Okay, I'm Making my first Happs order and I don't want to miss anything

[djll]

I'm ordering a couple 4-way/8-way super joysticks and about 20 horizontal push buttons.  I also heard the push button wrench is a good idea to get.

What else should I buy from them as long as I'm ordering?  I know it's hard to answer without knowing exactly what I want, but please help.  I'm using the Ipac to operate all my buttons, controls, etc.  Do I need to buy extra wire or anything?

Thanks.

[Birdtales]

Player 1 and Player 2 buttons?

I went ahead and bought a 3" trackball mounting plate in my first order as I had it in my design but didn't have the cash to pay Happs prices for the trackball itself.  Didn't want to get into the 25.00 minimum order just to get it. I got one of the PS2 trackballs off eBay later on for $25.00. Of course for piece parts you could always order from

http://www.dameon.net/BBBB/parts.html

The Real Bob Roberts. His prices tend to be less than Happs and there is no minimum order.

[TazMan]

I can tell you the buttons and joysticks will not come with any wire.  But, I don't think you need to buy the wire from Happ.  You could just pick that up at like a radio shack along with the quick connects, stripper, etc.

The joysticks won't come with any mounting hardware so you'll need 4 screws or bolts for each one - local hardware store.

Plus, if you don't have one, I'd get a multi-meter (Radio Shack) to help in the wiring process.

Good Luck.  

[djll]

Thanks, I'm totally new to this and I'm only 16.  But I'm dedicated and love building things.  I also love arcade games and am really excited to make the cabinet.  My brother's studying to be an electrical engineer so he's actually getting a multi-meter really soon.

We're trying to figure out if we could put a couple 6" speakers into the cabinet and how that would work.  They would have to be amplified somehow, right?  How would you do that with a computer?  Computer speakers normally have amps in them, right?

[Tiger-Heli]

We're trying to figure out if we could put a couple 6" speakers into the cabinet and how that would work.  They would have to be amplified somehow, right?  How would you do that with a computer?  Computer speakers normally have amps in them, right?

Yes, computer speakers normally have amps in them.  Check the examples and search this board, but I believe what most people do is use a coax to RCA adapter from the sound card and hook this into a car stereo amp to car stereo speakers.

Sounds like something fun to try, but more trouble than I want to bother with!

[eightbit]

I think its easiest and cheap to hack pc speakers into your cab.

[AGarv]

Just a side note but if you are are going to install a 3" trackball, and are not planning on using the "boltless" mounting plate, then go with the mounting plate from Bob Roberts.  The kind he carries have a much nicer powder-coat finish than the black dimple finished happs mounting plates.  I thought they were the same until I got my most recent order from happs.

Oh yeah and you might want to order a few feet of t-molding (just a few bucks) to play around with.

[spidermonkey]

Depending on how stiff you like your joysticks to be you might want to grab a couple of the heavier springs just incase you don't like the feel of the standard springs. I wish I had got them when I ordered all my stuff. Now I don't know if they will ship such a small order or not. Grab em now so you'll have them on hand. They can't cost that much.I have their catalog and it has the part# for the heavy spring 95-1309-01 but it doesn't give the price.
Happy building and welcome BYOAC !

[Frostillicus]

Also, depending on whether you are building a cab/refurbishing/buying an XBS   or whatever, you might want to look in such things as:
Monitor bezels - totally worth it for a super clean look,
Marquee retainers,
cab levelers, a pair of those vents that are also handles, cup holders, etc...
Again depends if you are scratch building.  Good luck!

[StingMe]

They can't cost that much.I have their catalog and it has the part# for the heavy spring 95-1309-01 but it doesn't give the price.

95-1309-01: SPRING F/ULT JOYSTICK HEAVY DUTY 41

[gtjoe]

yep, get the wrench for the pushbuttons, and nuts and bolts for the joysticks

you might also want to buy a few extra cherry switches for the pushbuttons/joysticks if any of them go bad in the future.

[Silverwind]

What's the wrench for?   (<---- button newb)

[JustMichael]

The button wrench is for when you can't get your fingers in there to tighten the button.  Don't forget 3/16" (.187) female quick disconnects.  You crimp these onto the wire and then slide them one the switches.

[TazMan]

What's the wrench for?   (<---- button newb)

*   Dual purpose... one end suitable for VLT pushbuttons, other end suitable for illuminated pushbuttons