Two standalone CPs that can also play together?

[MikeDeuce]

I want to build another single player CP that can act as a standalone CP AND as the second player to my first CP. Only thing is that I'm sort of new here and don't know if there might be a far simpler solution than what I'm thinking.

Currently, my single player Leon CP has an IPAC2 (for this very reason). What I originally planned was to run all the player 2 wires to some type of PC plug interface (parallel probably), and have a corresponding connector/cable on the second CP. Essentially acting like a 2 player CP where the second controls could be disconnected.

Now I'm thinking I would rather have the second CP also have the ability to run independently, as we have a few PCs at home and my girlfriend/roommate might like to play on their own computers.

Thus begins the following plan:

1) Add wiring to parallel or similar port on my Leon CP.
2) Build second CP, install I-Pac.
3) Wire all controls on second CP to parallel port/cable AND ipac.
4) Wire the grounds for both to a switch.

So I'm thinking by doing this, if the switch is toggled to ground to the IPAC in the second CP, it will run as a lone, single player CP, and all controls will default to player 1 in MAME. But if the switch is toggled to ground via the parallel port/cable and therefore to my IPAC2, it will be powered completely by my Leon CP and be set to all default player 2 controls in MAME.

I can't think of a smoother way to do this that will result in as convenient a setup. What do you experts say?

Thanks!
-mike

[brian23]

Ok, your message is a little confusing... So you want to put a parallel port on your Leon CP, run a parallel cable between the two. Then, wire the parallel cable inside the Leon CP to the Player 2 side of the ipac. I think you also meant that you will be using (2) i-pacs, not one. It seems you'll need two if you want them to be standalone. Am I tracking?

[MikeDeuce]

Yep, that's it exactly... each CP would have its own ipac and I would only link the second CP to the first one via parallel cable whilst bypassing the second CP's ipac.

[brian23]

That sounds like the way I would do it if I wanted them to be independent of each other. Alternatively, you could do the same sans second ipac. Probably be cheaper and easier. Just plug in the parallel cable and you'd be good to go. It would always be wired inside the "master" CP.