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Idea for serial connection between control panel and controller module
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Setabs:
I am curently working on a project box that will house an Ipac2 in it.
I bought the solder on db25 connectors from radio shack and will either buy a rs-232? cable, which is a printer cable that is straight through meaning pin1 on one end goes to pin 1 on the other end, or a 25 conductor wire off the internet.

here are some pictures of my progress so far.





I will post a pic of the ipac connected to this cable tomorrow.
HoopstarsGarage:
Personally, I think DB25 connectors are far too difficult to plug in and unplug while balancing a control panel and they do not work well if both male and female connectors are panel mounted as the tolerance for being "off axis" is far too tight..

My solution, while probably not the most cost effective, works brilliantly..  I am having one interface  per control panel (Minipac for 2 player CP, Optipac for trackball CP and Apac for steering CP), using the USB connectors - The USB connector by design allows for quick and easy connection multiple times (think USB thumb drives etc) and the tolerance for being "off axis" is quite high..

Here is how I am doing mine:

This  is the back of the removable control panel - the (male) USB port has been recessed to protect it when not plugged in.


And this is the other half of the interface - the (female) USB port is located in the middle (covered with masking tape in this shot) of the control panel "shelf" area.  The 4 runners guide the CP smoothly into place for perfect connection every time..


Here is a close up of the USB connector - obviously I still have some sanding to do before the whole thing gets shot with a couple of coats of paint, but it gives you the idea.


The other benefit is that I can plug in a keyboard or USB thumb drive to do updates or maintenance.

You can see more of this build up which is currently nearing completion in the projects forum HERE..

Hoops



Setabs:
 HoopstarsGarage that is a nice way of doing it andtrue it is very expensive.


--- Quote from: HoopstarsGarage on June 10, 2005, 12:55:37 am ---Personally, I think DB25 connectors are far too difficult to plug in and unplug while balancing a control panel

--- End quote ---

I don't think he is making a swappable control panel for a machine.  So this shouldn't be an issue.  I think he is trying to put the encoder into a small box to set by the computer.

--- Quote ---I'm going to make the controller interface a module that'll sit outside of the control panel, and they'll communicate with some sort of cable.
--- End quote ---


 jjhlk:

you want to ask a radio shack or other store for what i belive is called a rs-323 cable.  you will get 25 individual inputs that way

here is my pin layout

here is my connector hooked up to my ipac

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