Product Viability? For hot swap control panels

[Lilwolf]

I'm considering building Jamb Tac connectors for hot swappable control panels.

Something similar to this... but not as small..
http://www.automotivebase.com/prod/east/Jamb-Tac-Four-Contact-Wireless-Connector.html

They would be different then the car ones like this.

1) They would be in longer strips (and cheaper)... Current models are 12 connections across...

2) They would connect up to standard cheap terminal blocks.  
http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=755&item=TS-1020&type=store
This will allow you to have a cheap / easy to cable strips on each control panel.  

3) Longer throw on each switch.  This would make it more friendly for non-exact motions.

4) Back side would be connected to a bunch of wire lug fork (disconnect that you screw into).  

So the idea is you would screw it into the side of your cabinet, then use cheap / easy to get (radio shack / wherever) terminal blocks on each control panel.

I will hopefully have some pictures in the next few days of the prototypes.  

[DYNAGOD]

my only concern woudl be aggressive play may cause an intermittent loss of contact..
if your sure you can ensure a tight contact between the terminals i dont see why not, but you would definetly need to keep the control panel firmly captive.

[paigeoliver]

Why don't you just impliment hot swap panels by using a JPAC and having each panel terminate in a JAMMA edge connector. That is probably the simplest solution.

You can easily get your trackball and other connections on there as well if you are willing to do a little solder/solder on your jpac to shoot those wires out of the unused jpac pins.

[locash]

I am looking for a solution to this problem and I can't seem to get my head around either of these solutions.  Anyone care to diagram?

[paigeoliver]

You can't get your head around it because you don't have, or have never seen the parts involved for mine.

You simply order an "economy Jamma harness" from bob roberts (one for each control panel), and a Jpac from ultimarc.

Each control panel gets wired up with a JAMMA harness, and THAT plugs into your J-Pac.

The j-pac has 15 spots on it's edge connector that are unused, and not electrically connected to anything else either. This is where you can add in your OTHER controls.

Say you have a USB spinner on one panel. You chop the USB cable in half, carefully solder up the 4 wires inside to four of the unused spots on the JPAC edge connector

http://www.ultimarc.com/jpac2.html

shows which ones are used, and which are not.

You then hook up the 4 wires from the OTHER half to the same wires on the JAMMA harness, so that when you plug in the JAMMA harness it complete the USB connection.

If you aren't understanding now, then this project might be beyond your current skill level.

[DrewKaree]

I'm considering building Jamb Tac connectors for hot swappable control panels.

Something similar to this... but not as small..
http://www.automotivebase.com/prod/east/Jamb-Tac-Four-Contact-Wireless-Connector.html

They would be different then the car ones like this.

1) They would be in longer strips (and cheaper)... Current models are 12 connections across...

Where did you find them cheaper and longer?  I considered this EXACT same idea until I figured out the cost for just the contacts alone would run me far more than I considered to be feasible.

I'd SO do this, if they are the same, quality-ish wise, and the price is more reasonable.  They are used in car doors, so the whole rough game play point is only a problem if you don't have a mounting system, which is easy to implement.

PLEASE make with more details PLEASE!

[locash]

If you aren't understanding now, then this project might be beyond your current skill level.

Wow...thanks for the warning.

I actually understand I lot more than I let on.  I apologize for not being clear.  What you are proposing (I think) is not all that different from what I already have.  That is, I have an IPac wired to a dsub connector(f) and a control panel wired to another dsub connector(m) and I plug these two floppy cable together to make the connection.

I guess what I thought was being suggested was a way to make a rigid connection (i.e. no floppy cables) edge-of-panel to jpac.  But I am now thinking that you are proposing a cable to jpac connection.  Sorry for the confusion.

[paigeoliver]

Essentially I am proposing using a JPAC only, and making any extra connections ALSO run through the JPAC edge connector.

If properly done then you COULD make it where you just slide the panel in and it connects up.

[Lilwolf]

paige..

I have tried a few different solutions.. None that worked well for me... Mainly I wanted my girls or wife to be able to swap control panels.  And plugging in ends wasn't a big deal.

As for where I'm getting them cheaper / longer is I'm making them.  

I'm also trying to find a button solution with a long throw also to find out which control panel is plugged in.... But that is probably going to be put on hold (because I haven't found any real solutions, and I'm pretty sure I could find some ready made for cheap).

Anyway, hoping to have some photos by the end of the weekend.

[DrewKaree]

Paige, is the jamma edge connector easy to slide onto the JPAC?  It seems "cartridge" like, ala Sega or Atari 2600.  It doesn't seem as if that'd be very durable at all.  

The reason for the Jamb-Tac solution is that it just has to be slid in, and the contacts just match up, making it so simple even a woman can do it *ducks and covers up all his "important" parts*.  

Does the Jamma harness just slide right on, or (as it seems to me) do you have to take the wired plug and plug it onto the JPAC?  Seems as if you have it so it's securely fastened, the level of alignment needs to be SO precise in order not to break your JPAC, thereby making it practical in theory, but not for actual use.

Please advise.  

[Minwah]

Lilwolf: Sounds good...I hadn't though of hacking USB before, but a hacked USB extension cable would be perfect for analog control interfaces...

I don't think aggressive play would be a problem, as long as the panel(s) are clamped down suitably.

Age/oxidisation of the contacts would be my only concern...

[Lilwolf]

Well, Another set of prototypes and its now working really great.   Added it to my control panel and also two of my control panels. 

I have to say... its really cool and works great.   I spent too much time swapping between my classic control panel and my fighter control panel to actually make it look nice..

I do want to change the design slightly, but that will require a new router bit.... But the current model works well.

As for the connection itself.  It seems VERY solid.  I DIDNT clamp the control panels down to make sure they can take a little play.  Once it was connected it works great...

Anyway, I might put a pre-production snapshot up and see if there are any interest.  Getting the parts involves ordering some special parts you cant just pick up... And have to figure out how long they actually take to make.

I also want to build 4 up for my control panel (2 for joysticks/buttons, one for AKI board and one for mice hacks).  And see if all the springs combined make it too hard to put the control panel on.

[GGKoul]

Pictures please...

[Minwah]

I might be interested in this, if it is reliable enough.  I would need the ability to have 28 contacts...presumably I could do this with 3 of your connection modules.

Look forward to seeing how you get on with your tests...

[Lilwolf]

I'm going to be away for the holidays so I cant play that much.

As for stability... I had some issues last night... but it wasn't my jam tacs but the terminal blocks I'm using are old and the screws had rust on one..  I sanded it down and fixed the problem. 

I can use any size terminal block.  I'm going with 12 because I have a ton of them and I can buy them cheap.  I can probably handle any size / configuration of whats cheap.  I'm not sure about the european terminal stitches type since it will be hard to touch the connection and then if it gets too small (phone terminal switch)... 

After I get back, I will try and take some pictures and show the initial examples and see if there are real interest... Mainly because the springs are a pain to find.

[GGKoul]

I might be interested in this, if it is reliable enough.

[Lilwolf]

Here are a few shots of one of the demo units I created.  Works great!  Love the ability to switch around without any trouble at all. 

Notice that the barrier switch is a standard design, but I should be able to make them closer or farther apart.  By bringing them closer, I would have to reduce the throw (to make sure they never touch each other). 

Also, I spent a bunch of time trying to seperate the wiring at the bottom (by routing little groves)  I had some minor success... But each time the walls where just too weak to last.  But with the crimp on ends, the wires never touch each other so I gave up on it for now.

Anyway, take a look to get an idea.  And let me know if you would be interested in something like this.   

[Lilwolf]

And one more picture.  This hopefully shows how you would mount it.