Problems with Joystick

[eyal8r]

Hey guys-
I bought an 8-way from Ultimarc a while back. When I got it, the microswitch for the 'down' position was broken. I had ultimarc send me a new one. I just put it in last night- and it's acting weird...

I go into the IPAC setup- and when testing all the buttons, I hit down on that joystick and the light stays lit up (as if I were holding the joystick down constantly or something)- it stays on even while I hit up, right, left.

In the games themselves- it moves the character to the bottom of the screen, and it stays there (you can't move up).  So basically, the microswitch is staying on permanantly.  What's going on here?

I wired it the same as all the others (ground on the terminal sticking out, then the first terminal closest to the ground- same way on all the others). Any ideas?
Thanks
D

[eyal8r]

ok- here's some more info on this-
while playing puzzle bobble- the joystick (well, the gun in the game) will move all the way to the right, or, all the way to the left. If it moves right- I hit the stick left and it moves by itself ALL THE WAY to the left on its own. Then ivce versa.

So- I switched my power wire on the microswitch to the other prong. Now, the gun in the game will move to the center position on it's own. I move it to the right and left go, it moves back to the center position. Anyone have any ideas?  I'm sure it has something to do with the switch or wiring or something.
Thanks
D

[gobuchul74]

there are two types of switches that ultimarc uses, here's something off their website.  Make sure your wired to the common and normally open (NO) contacts.

[eyal8r]

Hmmm- ok- it's definitely wired to the COM for the ground- and I have tried both 'ports' for the NO. After I switched to the other port, now the up AND bottom switched stay on after you hit them. So any ideas on what's going on here?
D

[gobuchul74]

I don't get it.  Have you changed the wiring on the switches that worked right originally?  And if so, WHY?

[eyal8r]

no- didn't change any wiring. Just installed a new microswitch since the original one was broken when I got it.

So- I have the COM wired correctly, and it's doing weird stuff as described no matter which 'port' (either NO or other) I have the power wired to. I don't get it either. Any ideas?
Thanks
D

[Goz]

Have you tried another microswitch (from like a button) in place of the one for the direction it appears to be stuck going in?

-Goz

[MinerAl]

I've had joysticks work this way when I have them all wired backwards.

I recieved two Supers in the same order and wired the first one correctly and then wired the second the exact same way and had it freak out the way you describe.  The switches were different on #2 so it was always trying to go every direction except the one at which the joystick was pointed

[eyal8r]

I got it fixed. I took the wire off and put it back on and it's fine now. Weird...
Thanks guys!
D