universal controller

[psilocybster]

hello all,
i am looking for a little help, this is what iam trying to accomplish:
set of controlls  (happ joystick and button )i am trying to combine snes, nes,sega, psx controllers into one arcade cabinet
using only 5 happ buttons  ive combined the A from nes the A from snes  the A from sega and the X from psx and so on running these to the happ pushbuttons , is this possible? it works fine as long as i only have 1 controller hacked in if i add another i start getting weird actions. i might have a wire or 2 shorted though
any suggestions?
also i looked at the psx controller adapters at lik sang.
is it possible to split 1 psx controller into three and the run each through a 1snes adapter  2 nes adapter 3 sega adapter and have these constantly attached  so all i would have to do is power down a console an power up the next to switch games?
thanks for any help!

[Dave_K.]

Sorry dude, it aint that easy....so "no" to both your questions.  Hack each console seperately and use a common connector to the control panel (like molex of db25).

[psilocybster]

thanks for the reply, I dont give up easy though! about this molex plug, do they make a splitter for these? 1 input 3-4 output..
also i need a 16 pin plug that would belike this:
                   _______        ____16 pin
         |\       | 4 pos   |      /_____16 pin
16pin|  -----|switch   |--------------16 pin
         |/       |______|       \_____16 pin

[jakejake28]

i've gotta agree with the molex connecters. then its just:

SNES CTRLR ----->Molex
NES  CTRLR ------>Molex        Molex -----> PS CTRLR              
SEGA CTRLR ----->Molex

[psilocybster]

can you give a little more info on exactly how your using this molex connector?

[Dave_K.]

The molex connector is just a male/female plug you use as your common interface for all hacked pads (hack each input to the same pin number).  Then just plug in whichever hacked pad you want to your control panel molex plug.

From your previous note it looks like now you are suggesting a switch box approach...that will work also since only one pad is connected at a time.  But its a little more difficult working with the smaller DB25 ribbon cable.  Be sure you buy (or make) a cable which has lines that go straight through (standard serial and parallel cables have some lines which cross).

Do a search on "switchbox" and you should pull up some older discussion threads.

[psilocybster]

thanks for the help!

[eightbit]

Be sure you buy (or make) a cable which has lines that go straight through (standard serial and parallel cables have some lines which cross).

Standard serial or parallel extension cables use all the pins and go straight through. Standard printer cables do switch pins and don't always use all of them. So get extension cables and they'll work fine. An extension cable has to use all the pins and has to go straight through or it wouldn't work as an extension cable.