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Swappable Control Panels -- Molex?

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Doc-:


--- Quote from: spiffykyle on January 08, 2007, 12:12:07 am ---As of now, I am planning on going with Cat5, yes they are RJ45 sockets. Gives 8 connections for each port so it can be easy to swap out controls (joysticks mainly) in the future without rewiring much.

Unless someone else has had problems with Cat5.

spiffy

--- End quote ---

Cat 5 works great - I have my modular panel wired entirely in Cat5 and USB (for analog) and it has been running solidly for three years now:
   http://www.beersmith.com/mame

Cheers!
Doc

davieboynj:


--- Quote from: DrewKaree on January 08, 2007, 06:34:09 pm ---It's not even just the people who might screw you, it's ebay in particular.  I USED to have an account until ebay effed me over.  On my THIRD transaction.  Too much potential hassle over something you can just as easily get for similar prices. 

--- End quote ---

I can definitely understand that.  That company operates as if they're on razor thin margins or something. 

Doc-

I agree Cat5 is good for modular panels, but is a bit messy for fully removable panels, with significantly thinner gauge wire required.  If you're just replacing joys, its just as easy to change the terminal contacts. 

Flip_Willie:

Hey,

    Thanks again to everyone and all their suggestions, you have really helped me out.

    As to where I will buy the stuff; I will probably get it from either DrewKaree's site or BuddaBing's.  Basically, just cause I don't like to hassle with Ebay; even if it is cheaper.

    Thanks once more!

Just as it is,
Flip Willie

kelemvor:

If you don't have anything that needs power (light bu buttons, etc) I'd just use Cat5 cable and some keystone jacks.  Very simple to make and you'd just click the cable in like you plug the network cable into the wall.

Lilwolf:

I've done a few different ways in the past.

The cheapest and probably best was just buying 6 foot serial cables (25 pin) in m-m and some m-f.  You only use one end on the cabinet itself but you want a bunch of the others.  I was getting them for 5 bucks a cable... cut in half for two ends... and I had the wires done at the same time.  The only trouble is the cables inside where a bit small, so they didn't crimp well.  So I would add some extra stuff on the end (coating from a bigger cable or something).

Then I went hot swappable using springs to build my own tac switches.  These are cool.  But take some playing with to get them all attached perfect.  But this is mainly because the board I'm connecting them on aren't flat.  And its hard to get my head inside my cabinet to see where they should meet up.

RJ45 ends are perfect for modular controls panels.  Where each section has one plug...

cat5 cable SUCKS though... sold core anyway.  Move something and they break their connections... STAY AWAY or you will be recrimping ends on a monthly basis.

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