Tricky Controller splice. Help!

[flyguy1821]

Alright, got a question for you all.  Trying to build a cabinet that will eventually become a MAME system.  Right now it will have a ps2 and monitor, pretty basic.  I am building a 2 seat sit down cabinet with a 27 inch monitor.  What I want to do is put 2 Aura Bass shaker pros under the seats for effect.  I would like to tie into my PS2 controller using the rumble function to run the bass shakers.  Here is my dilemma, the bass shakers rely on regular 8 or 4 ohm speaker loads while the controller uses 110v to power itself.  I am wondering if anyone has attempted this or knows a way to "convert" the 110v signal so it wont fry the bass shakers?  My other option is to use a panel amp and plug into a receiver or something.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks

[Shape D.]

What is the wattage rating of the speakers. the ohm rating is just their resistance.

[flyguy1821]

The wattage of the bass shakers is 75 watts RMS and 100 max.  They are not really speakers very little sound comes out, mostly vibration which is what they are intended for obviously.  Thanks

[hatrick]

Here is my dilemma, the bass shakers rely on regular 8 or 4 ohm speaker loads while the controller uses 110v to power itself.

[Shape D.]

it's most likely a small DC motor that runs off of a very low voltage, not 110v AC.

corect, just run an amp to it thats rated at 80W @ 8Ohms and you should be cool.

[flyguy1821]

first thanks for the quick replies.  I have an itchy trigger finger and want to get this thing going.  So let me get this right.  I should be able to take the leads from the controller, (red and black, positive and negative) run them into the panel amp (which is typically used for a powered sub) and run the signal into the bass shakers with the desired effect?  I just dont want to fry these.  Thanks

[hatrick]

first thanks for the quick replies.

[Shape D.]

Wait wait, I don't know what the hell I was talking about. the ps controllers have a motor in them not a speaker.

Pleas disreguard the crappy and uncertan information I gave you I have no clue if it will work or not.


Shape D.
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[flyguy1821]

I am guessing there is some sort of transformer etc. that may do the trick but in that area I am clueless.  I do know that back in the day we hooked a sub up to a plug in cord "just to see what happens" sort of thing, not a pretty result.  Everything was toast, smells bad too.

[cholin]

Whoa wait a second, you think that a PS2 controller gets 110vac?  Wrong.  Those motors are very small DC motors.  The actual power in a PS2 is most likely run through a regulator to get a constant DC voltage.  The power supplied to the actual controller is probably <15vdc, my guess is around 5 because that seems to be the average.  I can guarantee you though, that you do not have 110v running through your hands when you play   Now, to hook up the bass shakers, you need to determine the amount of power they consume and the current (IE 10v @ 1A) or something... then you need to see whether the current exceeds the controller's current (which it most likely does).  I think you would need some sort of circuit or some kind of MOD directly to your controller ports to send a signal to the shakers instead of a motor.  You will need some sort of transistor or something.

[gnateye]

your better off using those things like they were made, just hook them up to your audio out and it will make vibrations based off the sound. if you wanna hack the vibration from the controller maybe take out the little motor and move it into the chair or something like that. the bass shakers are super cool. and they are designed to give a vibration based on sound, where as the software and the controller are designed to do a specific thing, spin a little fly wheel based on input from the game. im not saying it cant be done, but its kinda like mixing apples and oranges. both things do cool effects in the way they were optimized to perform, not neccessarily by swapping the motor/shaker.

 feel free to expiriment, and you may well get it to do something, im just afraid that its not gonna be as cool as the original effect, with much time wasted.


good luck and keep us informed

[flyguy1821]

You know I was thinking about this a little more after posting the question.  With most of the background music there are little bursts of sound when something happens, i.e., gun shot, driving off the road, punching something.  So the bass shakers should do a good job in conjunction with a reg set of speakers.  Since the idea of converting seems a little grim I doubt I will hack the controller.  Heck I am still waiting on seats for my cockpit to even design the darn thing!!  I've got plenty of time.  Still open to suggestions though.

[Popcorrin]

I think you are right that when something happens that causes the rumble pad to rumble there is usually a loud sound associated with it that would probably cause the bass shakers to activate.

But if you wanted to incorporate a rumble effect under the seat you could always use an electric motor under the seat.  If it were me I would use a 110vac motor with an off balance weight at the end of the shaft.  To activate it you would need to wire the leads that go to the rumble motor in your ps2 controller to a relay that would switch the 110vac motor on and off.

I don't think it would be all that hard.

Just curious what you are you using for plans on your sitdown cab?

[flyguy1821]

I am still researching at the moment.  I am going to have 2 seats side by side.  I have looked around and just haven't found many designs for them.  I will be using 2 Logitech Force Feedback steering wheels that will be detachable.  I am thinking about a possible slide in mount directly below the seat for the "steering column".  I have tried to think of some other options for this.  A steering arm that raises upward and over the head or an arm that moves perpendicular to the floor and folds back to the side of the cabinet.  I would like to keep the wheel off of the front portion of the cabinet (like most are placed) because I hate having to sit on the edge of my seat to play a game.  Any links to sites with cockpit designs would be appreciated.