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Multimeter to test my bad IPAC? -problem found
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Timoe:
I wired up an IPAC-2 yesterday and it is not working at all.
Jabba:
Multimeter works based on resistance.

Get a piece of wire that is good for testing (i.e., no breaks in it). Touch one end of the probe to one side, the other probe to the other side. Turn the dial until you get a reading when you touch/let go of on of the probe sides (I don't have a Multimeter in front of me. It will be a low setting in the bottom right hand of the switch, think it looks like a analogue wave).  You are testing the resistance. With a good wire, there is resistance, with a bad one, there is no resistance (i.e., a break in the flow.

This is the basic premise, look for where there is no resistance. Touch one end to your ground on the IPAC and then systematically touch each connection point on fhe daisy. There should be resistance. Make sure you touch the connector as there may be a bad connection.

Test each of the swicth connectors as well.

Hope this makes sense.
Timoe:
So crimp one probe on the ground wire that would go into the IPAC (disconnect it from the ipac first I imagine?) then take the other probe and check each switch individually?

Makes sense.  I just wanted to be sure because I want this thing to work.  All my other experiences have been trouble free.
NoOne=NBA=:
First off, is the I-pac showing up in the device manager?
If not, your problem is with the device not being recognized, not with your wiring.
If it shows up, but doesn't register keys, then your problem is probably with the wiring.

I would start simple, and check the ground loop first.
Connect one lead of the multimeter to the middle of the daisy chain somewhere, and see if you are getting continuity to the ground terminal on the I-pac.

You want to use the "OHMS", or "Resistance" part of the multimeter.
If there is a setting marked CONT, use that.
It will beep when you have continuity.
If not, use one of the resistance settings.
The needle will go to zero on an analog, or you will read 0 Ohms on a good connection.

If you are not getting a connection from the middle of your ground loop to the ground terminal on the I-pac, double-check all the wiring on the ground loop.
Timoe:
I got the multimeter and tested all the connections.  Everything is good.

now I'm worried.  I got the thing working and I played a game of Total Carnage.  It was great.  Then I went to exit into Mamewah and the joystick no longer controlled the list.  I pressed a couple buttons and my COMPUTER TURNED OFF/crashed.

I have no idea at this point.

windows XP btw
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