottom, inputs A through H are Player 2 buttons 1 thru 8, and I through P are misc buttons.  The four terminals at the top are two grounds, +5V, and Shazaaam!.

See the bottom figure on http://www.groovygamegear.com/screenshots.html for the default key assignments.

Basically, you run a single wire from the KeyWiz 1 terminal to the NO (Normally Open) contact of P1 Button 1, a second single wire from the KeyWiz 2 terminal to the NO contact of P1 Button 2, etc.

Then you just run a loop of wire from the G (Gnd) terminal (either or both) to the GND or COM (Common) terminal of each micro-switch (or leaf switch).

Plug it into the PS/2 port and you should be good to go.

[BLACK KNIGHT]

Oh okay so for a 2 player setup for MAME32 it sounds like I just wire it up and can play?!  I plan on making a 3 player setup out of mine...but I guess I just use the software to remap certain buttons to the the 3rd players controls?

[Tiger-Heli]

Oh okay so for a 2 player setup for MAME32 it sounds like I just wire it up and can play?!  I plan on making a 3 player setup out of mine...but I guess I just use the software to remap certain buttons to the the 3rd players controls?

Right, for a two player set-up you're good to go right out of the box.  For a three-player set-up, you can do it without even using the KeyWiz software (although the software is simple to use).  Here's how:

No MAME game really use buttons 7 and 8 so inputs 7,8,G, and H on the KeyWiz become your Player 3 joystick inputs.

And no 3-player MAME game uses more than 4 buttons, so terminals 5,6,E, and F on the KeyWiz become your Player 3 buttons 1 through 4.

You still need might want a Coin 3 button, so either change input N to 7 using the KeyWiz software, or change MAME to recognize Enter as Coin 3.

Once you get it, I'm sure you'll figure it out.

[BLACK KNIGHT]

Very cool, sounds easy.  Thanks for your help!

[Iori]

It's a Keywiz Max...so I don't think I have to solder even?

I thought that this was the case as well... I think that you just screw down the wires that run to the inputs rather than solder anything.  Can anyone confirm this?  I am planning on using a KeyWiz for my controls but haven't ordered it yet...  

[Tiger-Heli]

It's a Keywiz Max...so I don't think I have to solder even?

I thought that this was the case as well... I think that you just screw down the wires that run to the inputs rather than solder anything.  Can anyone confirm this?  I am planning on using a KeyWiz for my controls but haven't ordered it yet...  

Confirmed!  For the max you insert the wires in the terminals and tighten the screws.  For the eco you have to solder, but to me, it's worth the $5 or $10 or whatever it is more to have screw terminals and avoid soldering.

[BLACK KNIGHT]

Excellent...no soldering.  I do enough soldering on my RC cars don't need to do more on the arcades!  

Oh one other question...for the ground wires and the +5v...do I need to just wire that from the PC powersupply?  The PC powersupply produces a 12v and 5v I believe...so would I just run a wire to the Keywiz from there?

[Wienerdog]

Excellent...no soldering.  I do enough soldering on my RC cars don't need to do more on the arcades!  

Oh one other question...for the ground wires and the +5v...do I need to just wire that from the PC powersupply?  The PC powersupply produces a 12v and 5v I believe...so would I just run a wire to the Keywiz from there?

Wow, this keeps coming up, the +5v is an OUTPUT.  You'll fry your board    if you plug the PS into the encoder.

[JustMichael]

Tiger-Heli, what about Mole Attack ("mole") in Mame?  It uses buttons 1-9.  

[HagHore]

Excellent...no soldering.  I do enough soldering on my RC cars don't need to do more on the arcades!  

Oh one other question...for the ground wires and the +5v...do I need to just wire that from the PC powersupply?  The PC powersupply produces a 12v and 5v I believe...so would I just run a wire to the Keywiz from there?

As stated above, the +5V and GND terminals are outputs.  The keywiz is supplied with +5V/GND through the PS/2 connector.

[Tiger-Heli]

Tiger-Heli, what about Mole Attack ("mole") in Mame?  It uses buttons 1-9.  

Hehe!  Okay, for every rule there's an exception.

I had to re-dump ( ;-) ) the ROM just to try it out and see what you meant.  It does indeed show two players and 9 buttons each, but (unless you use cocktail mode), it is two-player alternating, not two player simultaneous.

