Ready to hack DC pad to control panel but....

[kraven morehead]

Ok so I have read this guide and had a few remaining questions:
http://webpages.charter.net/rbecker5/plans.html#dc

1.) can I just screwl the wires that need to go to the DC controller on top of the right buttons on the IPAC? THen if I want to play Dreamcast, I just make sure that the ipac is not plugged into the pc at the same time? I would be fine with this but I dont know if its do-able without frying the IPAC. I do have the optical p360 joysticks so they will need the +5v blue wire from the dreamcast controller as well as the ground from the dc controller.

2.) If its not do-able and I have to wire a db25 conection in between the arcade buttons and the IPAC (i would wire the dc controller to a female db25 to interface between the arcade buttons and ipac) Do I have to hook up every wire that goes to every button ? or can I just leave what im not using  attached to the ipac as it is?

3. If  I can leave what im not using to connect to the dc pad  screwed into the ipac, wouldnt the first scenario just work, and I can just slap the DC pad wires onto the corresponding button terminals on the ipac?

Thanks in advance!

[Lilwolf]

You plug a button to both the dreamcast and an ipac... but it requires a few diodes (10c each or so... super cheap).

I don't remember the circuit (didnt do it myself) but if you search around here, you should find it.

[ShinAce]

A DC pad is a digital device using active low logic. I imagine an IPAC uses the same type of signal.
In which case, they can both be connected to the controls, as long as they're both being powered. If one is getting no power, ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- will go haywire when you press a button.

[Lilwolf]

If you don't use the diode method... Something blows.  I don't remember what... But I heard stories from the past.  I believe it blows the dreamcast but could be wrong.

IE... don't do it until you find how you are suppost to.... You will get bit.

[Minwah]

IE... don't do it until you find how you are suppost to.... You will get bit.

Yes

The only way I would be happy doing it would be to switch everything depending what console/computer is in use.  So keeping separate circuits entirely.  That's probably easier said than done tho...

BTW see the console board