Happ perfect 360 compatability

[langdoguk]

Hi there , probably been asked before (sorry ) but how easy is it to rig up the happ perfect 360 joysticks to an ultimarc minipac , is there any soldering or configuration required as I'm very basic in my knowledge . I've used an Ipac2 with j-stick and it works right out of the box , but I'm starting to build my upright cab and these sound pretty good , are they an option for a novice?

cheers 

[Havok]

The P360's are fully compatible - it fact, they are easier to wire up as you only have a 5v, ground, and then labelled - up, down, left and right. They're on my fighter panel, and I love em. Do a search for Kowal's acutators, it's a mod you really should get as well...

[langdoguk]

Thanks , I did a search and they sounded great with the Kowal's acutators upgrade , I was just a bit worried as to how to wire them up as the j-stick just has the 4 micro-switches , and I'm not sure what to use from the minipac wiring harness (think it would have 4 wires left,right, up +down), also I read a lot of people messing about with joystick controls in front ends etc ( which would be too advanced for me).
Are they pretty much plug n play with Atomic FE , which I'm going to use?

[Havok]

It's basically the same as any other joystick, except you need to wire +5volts to them. You can tap directly from the mini-pac, from J2: there are three different 5volt outputs.

As far as plug and play joystick control with Atomic, just make sure to wire your player 1 joystick according to the mini-pac wiring, and Atomic will see it.

[paigeoliver]

Another nice thing about p-360s is that you can put Wico handles on them. I have mine set up that way.

[MonMotha]

The only compatibility issues I have heard of or noted personally with P360s are that the outputs are push/pull digital or have weak low-side drivers (I don't actually have P360s, so I can't tell you specifically which - I've just done some interfacing for people using them).  In most applications this has absolutely no effect, but they don't "wire-or" very well.  Specifically, attempting to parallel a P360 with another weak push/pull digital output will result in unreliable operation.  Paralleling one with a conventional microswitch based joystick will work, but isn't ideal (as it could destroy the high-side output driver of the P360).

You can use low-Vf diodes to get around this if you really have to (even a 1N4148 type will work with most inputs).  In most applications, there is no need to wire-or joysticks, so this never comes up.

[langdoguk]

I've just bought 2 of these  ,I got them from this guy http://www.tornadoterrys.com/surplus.htm
$75 for two including delivery to the UK. I thought that was a great price, now to start thinking about Kowal's actuators , read about a million posts on these a while ago and was more confused at the end than the beginning , but they did sound great so here we go again 
Thanks for the replies 

[Havok]

In most applications this has absolutely no effect, but they don't "wire-or" very well.

Just one more reason for friends to not let friends "Frankenpanel" their machines...

 

[MonMotha]

In most applications this has absolutely no effect, but they don't "wire-or" very well.

Just one more reason for friends to not let friends "Frankenpanel" their machines...

 

The situation this showed up in for me was when somebody asked me to build them a device to add playstation ports (in addition to the CP) to their cabinet, like the new Tekken cabinets have.  Apparently, they had tried using P360s with the Tekken adapter, and it was unreliable due to the reasons mentioned.  Of course, I wasn't told this until after I had already built the adapter, but I was fortunate enough that the micro I used could out-drive the P360 (though you still get the situation mentioned where there's the possibility of burning out the P360's high-side).

Like I said, somewhat of an unusual situation.  There are also some potential problems with inputs that are pulled up to voltages other than 5 (12 or 3.3, for example), but I have yet to see such an input on a JAMMA board or even on some of the more custom interfaces I've dealt with like those used in Bemani cabinets.

Incidentally, if anybody wants one of said adapter (supports 2 players on JAMMA + extra buttons for SF/MK kick), I think I have 3 left "in stock".