Hello everyone, I'm embarking on my project(Questions added)

[Doctor Ugs]

Hello everyone,

 Been lurking for a bit over a month now, most of my questions were answered by searching the forums.I still ordered the project arcade book though (but only shipped on March 17th) and starting project this weekend.
I'm building 2 cabs(identical, one is for a buddy, he's coming down to help)

Question one regards crimp connectors
a) I'm planning to order this set of joystick/buttons from x-arcade. http://www.xgaming.com/arcade_bundle.shtml   anyone tried them?
b) What size crimp connectors do i need??  http://www.happcontrols.com/electrical_supplies/43105400.htm
c) Do i need insulated or not??

Question 2:
Coin doors, I live in canada, therefore i'll be using canadian quarters. Does an american coin door take canadian quarters? Coin doors are the thing i know the least about. I am planning to try to get some off ebay, but i'm a bit confused on the whole quarters issue.

I'll update you guys on my project , i'll start a thread in the projects forum.
And if any more questions arise, ill ask using this thread.

Ps: if this thread is in wrong forum, feel free to move it.

[ids]

Does an american coin door take canadian quarters?

I've read an answer to this recently, I think American quarters are magnetic, and Canadian are not, so out of the box, the mech wont work.  However, you may be able to modify it.  Or just get Canadian quarter mechs (check the b/s/t forums, Happs, or theplaydiumstore.com)

Found this doing a quick search: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=72720.msg750036#msg750036

[DrumAnBass]

From what I have heard, the X-Arcade parts are Chinese sourced clones of Happ/IL parts. You would be better off buying parts from Divemaster or Ponyboy in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum, or directly from GroovyGameGear and/or Ultimarc. They also have a lot more options in colors for both sticks and buttons, and a wide selection of different types of joysticks. Decide what types of games will be played the most on your cabinets and buy the most appropriate joystick. The X-Arcade sticks look to be clones of a Happ/IL Super, which is a great all-around 8 way stick. The most common crimp connectors are .187.

[Ginsu Victim]

Keep in mind that the X-arcade has the loudest, clickiest microswitches of anyone. Both the buttons and joysticks are NOISY.

Do yourself a favor and order from somewhere else. Divemaster (www.arcadeemulator.net) is a good guy around here and has a nice selection. Also GroovyGameGear and Ultimarc are great sites with great support on these boards. All three are extremely helpful.

[Doctor Ugs]

hi all, Thank you for the answers, things are moving along nicely, 8 hours today spent on project of 2 cabs.
Modified the old Lucid plans to my liking, got my base done, and the side panels are ready(just waiting for base to dry up, im leaving it 24 hours to dry as its cold up here)  ...multiply by 2 as we are building one each.

Ill be ordering my buttons from GGG soon enough. Thanks for that link dude.
as for the coin door ill go with a door from happs, which ill modify to accept canadian quarters. THanks for that link as well.

New Question:
Micro switches....
Cherry or micro leaf?
Is there really a diffrence, especially for games like track and field? I heard microleaf is quicker , but enough to warrant the extra bucks for the switches?

Tommorow , we'll take pics of the progress so far, and ill start a thread in the projects forum.

[ids]

Cherry or micro leaf?
Is there really a diffrence, especially for games like track and field? I heard microleaf is quicker , but enough to warrant the extra bucks for the switches?

I have both.  The micro-leafs are not cheap, but they sure do cut down on the noise, and they have a softer feel.  I can also imagine they would be better for rapid-fire games like track-and-field.  There are other options, such as true leafs, or http://www.retroblast.com/Hardware/Review-Leaf-Switch-Brackets-for-Micro-Switch-Pushbuttons.php.

I'd give the micro-leafs a thumbs up....if they fit your budget.

[Xb0x3r]

I noticed that no one has really elaborated on crimp connectors. You can find large packs of all the sizes at a place called Sayal. I'll link you to their website http://www.sayal.com

See if you can find one in your area, I know I did! Bought a 100 pack of Red and Blue coloured ones.

Hope this helps,
Xb0x3r

[ideft]

Check out http://www.starburstcoin.com/ if you haven't already.

[Doctor Ugs]

Wooohoooo Received my brand new book today(project arcade)
but My cd is broken, Doh!!!   

Was there anything that usefull on there?
The boook seens to have alot more info that i thought it would contain...

UPDate on project..

Base is done, and both side panels(times 2 since i'm building 2 cabs at once) are ready, just need to go get me some clamps so i can glue it together.  we took pics, but nothing interesteing enough to warrant posting pictures, ill start posting when cabs are upright.

Oh, to save money i used 2X 5/8 MDF and 1X  1/2 MDF per cab(saved a whopping 3 dollars on each cab)

Question:
Next thing i'm ordering are coin doors from happ, http://www.happcontrols.com/coindoors/40005500.htm  the small single player coin door.
First , if i read right, that door will come with 2 coin mechs, right? but US currency.
Will i be able to hook up each slot to a diffrent credit button? (default is 5 & 6)
Basically slot one activates player 1 credit, and slot 2 activating player 2 credits. Doable?

I'm off to go Jam tonight with my bro, so i'll be borrowing his router! Yehaaaaaaa!!!

PS: thx ids for the crimp connector post but i have a place here(one of my suppliers) who has them, i just wanted to know which size, From reading around, seems to be .187 crimp connectors.

[CheffoJeffo]

Check out http://www.starburstcoin.com/ if you haven't already.

