Does this theory sound right for swappable CPs using patch panel/cat5e

[Outrun]

Hey everyone,

I

[NightGod]

Sounds right to me.

[NoOne=NBA=]

Yep.

The only thing that you need to be concerned with beyond that is consistency.
Make sure that the same wires are Up/Down/etc... on ALL your joysticks.
Even more importantly, make sure that GND is the same on ALL your cables.
That way if you accidentally, or intentionally, swap the cables, GND will be the same in all the jacks.

I would recommend having four dedicated jacks (P1 Joystick/P1 Buttons/P2 Joystick/P2 Buttons).
That will allow you to plug stuff in with a minimum of hassle.

I would also recommend having a USB hub inside the CP area for trackballs, spinners, steering wheels, etc...
Those can all be swappable at the optics, or at the hub.
I actually have both in my CP.
I can unplug the mouse hack from the USB hub, disconnect whatever is hooked to it by removing the Cat-5 cable, connect a new device, and plug the USB cable back in.

[Outrun]

Thanks for the replies so far & glad my theory seems about right. I guess, as you've pointed out, the secret is consistency of the with wiring for each CP. I'd plan to use some sort of colour coding, be it coloured Cat5 cable or just coloured boots etc.

Much appreciated.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I'd plan to use some sort of colour coding, be it coloured Cat5 cable or just coloured boots etc.

I used colored jacks, with corresponding chunks of colored vinyl on the wiring.
The bulk patch cables were alot cheaper than the colored ones, but the colored jacks were the same price as the bulk ones when I bought them.

[ArtMAME]

I used CAT5 cables and Female to Female RJ-45 couplers:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=54556.msg534960#msg534960

My multi-purpose CP has four CAT5 cables connected to it that correspond to J1, J2, J3 (4-way) and 7 Buttons.  I have a separate CAT5 cable for the admin buttons.  The admin buttons stay on the base of the control panel. 

My IPAC also has CAT5 cables terminated with RJ-45s.  I just label the couplers so I know which one to plug in to what.

I have a different drop-in panel for each control scheme that I use.  So far I have a multi-purpose CP, a Trackbal w/ 3 button setup, a 49-way, and a Tron CP.  I have a USB hub for trackballs and analog sticks inside the CP box, plus a PS/2 extension cable for a mouse PCB that I hacked for my Tron spinner.

This setup works really well.  It takes me less than a minute to switch out panels.

My next drop-in panel will probably be a fighter-style 2 sticks and 6 buttons per stick. 

Good luck