Help with wiring and hookup please!

[joshbr7257]

Hi,I am new here,and right now I want to make my fist arcade control panel and after that the arcade cabinet for that (I want to make it

[markrvp]

The KeyWiz Max or KeyWiz Eco 2 is an alternative to the Ipac2. 

GroovyGameGear.Com Link

It is a keyboard encoder.  If you have the money, go for the Max version as it makes hookup a lot easier.

In addition to the encoder and controls you will need stranded wire that is between 18-22 guage.  This size wire works well with crimping Quick Disconnects (which you also need) which slip onto the microswitches on your buttons and joysticks.

A good place for wire and quick disconnects is a user here (also a global moderator) named Peale.  Here is the link:  http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,15482.0.html

As for step by step, please read the information on the following link and all of the information in the links it provides for support:  http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_wiring.shtml#Wiring

Welcome to the hobby.  Please also use the search feature for beginning questions as they have been covered numerous times and you will find a wealth of information that way.

[joshbr7257]

but the site doesnt say how many the keywiz supports. how many does it support? also it isnt numbered or lettered like the I-PAC, how do i know what wires go to what hole?

[joshbr7257]

also, i need to know exactly what to buy, how much wire, how many connectors, what type of connectors, and then how to hook them up.

[RTSDaddy2]

My wife and I went with the I-Pac, simply because of Ultimarc's "labels" on the side.

[Goz]

Another way to go for the wire and quick disconnects is the lazy approach. You can buy a JAMMA harness for about $10 that has all the quick disconnects already attached to the wires on the harness. Dream Arcades has one that would be suitable. Simply cut the wires off at the JAMMA connector and you have wires of different colors that are plenty long with connector on em ready to go and especially a nicely daisy chained ground wire. You could wire a CP in under 30 minutes if you were in a hurry.

Just a thought.

-Goz

[joshbr7257]

ummm.... im just confused seeing so many wires in that picture, i know it doesnt make sense but i think doing 1 wire at a time will be easier for me. 

[markrvp]

Read this.  Wait for the 85 some odd pictures to download so you can see the examples.

http://www.ogredog.com/mame_cp_construction.htm

[joshbr7257]

so do i need to buy maleand female disconnects?

[markrvp]

so do i need to buy maleand female disconnects?

The microswitches require the female disconnects (like the one Peale has on his site).  If you are going to an Ipac then you won't need male disconnects.  You only need male disconnects if you are making a splice that you want to disconnect occasionally.

[joshbr7257]

ok thanks so does the kit on peales site have enough wire and connectors for a 2 person kit? cause some people say i need 100" not 50"

[SirPeale]

It all depends on how far away you're going to put the IPAC from the CP.  If you want it six feet away, then yeah...you're going to have issues.  I'd bolt it right to the CP somewhere. 

At an average of 14 inches per input, you can get 21 strands of that length from a 25 foot piece.  Now, not all lengths will be 14", some will be shorter, some might even be longer.

[joshbr7257]

how do i add a pause and quit game button to my cp using an I-PAC2?

[SirPeale]

how do i add a pause and quit game button to my cp using an I-PAC2?

You don't have to.  The IPAC has something called the 'shift' key.  It uses one of the keys on the panel, and when you press it, then press one of the other keys, it will do a second function.  IE when you press P1 start and down on the player one joystick, it'll pause the game.

[Tiger-Heli]

but the site doesnt say how many the keywiz supports. how many does it support? also it isnt numbered or lettered like the I-PAC, how do i know what wires go to what hole?

The KeyWiz supports 32 inputs.  Default config is 2 joysticks, 8 buttons each, 2 coin, 2 start, Pause, Escape, Tab and Enter.

What everyone forgets is the flexibility of modern encoders allows you to use any input for any button you want and just re-program around it, within reason.

Actually, I think the button labeling on the I-PAC is a big mistake.  No games use 8 butttons per player, so you end up either not using those or connecting them to something else anyway.

[Tiger-Heli]

how do i add a pause and quit game button to my cp using an I-PAC2?

You don't have to.  The IPAC has something called the 'shift' key.  It uses one of the keys on the panel, and when you press it, then press one of the other keys, it will do a second function.  IE when you press P1 start and down on the player one joystick, it'll pause the game.

Or wire  Pause to P1B8 and Esc to P2B8 and re-program the I-PAC.

[joshbr7257]

yeah i think im still gonna go with the I-PAC cause i think that might just be a little bit easier to set up, thanks guys