Swappable control panel connector options?

[releasedtruth]

I have a M/F SCSI cable around here and I wonder if it'll work. It's a 25 wire setup, stranded rather than solid core. Are the individual wires too small for a good connection? If not, I'm gonna wire it up. Thanks

[MYX]

I have used cat 5 cables for a lot of things. I know that ArtMAME used Cat 5 for his swappable controls. I do not know if there is a difference in size from the cat5 to scsi. FWIW.

You may want to solder the wires if you are going this method.

[tristan]

I've used DB25 Serial connectors and they work just fine.

[Outrun]

Hello,

Cat5 is working out to be the best solution for me too. Really easy to implement & perfect for multiple control panels.

[johnm160]

What type of connector are you using on the cat5?

So one cat5 cable would handle one joy stick and 3 buttons correct?

John

[Lilwolf]

I think a better solution is to go on ebay and buy some cheap 25pin M-M (or F-F) serial cables.  You get 24 connections per cable.  And you buy 1 normal M-F to get the end in the computer, then M-M for 2 more control panels.   Or get a mounting plate.

Only trouble, is the cables themself are pretty thin.  But workable.  I ended up getting a more 'normal' wire and stripped a bunch of ends... Then used that with the end from the serial cable to crimp on the quick disconnects.  This gave the disconnects a bit more to grab onto. 

[jerryjanis]

I'm not using cat-5, and I regret it.  I would like to change over to cat5.  They are cheap and easy to work with, and there are cheap tools creating the connections.  Much cleaner than the twisty wire and electrical tape that I've been using.  I have a modular panel, so ideally, I would like to use a patch panel for all my different connections.  That way there would be a separate plug-in for joysticks/analog/trackballs.

Jake

[Outrun]

Hi John,

I use rj45 on the end of Cat5. They are wired to each CP & plug into a fixed patch panel inside the cab. The patch panel is then wired to the Ipac. As long as you keep the wiring consistant  between CP's i.e 1 player joyup on no.1 CP is wired the same at 1 player joyup on no.2 CP you should be o.k.

I only used Cat5 because i had all the relevant bit's n bobs at work. Here in the UK we can purchase extra wiring harnesses for the Mini-ipac which are precrimpted. Some of my friends have used these to great effect instead of Cat5.

[Flip_Willie]

  Hey,

     Just wondering, why has no one mentioned molex?  I am wanting to make an interchangeable Cp in the future, and I was going to do it with this. 

      Is there something about molex that makes it more difficult to use? ( I have never set up my own molex, but it is used quite a bit in my Jamma cabinet.)

Thanks.

[releasedtruth]

I spliced open the SCSI cable, connection is nice since it was a M/F cable. There are 25 wires inside, which is nice since I need... let's see.  14 buttons, 2 joys =  22, right? I solder everything I can so that should work I think. I don't even have a 2nd panel yet, and may never have one, but I'd rather be safe than pissed off a year from now. 

[Lilwolf]

If you have the cables, SCSI will be fine.  But you can get 25pin serial cables on ebay for a 2 bucks... SCSI might be 10x that.   Make sure you can get a M/M  (or F/F) since you will need one of one style, and 5-20 of the other.

[Dervacumen]

I used a DB25, which has super thin wires similar to what you'll find in the SCSI cable.  I cut the cable in half, creating one Male half and one Female half.  Because the wires were so thin I was afraid of breaking them, so I crimped on these small pins you can see in the top picture.
Works very well.

detachable panel connections

[koz319]

Some info from an old thread - I used centronics style connectors for my panels and its worked well for me.

connectors

Good luck,

Koz

[Matth9]

Holy crap, Koz, that is EXACTLY what I've been looking for.  Did the connectors already have screw holes in 'em for mounting, or did you just have to make the holes?  Either way, where'd ya get 'em?

Thanks!

Matt

[johnm160]

Hi John,

I use rj45 on the end of Cat5. They are wired to each CP & plug into a fixed patch panel inside the cab. The patch panel is then wired to the Ipac. As long as you keep the wiring consistant  between CP's i.e 1 player joyup on no.1 CP is wired the same at 1 player joyup on no.2 CP you should be o.k.

I only used Cat5 because i had all the relevant bit's n bobs at work. Here in the UK we can purchase extra wiring harnesses for the Mini-ipac which are precrimpted. Some of my friends have used these to great effect instead of Cat5.

Ok, I just seemed like it was going to be a lot of connectors to get a big panel wired up, But I guess thats ok, I have a big box of Cat5 and a a bunch of connectors laying around. I just need a patch panel.

John

[koz319]

Holy crap, Koz, that is EXACTLY what I've been looking for.  Did the connectors already have screw holes in 'em for mounting, or did you just have to make the holes?  Either way, where'd ya get 'em?

Got them from Digi-Key

Part #'s

MDB50K-ND  Plug
MDE50K-ND  Socket


They come with holes already in them, with threaded inserts for machine screws.  You can just pop out the inserts and use whatever screw you like. (This is what I did.) 
They do make one with just a hole without the insert, but digikey never seems to stock them.  Oh - you probably don't want the bailmount ones.

It looks like the price has gone up a little, I seem to remember paying like $4 per connector, looks like its about $8 per now. 

Hope it helps -

Koz

[Outrun]

Hi John,

I guess using the Cat5 method was easiest for me because i only intended for two control panels i.e 1st panel with one joy & six buttons & 2nd panel for when friends visit containing 2 joys & 6 buttons each. Maybe if your looking at lots of controls for each panel maybe some of the other connection options might be best ?? 

Outrun

[um3k]

I don't have a modular CP yet (hardwired  - what was I thinking?!?), but I think I'm leaning toward the CAT5 solution for both the encoder and CP sides, then using some female to female connectors to connect them together.   Since I have a nearly unlimited supply of free cable and connectors from work, it is certainly cost effective.  (Even if I didn't, CAT5 cables are fairly cheap, and I would need only one set of connectors.) 

The down side is at only 8 wires per connection, I would need 7 connectors to fully wire my IPAC/4. (8 if you include grounds).   I don't think this would be too bad because I will probably not be using all 56 inputs on any of my panels, and I think it might help oganize the wires better (e.g. Player 1 controls on 2 connectors routed down the left side, Player 2 controls on 2 connectors routed down the right side, admin connectors in the center, etc)

[releasedtruth]

Well, so far the SCSI connection is coming together nicely. Stripping those tiny wires makes my eyes hurt after a while, but I'm just about done. Time to wire it to the terminal strip. Wish me luck

[Dervacumen]

using some female to female connectors to connect them together.   Since I have a nearly unlimited supply of free cable

Now you're talking.

[Matth9]

Thanks again Koz.  I stopped into my local electronics store to see if they might have these, and sure enough they did...and ribbon cable to boot!  2 x 50-pin centronics connectors and 4ft of ribbon cable ended up being about $16.

I got 'em at Norvac for anyone in the Portland, OR area who might be interested to know.

My second choice would've been CAT5, but I've got a Jamma cab with a control panel surface that is just a flat board that slides into a groove at the top of the CP area, so having it just plug in when I slide the control panel in is the best solution for me.

[Outrun]

Hi John,

Working with Cat5 isn't too fiddly anyway, just make sure you get a nice good set of quality Rj45 crimps.

You have the right idea about grouping the Cat5, it make life much easier when wiring in the 2nd, 3rd control panel. Might be a good idea to use coloured boots or even coloured cable if you have access to it.

Small patch panels are very cheap too.

Hope whatever method you try works out for you.