Retractable console cords

[effdubya]

Okay for the 4 player cab i'm planning to build I want to have a whole load of console controllers, as this is more of a complete entertainment hub than a pure MAME machine.

I plan to get:
2xNES controllers
2xSNES controllers
4xN64 controllers
2xPlaystation controllers
4xDreamcast controllers
2xMegaDrive(aka Genesis) controllers
[i know its a lot ]

Now my question is, how would I make their cords retractable? I'm wanting to have something kind of like vaccuum cleaner extension cords that can be pulled out, and then when you hold a button it winds back up onto a circular spool kind of thing.

Would it work if I simply connected the centre of each of these 'spools' to a motor which would rotate when circuit is complete when pressing on its accompanying retract button, which would be hooked up to the computer power supply?

If there is a manual way I'd be interested to hear it because I'd rather that the computer would not always have to be on just in case somebody leaves one hanging. Thanks!

[Crazy Cooter]

I have two PC controllers that have that.  I got them at WalMart.  The box says "Gemini Elements" and they have a vibration motor built-in.  They look just like the standard console controller and have rubberized handles.

[DarkBubble]

I've been searching for the same thing you're after, effdubya.  I even tried to find an explaination of the retractable USB and ethernet cables to see if I could adapt it, but I couldn't find anything.  I don't care if I have to rig a crank, rather than have a spring-loaded or motorized mechanism.  I just want to be able to keep the gamepad boards in the unit, rather than build standalone boxes for each board.

I'd just about resigned myself to including a flip-top section with pegs to simply wrap the hand-wound cables around, but if anyone has a solution to your problem, it'd help me out as well.

[effdubya]

i think it might be time for me to see if i have an old vaccuum cleaner lying around 

i'll let ya know what i find

[pkellum]

I have two PC controllers that have that.  I got them at WalMart.  The box says "Gemini Elements" and they have a vibration motor built-in.  They look just like the standard console controller and have rubberized handles.

I have a couple of these myself, they are wonderful low cost controllers ($15).  Not as good as my Logitech Wingman Rumblepads, but still great controllers.

Patrick

[Crazy Cooter]

This is the one I have:
http://www.gemini-usa.com/a5/modelDetail.asp?PkgID=370557&User=GemGaming

There's some other "stuff" there, but I can't view the info:
http://www.gemini-usa.com/gemini/products.asp?Ctg=Gaming&SubCtg=Recoil%20Series

It looks like they might have what you're looking for?

[effdubya]

i think you guys misunderstood the intention its not to buy a new controller but to have original ones hooked up so they're retractable.

i think what i'll try and do is mount each controller cable on a whole bunch of measuring tapes from a $2 shop which I'd extend the spool to be bigger so that the cable (which is obviously a lot thicker than the thin strip of measuring tape ) will be able to coil without getting tangled or going off the spool.

then add/crimp a metal cylinder where i want the cable to stop retracting so that it is blocked from going any further.

planning on trying this on the coming weekend so if i get up to it ill post pics and guide if it actually turns out okay lol

[Crazy Cooter]

One of those in the links I had looked like a SNES plug.  I was thinking you could just splice right into it.  That way you could see how they're doing it and follow their lead for the others.

I'd take my controller apart, but I know how much of a PITA putting a tape measure back together is  .  FWIW, the cable on it is flat like a tape measure, not round.

[lkench]

You might check here:

http://www.yourmobiledesk.com/products/mfr_main.cfm?mfrID=189

This is a link to some cables made by Zip Linq.  I've never used them, but they had some retractable cat5 cables which should have 8 conductors.  You could snip the ends off and put whatever ends you needed to connect the controls.  You might be able to pop them apart and replace the cable with your own too.  There might be other sources for Zip Linq products too.

Larry

[DarkBubble]

I did a lot of digging for retractor part layouts.  In the case of the vacuum cleaner cord, it appears that the cord's conductors make contact with a disk-shaped contact, allowing the entire cord to spin without being broken during retraction.

Unfortunately, I don't have a Zip-Linq cable and can't find any shots of the mechanism.  It seems to me that they've got to be using a similar method.  You have to pull from both ends, meaning that it's got two mechanisms, but you'd have to use the contact disk method to prevent breakage.  I may be able to get ahold of a retractable Playstation cable fairly cheap, so I may grab one and crack it open to see how it works.

The thing about using a tape measure is that the end of the tape doesn't have to connect to anything other than the spooling device.  With a cable that is going to have power going through it, it has to maintain contact on both ends.  Unless you have a method similar to the contact disk, the controller end is only going to act as a brake.  It's one thing to wind something up that only connects at one end, such as a cable winch or a tape measure, but when you're working with a power cable that has to connect at both ends, it gets tricky.

[Lilwolf]

How far out do you want/need them to go?  If they are about 3 feet high.. and you want them to go out lets say about 6 feet... (notice the original dimension doubling).

How about this...

add a pully just inside the whole that the cord goes though.  Then add a weight (on a loop).

so when you let go of the controller, the weight drags the controller cord down... and bringing the controller up to the whole.

The trouble would be getting it to stop pulling when its all the way out.  You might be able to get something to add extra friction until you release it. 

But the basic idea is there.  I have no idea if it would be doable.... But it should be MUCH cheaper..  and it might just work.