Height for Control Panel?

[Dripht]

I tried to make some plans based on pictures of cabs built using MameRoom's Ultimate Arcade 2 plans (I think it's horrible to charge for plans btw) and the main problem I have with it is the height of the control panel.



It's 42inches from the floor to the top of the panel, and I'm not sure if that's too high, and if it is.. how much too high. There aren't any arcades I can go to around here to measure so I'm hoping for some help. I'm about 6 foot, and I doubt there will be many kids coming over to play the thing.

[DrewKaree]

Look around for a cardboard box to mock it up, or set up something over some chair backs so you can test the height you're contemplating.  If it's too low, adjust your base to raise it up, if it's too high, adjust to drop it down.  

It IS kind of sucky that they charge for their plans, but you've also got to realize that this is their business.  There's a reason you have to pay for toilet paper....it's the manufacturer's business....either way, you aren't FORCED to pay....you've done QUITE an admirable job drawing up your own plans...I won't comment on not buying toilet paper LOL

[NoOne=NBA=]

Mine is at 38"
I think most of the arcade machines were at about 36" or so.
I put mine at 38" because that fit ME perfectly.
I figured that others can adapt to MY perfect play height, etc... since I will be playing the machine most.

Experiment with some different heights, and see what you feel fits YOU best.

[Pasqualz]

My limited research of real arcade cabinets indicates an average CP height of 36.5". I'd bet that 95% of all cabinets (arcade or homemade) have CPs that are within 3" of this average.
SO the bottom line is this - Build your cabinet with casters or levelers on the botton so that the CP is 36.5". If you need the CP higher, just place some wood under the cabinet, or adjust the levelers to raise it up an inch or so. If the CP is too high, just replace the current casters with smaller ones, or adjust the levelers.

[NoOne=NBA=]

The arcade CP height was determined by the necessity of allowing ALL prospective players to reach the controls.

If you are building a cabinet that will only be played by adults, I would do your own research to find out what is most comfortable for YOU.

Mine ended up at 38" because anything higher didn't feel right to me while sitting on the barstools I have for it, and anything lower caused the BOTTOM of the CP to be too low to play with the barstools.

For stand-up only play, I could have been anywhere from 36-42, and still been relatively comfortable with most of the controls.

I researched my perfect height by building a sloped board with two legs and adjusting this up and down on my breakfast bar with stacks of magazines until I found out where it was most comfortable standing and seated on the barstools.

[coasternuts]

About how tall are you?   

I'm about 6'.  My control panel uncut, ranges from 34-35 without the casters and I'm not sure how much casters are going to add to the height.  I saw all sizes of casters but I'm not sure if some are better than others.  I don't want the cab to be too "wobbily", but yet it should roll when I want it to.  It will also be sitting on berber carpet.

[elvis]

I find for myself having the CP a littler higher than a normal cabinet really helps my back after long play sessions.  Being a fairly tallish bloke (190cm, roughly 6'3") I find with normal cabinets if I play for more than 15-20 minutes I get quite sore from that funny angle I need to bend to reach the controllers.

So I guess that backs up what the others have said: make one that feels comfortable for you.  I find around wasite/navel height of the person who'll be doing the most playing is the sweet spot.

[dema]

I'm 6'2" and my panel is about 38" high. From the extensive reading I did at the time the norm seems to be between 36" and 38". Since you will probably be using it most often, make sure the height works for you first and foremost.