Newb Gamepad Hack Troubles

[OnigumO]

Hi, I'm planning on building my own joystick and I got a Performance EA sports pad for PSX.  Im having trouble finding the common ground(s).  I also wanted to know if there was another way to make a connection to the action buttons than through those interlocking finger-looking things.  I just wanted to know if anyone experienced with this could do me a big favor and mark the ground(s), and solder points for the action buttons, (Alternative locations if any) on this jpeg and send it back to me or post it.  Thanks a lot, any response is greatly appreciated.

[OnigumO]

once again, thanks for any help given.

[paigeoliver]

Not all pads have a common ground. But it looks like that one does. See that track that connects all the directional buttons together? That is the common ground.

It looks to me like you may have to solder at the "hand" things, because there is a big rubber thing in the middle that is blocking you from seeing where exactly the traces lead from the "hands". IF you can follow them back, then you can solder elsewhere.

That really doesn't look like the best pad to hack though. I would put it back together and look at a different brand if I were you. (I like ones that have solder points on the PCB already).

Also. If you are doing this for a PC, then do it with a PC pad. Good easy one to hack is an "Interact Propad" or Propad blue. Original (NON USB) Sidewinders are good choices too.

[hyiu]

ok... if you're interested in hacking a PC game pad...

and if you don't require usb... (game port is good enough for you...) then.... sidewinder is the easiest....

from what I see... your pad is a fully digital pad...
and should have a common ground....

you know... the 2 short ribbon wires that connect to the trigger buttons ??...

that should have 6 wires..... (3 each side)....
among the 3... 1 is ground... and the other 2 are the triggers....

so... no real soldering on the board... you have already got ground, l1, l2, r1, r2.

now... check the direction pad.... ok... let's look at "up".... there are 2 half circle... right ??.... 1 half circle is linked to the other half circles in all the directions... (that should be the ground.... (which should be the same as the trigger ground...)

so.... you just have to solder the other half....

and find the same for all other buttons...

hope it helps.... good luck...

[gnateye]

looks like an easy enough hack. do yourself a favor and unsolder the shoulder buton wires from the main board and use the holes on the main board left as your solder points, and you got 2 ground points right there or any of the other Gs on the pic, it looks like ther emay be holes in the board? on the leads? if there are yo uare in luck, like the madcatz DC pad, you just stick your wires in the little holes ( from the back) and solder on the front, nice and neat, super easy to do, if those arent holes, then go buy a little wire drill but and drill holes in the leads and do like i said above, if you need to see an example visit my site and look at hte pad hack page.

http://www.cosmibreaks.com/images/arcade_stick

[OnigumO]

Ok, I see the ground connections.Do I need to solder 1 ground point for the D-pad and 1 ground point for the action buttons, or is it 1 ground point for the entire pad?  There are holes in the pad but they are linked to other things as well so I wanted to ask you if the holes present are good enough or will I have to drill to makes things easier.  Heres a modified .jpg of what you posted earlier.  

[gnateye]

im not sure about the holes, or the ground issue actually, you need to go pick a up a cheap multimeter, i got mine gtorm radioshak for 9$, then you set it to continuity, when you have connection it lights up or beeps, you put one lead to the dpad ground hole and the other lead on any other ground point (i would checkthem all) as long as you have continuity with all the grounds, you are safe to use one grouns wire, now use the multimeter to check those holes and make sure they only connect one spot, otherwise just drill the holes its really easy and is worth it. the same with the multimeter, well worth the price, an indispensible tool for padhacking

[OnigumO]

Wow, thanks a lot.  Before I didn't have a damn clue about pad hacking, but know I got a pretty good idea, thanks a lot gnateye and thanks to everyone who posted.  Time to get my butt down to radioshack.  About the multimeter, if it senses there is a connection, the thing is, how will I know which button has a succesful connection? About drilling the holes, where would be a good location for the action buttons.

[gnateye]

yu'll know becasue you will test every button conact and ground point beore drilling or soldering.

as far as  the holes go, the directional pads looks super easy, just drill in a spot that wont sever the connection, in case something goes wrong and you have to drill a 2nd hole yu still have connection, i suaully do it a the bas of one of hte "fingers?" where it is a little bit wider, start the drill slowly so it doesnt move around, an dont press to hards or you may crack something.

good luck!

[OnigumO]

About drilling, what kind of drill bit and size would you use?  The thickness of wire I plan on using is just standard wire that all pcb's come with from the manufacturer for existing connections.

[gnateye]

i use a 24gauge wire bit in a dremel tool

[OnigumO]

thanks.

[OnigumO]

you can get that at home depot right?

[gnateye]

not sure, probably, i ot mine from my wife