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Atari Volcano buttons revisited (wiring & use)
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chiLLbiLLy:
Ok, I know these "how do you wire an Atari Volcano button?" posts pop up periodically and I've tried to assemble and process some of the information from previous posts, but I still want to make sure that I understand things, along with my options.  I also want to make sure I'm not relying on any outdated info, that might make a difference somehow.

Anyway, I've got a couple of Atari volcano buttons (with LED's), an IPAC and an LEDWIZ.  Using MAME, I pretty much just want to mimic their use on real arcade machines, which I know means that they will only light up for certain games (mostly the early Atari stuff, I believe).   Then, the pushbutton part should be able to be used as player 1 & 2 start on pretty much all games, if I'm not mistaken, as it's simply just another type of pushbutton.

My original thought was that you could simply wire the LED parts of the volcano buttons directly to the Num Lock/Caps Lock control ports on the IPAC (which may not even exist as such) and then the button controls would get wired directly to the player 1 & 2 start ports.  (I know there's also a third LED option that the IPAC & MAME are capable of, that being the Scroll Lock, but I believe it's only used in MAME for a 3rd player start button, which I'm not concerned with.)

Anyway, after reading, it appears that you cannot wire the LED's directly to the IPAC.  Please excuse my 3rd grade electrical/electronics knowledge, but it appears that each button needs to have an ohm resistor wired to them (either 220 or 330 - not sure which, but I think it depends on the rating on the volcano button) and also needs to be wired to a power source and a ground.  Does this sound right?

And here's where I get even fuzzier...I'm not clear on how the IPAC is actually going to control the LED's in those certain early Atari games (first coin in makes player 1 blink, etc.), unless it's already done through the previously mentioned connections.

Am I at least somewhat on target here?  Or would it make better sense to wire up the LED's to the LEDWIZ?  I figured this was a possibility, but then it wouldn't handle things like the original volcano buttons on old machines did.  It would just be straight ahead lighting control, like with regular player buttons (fire, etc.).  It would not blink for coin in, etc.

I guess volcano buttons are still not that widely used in this hobby, but I wish someone would have an easy "how-to" guide for wiring and their use/functionality. 

chiLL



SirPeale:

--- Quote from: chiLLbiLLy on January 20, 2009, 03:48:52 pm ---I guess volcano buttons are still not that widely used in this hobby, but I wish someone would have an easy "how-to" guide for wiring and their use/functionality. 
--- End quote ---

They're really expensive due to the fact they don't make them anymore.  You can still get the cones new (repros) but they haven't made the button assembly in years.
ghettodish:
button assemblies:

http://www.ram-controls.com/order-cones.html
CheffoJeffo:

--- Quote from: ghettodish on January 20, 2009, 09:58:15 pm ---button assemblies:

http://www.ram-controls.com/order-cones.html

--- End quote ---

Is David accepting orders again now ?
BASS!:
hmmm I guess by


11/23/08 - Online ordering system has been restored at RAM Controls.  Click here to place an order.
that means yes?
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