So there is a simple solution - Assuming you have a Street Fighter layout, The player 1 buttons are hammers 1 through 6 and the upper row of player 2 buttons are hammers 7 through 9.

Not arcade accurate (I assume, never saw the actual game), but it works, and all of my earlier assumptions about 3-player games is still true.

(You will have to re-define the MAME inputs for Mole Attack, though).

Good catch!

[Stingray]

No soldering? But isn't burning yourself with the soldering iron half the fun of any electronics project?  

-S

[Violineb]

Finally now that I got myself registered I can get all my questions answered

So first up is, I'm ordering a Keywiz Max today or tommorow and I'd like to know what's the best wire type and thickness. Is 22 AWG strand the way to go? I was wondering since some ppl use thicker wire like 20,18, or maybe even 16. I dunno. Well thanks in advance and I can't wait to build my controller and then cabinet. I'm doing mainly a CPS2/NeoGeo setup so therefore I can't do the 123/123 layout because of the NeoGeo game. But I was wondering since the spacing is so big between 4 buttons places horizontally (a 1,2,3,4/1,2,3,4 setup) if most ppl here would put them straight horizontal or set them in a curve to make it more ergonomic. I'll make a Photoshop pic if anyone doesn't really understand what I mean.

Oh and lastly I'll quite happy to skip the soldering this one time. I just did a Afterburner mod on my GBA and I must say that was the most difficult soldering job I have ever done. Anyone else who's done this mod would know what I mean. Though that being my first soldering task ever could have increased the dificulty

[RandyT]

Finally now that I got myself registered I can get all my questions answered

Welcome to the group!

So first up is, I'm ordering a Keywiz Max today or tommorow and I'd like to know what's the best wire type and thickness. Is 22 AWG strand the way to go? I was wondering since some ppl use thicker wire like 20,18, or maybe even 16. I dunno.

22AWG stranded wire will be just fine.  Very heavy wire isn't necessary, even though the old original cabinets used it sometimes.  The reason the heavy stuff was used probably had something to do with the fact that the cabinets were shipped halfway around the world and subjected to a lot of harsh environments.  Yours probably won't need to endure that .

Well thanks in advance and I can't wait to build my controller and then cabinet. I'm doing mainly a CPS2/NeoGeo setup so therefore I can't do the 123/123 layout because of the NeoGeo game. But I was wondering since the spacing is so big between 4 buttons places horizontally (a 1,2,3,4/1,2,3,4 setup) if most ppl here would put them straight horizontal or set them in a curve to make it more ergonomic. I'll make a Photoshop pic if anyone doesn't really understand what I mean.

I personally like the slightly "ergonomic" curve.  The purists have to have straight lines.  It's something you'll need to decide for yourself, as you'll be the one using it.  If you plan on having friends over often to play, you could get their input on it as well.


RandyT

[Violineb]

Well getting it straight from the horse's mouth sure feels good. :p Thanks RandyT and I think I'll be ordering that KeyWiz today then. I just wish you had some male quick disconnects on the groovygamegear site to connect the ground wires together with but what do most ppl do? How do you daisy chain the ground wire between all the buttons? Well thanks again and I look forward to trying out this wonderful device with something like Marvel vs Capcom.

[Tiger-Heli]

How do you daisy chain the ground wire between all the buttons?

Item 1: Look at the HotRod http://www.hanaho.com/products/HotRodJoystick/overview.html  That's the layout I'd recommend, except I would curve the layout more for ergonomics.

I plan to use

   5 6 7
   2 3 4
1

b/c this works well for both mame and console emulation, but if you want to conserve inputs you could go with

   4 5 6
   1 2 3
6

And just re-map inputs for Street Fighter, Neo-Geo, etc.

Item 2:  You don't need male Q-D's.

Item 3:  Here's how you wire it.  Start with a single wire.  Route it from the KeyWiz Gnd terminal to the closest button GND (Common) terminal.  Add a little slack and cut the wire.  Strip the end off it and the end of the wire spool and crimp a QD onto BOTH wires.  Attach Q-D to button.  Route spool to next button and cut, leaving a slight excess.  Repeat for all other butttons.  Run last segment back to KeyWiz Gnd terminal if you want to be doubly secure.