multi-conductor wire and modular control panels

[krick]

I'm working on a modular control panel design using D25 connectors similar to the ideas in these threads...

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=14944
http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=14701

I'm trying to find a source for either 20/25 (preferrably) or 22/25 unshielded stranded multi-conductor wire.

I'd rather not use parallel/serial computer cables as others have done because the wires are too thin and fragile.

I've found a few places that carry it but only in VERY expensive 1000 ft spools.

Any thoughts?

[orntar]

are you going to be able to see the loom when finished? if not you could alway just run it all together in a wire wrap or just zip tie it, it could be made to look real slick(but i like computer internals kinda stuff)

i use 22ga speaker wire and not separate it. makes it easy to zip tie.  

[JustMichael]

seperate wires + zip ties will be MUCH cheaper.  You could even color code your wiring then...

[eli curtz]

You could always go with one of the big electronics places such as

Digikey or Mouser Electronics

They usually have $25 or higher minimum orders, but they have everything, including more wire than you can something a something at.

- eli

[NoOne=NBA=]

Are you going modular, or swappable?
I've got swappable ones now; but am heading to a modular system.
I'm planning to use Cat 5 cables for my modules because I don't have any modules that will use more than 8 conductors (including ground).
(Joysticks are 5, 7-button panels are .
Unless you are planning really big modules (1/2 a normal CP each), you aren't going to use anywhere near 25 wires/module.

[JustMichael]

Another thing you could do is incase all 25 wires in one piece of heat shrink tubing.  When you heat it up the tubing will shrink around the wires making it look like a 25 conductor cable.  Make sure to use the right size tubing because it only shrinks so far.

[DarkKobold]

Oscar showed a nice deal on some 9 conductor wire. It was pretty slick, but I can't find it now.

[Brad Lee]

25 or more conductor wire is good if you plan on doing the whole panel as swappable

Phone companys use 25-pair wire (50 conductors, all color coded) a lot, maybe give a call to a local phone co and see what they can price ya for a few feet of that. CHances are theyve got it in bulk rolls for a couple bucks a foot. This wouldnt have any ends on it likely. Pieces with ends (male/female) would be more costly, but a decent solution if youre looking for swappability. If you ask for em, theyre probably gonna be called amphenol(or just 'amp') connectors

(i dont mean a phone company like at&t or gte, more like a local shop that does business phones)

[krick]

After further research, I've changed my mind.  I'm going to go with one DB15 connector per player...

DB15
PIN FUNCTION
---+--------
01  Ground
02  Coin
03  Start
04  Up      
05  Down    
06  Left    
07  Right  
08  Button 1
09  Button 2
10  Button 3
11  Button 4
12  Button 5
13  Button 6
14  Button 7
15  Button 8


So I guess I need to look for 20/15 multi-conductor stranded unshielded wire now.  That should be FAR easier to come by.

[tivogre]

I bought my multi-strand cable from here:

http://www.connectworld.net/cgi-bin/iec/02MWireMSStr.html

They were very good to deal with, have reasonable prices, and a variety of "number of strands".

Hope this helps!

[jerryjanis]

When making modular control panels with cat 5 cables, what do you use for connectors?  9 pin Molex connectors?

[NoOne=NBA=]

I've got a bunch of 3' cat 5 patch cables that were left overs after we moved into our new building.
I'm running those into a 6-port wall plate set into the back wall of the control area.
All the wires from the back of the wall plate hook permanently to the I-Pac inside the cabinet, and the controls will all have the patch cables dangling off them.

I also have a USB hub mounted inside my control area to hook up trackballs, spinners, keyboards, etc...

[eightbit]

When making modular control panels with cat 5 cables, what do you use for connectors?  9 pin Molex connectors?

Ummm, cat5 connectors...

[jerryjanis]

Ahhh now I get it!  Dumb question, but I'm glad I asked.  I didn't realize - that's a perfect way to mount all lots of modular devices.  8 pins is just the right number of pins for a joystick and 2 buttons, or for a trackball.

[eightbit]

Have you tried a serial extension cable or are you just assuming its to thin? The advantage to the serial extension cable  is that it already has the 25 pin ends on it. I used a serial extension cable and the wire wasn't hard to work with.

[NoOne=NBA=]

My goal with the modular system is to be able to accurately reproduce ANY control panel without investing a fortune in buying the same controllers repeatedly.

I've currently got a Tron-style CP, and would like to have a Blasteroids-style 2-P panel, without having to buy TWO more spinners to get it.

Likewise with trackballs.
With a modular system, I can quickly assemble a 1-P trackball with 1 button (Centipede-style), a 1-P with 3 buttons (Missle Command), a 2-P with no buttons (Marble Madness), and a trackball w/joystick CP (Wacko)--with only 5 modules, and minimum investment.

[Garrett]

NoOne - Any WIP pics of your modular panel?  I'm also building one and I'm curious how our methods compare.

Your idea of using cat5 for the connectors is great, I don't know why I didn't think of that.  I'd like to steal it but I've already done all my wiring with molex connectors.  They work fairly well, but I wouldn't be surprised if they start to catch a little wear and tear after more panel switching.