Anyone rig up "quick disconnect" for multiple CP's?

[Wyluli]

I was just wondering if anyone out there has rigged up some sort of quick disconnect for multiple control panels.  I was thinking about building another control panel with a trackball and spinner and a few buttons to swap out with my current two player CP.  However, I don't want to have to sit there and disconnect every wire from my Ipac and reconnect the wires to the alternate CP and I'd rather not buy ANOTHER Ipac.  Has anybody rigged anything up?  If so, how'd you do it?  PICS are welcome!!!!

[mahuti]

Check out the FAQ, or use the search tool. You'll find many, many instances of swappable panels.

Most of the solutions involve the use of printer, ethernet, molex, or build your own cables.

[cholin]

The simplest way to do it would be putting a female - male DB25 connection.  A female port on each control panel and a small male port coming in from underneath.  That way, when you swap, you just plug it in and play right away.

I am going to use a 40-pin connection because I dont know what Ill do with it.  One thing though, in most panels, they mount a panel on a huge box, and the whole box comes out.  I dont think this is productive, so I say do the opposite.  This way, you will not see a huge mess of wires when you remove a panel.

[telengard]

I was just wondering if anyone out there has rigged up some sort of quick disconnect for multiple control panels.  I was thinking about building another control panel with a trackball and spinner and a few buttons to swap out with my current two player CP.  However, I don't want to have to sit there and disconnect every wire from my Ipac and reconnect the wires to the alternate CP and I'd rather not buy ANOTHER Ipac.  Has anybody rigged anything up?  If so, how'd you do it?  PICS are welcome!!!!

I used ethernet cables and a patch panel.  Very, very easy to use.  I had used molex connectors before but having modular panels meant needing 3 hands.  If you'd like me to put up some pics I can later tonight.

[Wyluli]

I used ethernet cables and a patch panel.

[cholin]

Problem with these kind of hookups is that you need to know exactly how many controls you want on each panel, and leave room to expand.  If you have a one-player panel, but want a two player, you still need to have the extra AVAILABLE inputs.  What most people do though, is just hook up one side of the connection to their iPac, in case you didnt figure that out   Heres the first example I found on google:  http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_roswell.html -- look at the control panel part.  He uses a DB25 connector on one end.

[mahuti]

I use 37 pin connects. That's more than enough for a 2 player swappable panel set with 2 joys 16 buttons, trackball & spinner plus a bunch of left over spots. Only one cable. It takes me a long time to solder the connections for each new panel, but I find it entertaining.

You can find several pics on this subject here

[telengard]

I used ethernet cables and a patch panel.  Very, very easy to use.  I had used molex connectors before but having modular panels meant needing 3 hands.  If you'd like me to put up some pics I can later tonight.

Pics would be welcome.  I'd like to see all the different idea's people have come up with for this.  I'm wondering what the easiest\most conveniant to implement would be.  I'm sure there are many different ways to rig this up, and I want to know them all (insert insane laugh here)!   

Damn that search feature.

I finally got around to taking updated pics of my cab control panel connections.  I had previously used molex connectors and now use ethernet cables.  Here's a link

http://users.adelphia.net/~bsturk/mame/controls.html

~telengard

[Wyluli]

I finally got around to taking updated pics of my cab control panel connections.

[Lilwolf]

I created a tac switch setup (bunch of spring loaded connectors that connect to a standard barrier strip.  I was considered selling them.. but they seem too touchy.... But after redoing one... they are amazingly stable.

so now I can change my control panels without touching a plug..

I just need to make one more for my AKI..  And one for USB connectors (kinda scared to see what would happen but going to try it). 

Then I will only have one with a special connection that requires a plug (my dual SNK because they both take all 12 + 4 + 3 connections for almost 40 connections for one 2 player cp)... and I dont' have enought room for that many tac switchs).

[cholin]

I was thinking of making a spring loaded type switch so you just pull your CP off without touching any connections, like an old video game cartridge.  I may do it, I may not, depends how creative I get.