Wiring 12 volts into a controller setup without destroying the board?

[sfetaz]

I am going to wiring up Playstation controllers for use with my cabinet for my DDR Machine.  In the DDR Machine there are lights.  I am setting it up so when you press a button or step on an arrow, the lights light up.  This uses DC 12 volts.  The positive of the 12v goes to the common wiring of the switches, while the negative goes directly to the negative of the light, and the postive of the light goes to the normally open of the switches.  When the switch is closed, the light will light.  I have been told that since this will run 12 volts to the playstation board, it will damage it making it unusable.  Is this true and if so how would I prevent this?

[paigeoliver]

A DDR pad is pretty darn big, have you considered maybe like putting more than one set of switches under there? Of course you are using playstation controllers (WHY?).

[NoOne=NBA=]

You need to rig it so that the 12V goes to the lights only, and is triggered by the 5V signal from the switch.

That way when you press the switch, the 5V sends a signal back to the Playstation, as normal; but also triggers a relay, that closes the circuit on the 12V light associated with that switch.

The only other concern I would have is whether the 5V signal from the PS will provide enough current to drive the coil(s) on the relays.
It may be a TTL (low amperage logic) signal, that is not designed to actually power things, but to just show a conductive/non-conductive state--like a transistor.

[sfetaz]

Ok, I own a DDR Arcade Machine.  I am developing a product to market and sell that converts the DDR Arcade Pads to work with playstation, while still allowing easy switching between arcade and PSX.

So playstation controllers do receive 5 volts?  If so where can I learn more about your relay idea?

[StephenH]

I would recommend using some sort of a solid state switching device for the lights.   For example, if you used a 12V AC (not DC) supply, you could use an SCR or TRIAC to control the lights.   Additionally, some high power transitors may also work.    Another way, is to use a CMOS chip and transitior setup for when input and output voltages are different, and set the output voltage of the setup to 5V and the input as 12 connected to the light.

I would not recommend a direct connection, because it could send 12V to the 5V inputs.    They need some sort of isolation.

[Sylentwulf]

http://www.electricquarter.com/psjoy.htm

This item will work with ANY playstation 1/2 DDR pad, making it USB compatible.

[RayB]

Does the game support using the USB hub on the PS2??

Maybe that's a better solution than hacking a pad.

Also, I disagree with needing a relay. I'd say just have two seperate sets of buttons. One powered with whatever comes out the gamepad (these act as the controller buttons) and then have a seperate set of buttons that are not at all attached to the gamepad. Power these up with the 12v for lighting the lights.

basically, you step on a pad and it activates 2 buttons, one for the controller, one for the light. no relay required.

[sfetaz]

The game does not support the USB ports.

I am not sure if you guys understand the fact that I own the actual arcade machine and arcade pads, and not building them.  It has its own set of soft mercury switches in them and is wired a very specific way.  I am going to be selling a product that uses the existing hardware to allow people to use the pads on their playstation or xbox with a PSX to Xbox converter, while still allowing them to easily switch back to the arcade.  I am not modifying the pads in any way, because that is unsellable and defeats the purpose of the product.  While yes each arrow has 4 switches, for proper play all would have to be connected to the PSX controller board per arrow.  There for in order for it to be lit, the 12 volts must be connected to those same switches, meaning the 12 volts would in some way hit the PSX board, unless something in between to prevent that.

[paigeoliver]

How much of a market do you really think you would have for that product? If you sold more than 5 I would really be surprised.

In all reality the home install base of DDR machines is around 1000 or so units at best. Of those thousand, only a tiny percentage would ever be interested in tearing up their machine to hook the pads up to a Playstation, and only a smaller percentage would find out about your product.

Sure, it COULD be used with "spare" arcade pads, but in all reality those don't exist, I have been looking for them for YEARS and have only located a few of them for sale, all of them pretty much trashed.

[sfetaz]

LOL this is not made from spare arcade parts, I have a large quantity of the parts I need, brand new, from manufacturer.  This product is not designed for mass market.  The number I expected to sell at first has been passed by the number of people who have shown interest in wanting the product.

[RayB]

I guess what you need is to build some sort of resistor circuit to step down the 12 volts to 5v or whatever voltage PS2 gamepads use (could be even less than 5v).


wow, this post didn't help either, did it!

[Bgnome]

the playstation interface actually has 2 power pins.  all i could find atm is some specs on the diy interface but there is a 5v, (~3.6v), pin in the center which powers the controller and a 9v, (~7.6v), on the 3rd pin, depending which way you are looking at it, which supplies power for the dual shock motors.  this line may be able to power your lights..