FWIW, Starburst Coin is now The Playdium Store (same people, new location and new showroom)

https://www.theplaydiumstore.com/

EDIT: I have been one who has used US mechs without magnets just fine with Canadian quarters. I have, however, heard of folks who have had troubles, so YMMV.

EDIT2: I see that the OP is in Quebec -- I would suggest checking the forums at MAACA to see if there is anybody local who may have stuff like a coin door. http://www.maaca.org

[Fozzy The Bear]

Question:
Next thing i'm ordering are coin doors from happ, http://www.happcontrols.com/coindoors/40005500.htm  the small single player coin door.
First , if i read right, that door will come with 2 coin mechs, right?

Don't order direct from Happ.... Their postage charges are a killer!!  Order Happ Parts from Ponyboy Or Divemaster. You'll find them in the "Buy Sell Trade" forum.  If they're not listing the parts you want they can quote you for them. Their prices are usually lower than ordering direct and their postage is fair. I've never heard a bad report about these two guys either and a lot of people here buy from them.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[CheffoJeffo]

Don't order direct from Happ.... Their postage charges are a killer!!  Order Happ Parts from Ponyboy Or Divemaster. You'll find them in the "Buy Sell Trade" forum.  If they're not listing the parts you want they can quote you for them. Their prices are usually lower than ordering direct and their postage is fair. I've never heard a bad report about these two guys either and a lot of people here buy from them.

And, not to take anything away from PB or DM, The Playdium Store (formerly Starburst Coin) is the Canadian distributor for Happ. They have a centre in Montreal.

[Doctor Ugs]

thx guys , I imagined happ shipping would be insanly high. So thanks for that canadian distributor, I've sent em an email asking about shipping costs for 2 doors.

BTW, I'm using my credit card for all my purchases since it's pretty much instantaneous. 

90$ at pladium or 63$ at happ, just need to figure out how much shipping is.

[Doctor Ugs]

Thx to CheffoJeffo for his MAACA link.

I have found 2 coin doors for the 2 cabs im building. Best part is i can go get them in person. Should be going this weekend.

Hip hip hooray!!!! 

[CheffoJeffo]

Glad it worked out ... the best thing you can do is make contact with the local collector community.

 

[Doctor Ugs]

new question:

Can you "Shift" a coin door with an I-PAC?
To make coin slots activate player 3 and player 4 while holding the shift key.
Can it be done?

[AtomSmasher]

Wooohoooo Received my brand new book today(project arcade)
but My cd is broken, Doh!!!   

Was there anything that usefull on there?

The templates on the cd were extremely useful both times I designed my control panels.  Email Saint and he may be able to help you out.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=64067.0

[Doctor Ugs]

new question:

Can you "Shift" a coin door with an I-PAC?
To make coin slots activate player 3 and player 4 while holding the shift key.
Can it be done?

Bumping, hoping to get an answer on this....

My 2 cabs are now upright, so ill be starting my project thread soon enough... 

[protokatie]

Bumping, hoping to get an answer on this....

Although you can program the IPAC2 to give whatever keys you want, shifting is another story. Shift on the IPAC will only initiate if NO other buttons are being pressed (IE inputs into the ipac). I think the reason why you didnt get a reply is that you didnt really explain why you needed to use shift for P3/P4... I am assuming you are using an IPAC2, which is meant for 2 player input (hense the "2" in IPAC2).

Please clarify

[Doctor Ugs]

in short

I'm Building a 2 player cp.
I have a 2 slot(+ 2 coin mechs) coin door.

Here we go....

I'd like to be able to acces player 3 and 4 slots for games like NBA jam. Player 3 and 4 will be configured on controller 2. This way we can play as a team (player 1 and 2) or vs each other (player 1 vs player 3 or 4)

In game example: Rampage arcade game. To acces the third slot. I want to press "shift" + enter coin in slot 1, (this would credit player 3)

That's the reason i want to know. I am planning on having only 2 buttons for "player start", To activate player 3 and 4 i would ; shift + player 1 start = player 3, and shift + player 2 start = player 4.

Man, just thinking this through gives me a headache. Hope it clarifies this question

[Doctor Ugs]

ok forget that.

I'm keeping it a 2 player straightforward control panel.

my next project will be a 4 player cab exclusively(4 buttons each) But that wont be soon, gotta expand house first, huge project, at least i'll be able to have a dedicated game rooom after that.

btw, the coin door shift thingy. i tested using just mame and my keyboard, i set up coin 3 to "Shift + 5" It credits player 3 but for some reason gives 4-5 credits per coin.....

[Doctor Ugs]

damn it , new question arrises....



where the hell do you guys who use the ipac plug your "escape" button? Is there not one already configured on the ipac?
Remember, i'm planning on a straightforward 2 player street fighter layout.so ill have 4 inputs free(sw7 and sw8 for both players are free). do i have to configure mame to "exit on sw7?(or whichever switch i connect my escape button to?)
I'd rather not use the ipac software if not needed.

[arzoo]

damn it , new question arrises....

where the hell do you guys who use the ipac plug your "escape" button? Is there not one already configured on the ipac?
Remember, i'm planning on a straightforward 2 player street fighter layout.so ill have 4 inputs free(sw7 and sw8 for both players are free). do i have to configure mame to "exit on sw7?(or whichever switch i connect my escape button to?)
I'd rather not use the ipac software if not needed.

If you don't use the IPac software to set the keycode mapping, the defaults will be used. So you are correct, you'll have to remap ESC in mame to whatever the default keycode is for the IPac port wired to that button.

[Doctor Ugs]

thx arzoo for clearing that up.