Minipac mentionables

[Zakk]

Just wired up the first of two minipacs I have.  Just thought I'd mention a couple of things I noticed:  The disconnects are too big for the standard microswitches, and the plug that is designed to be oscar-ready actually has to be modified a little bit.  

Now, with a wire crimper I bent in the disconnects so that they fit snug, and a quick shot with the dremel trimmed off the excess tabs on the plug, but I thought I'd mention it here in case anyone else was wondering 'hmmm?' when they went to do up their control panel.  It was -fairly- easy to follow the pinout sheet (after I printed it out...a pre-printed sheet would be very helpful with this product), and I had a panel with 2 players, a trackball and a spinner wired up inside of half an hour.  Would I buy one again?  Definitely, but perhaps Andy would like a little feedback on these issues from some BYOAC'ers before he officially offers the product on his site (for those of you who haven't seen it yet, it's a little hard to find: http://www.ultimarc.com/minipac.html )

And so ends my tiny review

[PaulG]

The crimping requirement is actually posted on his website.  And he has to do it this way, because how would he know what was being used for joysticks (which require them to be larger) and what is being used for buttons.

I suppose he could include 8 big ones and the rest small, but this would probably add unnecessary cost and cut down on user options.

[mahuti]

Some of my "standard" microswitches are actually the larger kind, FYI.

[Zakk]

Ah, strange though, all the tabs on my joysticks are the same size as the buttons, same cherry microswitches, just with different actuators.  Ah!  but I just looked at the joysticks from ultimarc, and they have the crazy big tabs!  Okay, now I'm catching on.  

 

[Zakk]

Followup: I plugged it into a usb port and it fired right up...even went so far as to recognize it as a spinner and trackball! (which was unexpected).  So far a nifty product, I give it a thumbs up (as if that meant enything)  

[froggerman]

Micro switches come with either .250" or .187" tabs. Happs tends to use the .187" ones more.

Have you hooked a trackball up to the Mini-Pac? If you have which one are you using? I have the Happs 'Golden Tee' trackball and I had a small problem connecting up it up. If I orient the trackball with the arrow pointing to the back of the machine I can't get it to work correctly. The x-axis is ok but the y-axis is reversed. If I change the plugs around then I have to rotate the trackball 90 degrees but then both the x and y axis opperate correctly. I was wondering if it was just me or if anyone else has noticed something similar.

[microwrx]

As for the connectors, all of Andy's Sticks and buttons have switches with the large tabs so it makes sense the Mini-PAC harness caters for them.  It also makes more sense to have connectors that are larger and can be crimped down to cater for smaller tabs than to have smaller connectors that have to be changed out if you have larger tabs.  IMHO anyway.

[froggerman]

It also makes more sense to have connectors that are larger and can be crimped down to cater for smaller tabs than to have smaller connectors that have to be changed out if you have larger tabs.  IMHO anyway.

Right you are.

[SirPeale]

So...people who got this might be interested in .250" female quick disconnects?

[Zakk]

Micro switches come with either .250" or .187" tabs. Happs tends to use the .187" ones more.

Have you hooked a trackball up to the Mini-Pac? If you have which one are you using? I have the Happs 'Golden Tee' trackball and I had a small problem connecting up it up. If I orient the trackball with the arrow pointing to the back of the machine I can't get it to work correctly. The x-axis is ok but the y-axis is reversed. If I change the plugs around then I have to rotate the trackball 90 degrees but then both the x and y axis opperate correctly. I was wondering if it was just me or if anyone else has noticed something similar.

The X axis on the ultimarc trackball was backwards for me (up went down).  I just used a jeweler's screwdriver to slide the metal connectors out of the plastic plug anr reversed them.  pretty easy as long as you follow the wire and make sure it's the axis wires and not the power wires.  The power wires are on that separate header plug so it's pretty simple (I think they are the two inner wires on the ultimarc, might be completely different on the happ ready unit, but principle will be the same...hope that helps

[Zakk]

So...people who got this might be interested in .250" female quick disconnects?

That's it, there's a thread hijacker at work here...I'm reporting you to a moderator!

Oh, wait...heh nevermind  

[MinerAl]

So...people who got this might be interested in .250" female quick disconnects?

Actually the harness comes with .250 (1/4 inch) female quick disconnects on it... but somebody could probably sell little one inch long wires with .187 (3/16 inch) female quick disconnects on one end and .250 male q.d.s on the other.

[froggerman]

Micro switches come with either .250" or .187" tabs. Happs tends to use the .187" ones more.

Have you hooked a trackball up to the Mini-Pac? If you have which one are you using? I have the Happs 'Golden Tee' trackball and I had a small problem connecting up it up. If I orient the trackball with the arrow pointing to the back of the machine I can't get it to work correctly. The x-axis is ok but the y-axis is reversed. If I change the plugs around then I have to rotate the trackball 90 degrees but then both the x and y axis opperate correctly. I was wondering if it was just me or if anyone else has noticed something similar.

The X axis on the ultimarc trackball was backwards for me (up went down).

Yes, that is the same problem that I had. I was going to switch the clock wires on the trackball end. Molex connectors are pretty easy to remove pins. Other than that I haven't had any problems.

[Jeehemdee]

The crimping requirement is actually posted on his website.

Would you please give me the link to this...I can't find it

[PaulG]

Actually it was a couple months since I read it, and my memory as to what he actually said was off.  Under Harness Power he lists this:  "All connectors are female 0.25 inch. These are designed for 0.25 inch standard microswitch terminals. They can, by adjustment with pliers, be used on narrower type terminals. All connectors are fully insulated with transparent boots."  Guess it wasn't as clear as I remember.

[SirPeale]

That's it, there's a thread hijacker at work here...I'm reporting you to a moderator!

Oh, wait...heh nevermind  

Ah, so THAT'S what your PM meant!  I've been trying to figure out your cryptic message all day.

[Zakk]

Actually the PM was about the keylocks

But it's nice to know I can still puzzle a person sometimes.