pc volume pot to push button

[G1zm0]

im trying to hack a pair of pc speakers, it has a double gang volume pot (stereo),
on this it has 6 pins in groups of 3, pin 1 is ground, 2 is wiper and 3 is the input.
to add a push button volume method using microswitches what do i connect to where?  i dont know what locations are vol up and vol down.

also the 2 speakers i got are small 3 watts amd i want to ad 5 watt ones ( arcade cab speakers) both sets are 8 ohms, would this work ok and could i add 4 speakers to this setup or would i need to get 4 speakers at 4 ohms?

[NoOne=NBA=]

Pushbutton volume will control your software, not your hardware.

[paulscade]

Yup.. that's not going to work.

The volume control for most speakers is an analog device... gradually changing resistance as you turn the knob.

Push buttons are basically digital devices.  Well... not *really* digital... but their only range is from "on" to "off" with nothing in between.

Without additional electronics, you won't be able to replace an analog volume control with buttons.

[thatitalian]

Go to BYOAC wiki and look for cabvol.

This will save your a** just as it saved mine!

Great little app as you can either set a button for volume up and another for volume down, use a spinner as a volume control or use a button as a hotkey and (by holding it down) control the volume using your joystick!

[G1zm0]

ahh ok makes sence, thanx for answers and i downloaded cab vol, not read instructions on it but where would i connect the wires to control the sound and i take it can be used in any application?

anyone know anything about the speaker question i asked? 

thanx for help as always

[ahofle]

Here's the software thread for cabvol.  It's pretty straightforward.  Once you get it configured how you like, just drag a shortcut to it into your startup folder.  Be sure to set the shortcut to run minimized so it runs in the tray.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=69901.0

[Zebidee]

Using CabVol is probably the simplest way for you to do what you want to do.  No need for special wiring.  Just set the PC speaker amp's volume control to something acceptable to you as a maximum.  Then rig up cabvol to work with two buttons of your choosing (or even just one button and alternate its function with a 'shift' key, assuming that you are using an IPAC or similar).

The other alternative is to wire up an external volume pot.  This is my personally preferred option as it is platform independent and I've climbed the learning curve already, but more fussy and complicated (CabVol really is very nice, neat & easy).

[Zebidee]

anyone know anything about the speaker question i asked? 

This depends on your amplifier and its power output capabilities.  You will probably be OK changing from 3w speakers to 5w speakers as it isnt' a huge draw.  However It might make your amp run hotter and shorten its life.

Connect it up and try it out!  If you get wierd sound distortion then that could indicate a problem.  Turn it off immediately.

Take the casing off the amp if you can.  Locate the heat sink (the big metal bit).  See how hot it gets after a few minutes of normal use with the old speakers (put the back of your finger on it!).  It might be a little warm, perhaps quite warm.  Now try it with the new 5w speakers.  After a couple of minutes check how hot the heat sink is.  If it is a LOT hotter, or too hot to keep your finger on it, the switch it off immediately.

If you really want a 4-speaker (2 per channel) setup, note the difference between Series and parallel wiring.

If you add the speakers in series (ie current flows through one and then to the second, and then to ground on each channel) then you will DOUBLE the impedance, 2x8ohm=16ohm. Your amp needs to be able to handle that in order to get good sound, although you probably won't cause any damage (check the heat output though).

Wiring two speakers in Series:

  A  -------O
  M           |
  P  -------O

If you wire in parallel (ie current doesn't flow through the first speaker before going to the second), then you HALVE the impedance as the current now has two routes to ground, 8ohm/2= 4ohms.  Driving the speakers with an amp designed for 8ohm speakers can cause damage to the speakers in this arrangement! 

Wiring two speakers in Parallel:

 A --------------
 M       O       O         
 P --------------
 

[G1zm0]

thanx for the responce, i will just stick to 1 speaker or i will get a 5.1 set up.
i have a emerson amp (surround sound) 5.1, i was going to originaly put that in but its a volume knob, and want to attach this to the coin box,  so i can adjust it from there, how can i take this volume knob to the location i want it  ( amp to big to fit in coin box lol

[Zebidee]

how can i take this volume knob to the location i want it?

Well, you know what the three pins do already - what you want to do is get 2-3metres of speaker cabling (two wires (L+R channels) + ground) and put the volume pot between your PC's audio output (3.5mm jack) and your amplifier's input.

Have a look at this thread where I posted some pics with examples:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=72178.0