Connecting the CP to the computer, what do I need?

[The cranky hermit]

Let's say I have a control panel sitting in front of me right now. It has two happ supers, and twelve pushbuttons. I have no wires, no harnesses, no connectors to speak of. What do I need in order to connect it to my PC via USB port? Please list EVERYTHING.

All I know for sure is I want a 56 input I-Pac.

[cdbrown]

You'll want the USB IPac2, a heap of wire (I prefer stranded), .187 quickconnects (40), microswitches if not already there (20).  A crimping tool or soldering iron.  The wiring section that you can get to from the main site has v good info.

[The cranky hermit]

Are there any things I can get if I don't want to mess with soldering or crimping?

[_Iz-]

an employee.

[mikebaker2003]

Haha...yeah, I'll do it for you, but I'm expensive .  If you didn't want to do any soldering or crimping, you could tie the wire on to the terminals (thats what I did while I tested everything).  Sure, you'll have to re-wire everything about every hour, but you don't have to do any soldering or crimping!  I could see how you don't want to solder, but all crimping involves is:
1) Buying quick disconnects and a crimper
2) Inserting wire into said quick disconnects
3) Inserting said quick disconnects into the crimper
4) Squeezing until your palms bleed.

It's really not that bad.

[wee beastie]

what does he need a soldering iron for if he's using the  IPac?  I have an I pac with swappable control panels and didn't solder anything.

[TheTick]

what does he need a soldering iron for if he's using the  IPac?  I have an I pac with swappable control panels and didn't solder anything.

You can solder wires directly to the buttons instead of using quick connects. Not that I would, but you could  

[Zeitgeist]

I soldered directly to the microswitches once on a panel that I made for a friend.
When the stick was given back to me a year later, I decide to upgrade it & make it a loaner stick.
It took over two hours to desolder all of the connections & get the blades cleaned off enough to slide the quick connectors onto.
Never again!
It is too innexpensive, easy & quick to crimp on the connectors to go any other route.
Not to mention that solder fumes can cause headaches, dizzyness, & respatory discomfort (says so right on the spool).
Z

[Silverwind]

Really it's not that expensive as mentioned... I went with quick disconnects..  doesn't take too long to crimp and connect to the switches..  and you can take them off later if you want without too much trouble..

I would say ~$5 worth of disconnects should handle most control panels..  It probably would save you some time as well!

[Zeitgeist]

Silverwind hit the nail on the head:
$5 would get you about 100 quick disconnects at most wholesale electronics suppliers.

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=search&item=1250&type=store

A good pair of wire stripper-crimping pliers will run you about $7-15 retail.

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F005%5F005%5F009%5F000&product%5Fid=64%2D404

These are a must if you intend to do anything with electronics.

Goodluck!
Z