Excellent Credit/Power "Button" Option

[FrizzleFried]

Someone in one of these threads casually pointed out these nifty little lock "switches" that Twisted Quarter has for sale a couple weeks back. I was intrigued... and since the price was right, I ordered 4 along with some standard locks and 20' of Blue T-Molding... my package arrived on Saturday.

This is what I am talking about:



http://www.twistedquarter.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=464

Basically, it's a momentary switch attached to a barrel type lock mechanism. Turn the key and you get a momentary contact in the switch... the switch fits in a coin door lock hole (with SLIGHT modification possibly required...I found Atari doors are a HAIR too small on the flat side of the hole to fit these in to requiring about 30 seconds of Dremmel work... though Williams coin doors were a tight fit, but it fit.). Please note that these DO NOT provide a lock for the door... only a switch (a switch and lock would ROCK, but I guess I can't ask for everything, eh?).

These make EXCELLENT "credit" switches for games that do not have a free-play mode. I managed to use all 4 of my switches this weekend. Here is what I used them for:

(1) Arachnid Super Six Darts. This game does not have a free-play mode... the best you can get is 12 credits per "quarter". I installed one of these rather than have to open the door and flick the switch to coin up.

(2) Pole Position/Pole Position II. We all know the FREE PLAY mode on Pole Positions suck ass... they basically go in to a constant "loop" coining up, running out of time, coining up, etc. I installed one of these switches in the coin door and now to coin-up, I twist the key.

(3) Multi-Pac. Most of the games on the 96-in-1 Multi-Pac is set to FREE PLAY, however, some of the non-Pac games require a coin-up... Mr. TNT, EYES, etc, seem to not have a FREE PLAY mode... this little switch rectifies that situation. Need a coin-up? Turn the key.

(4) Capcom 18-in-1 Multigame. This multi-game is great... you can even set each game for FREE PLAY. The problem is that the menu system the multigame uses requires a coin-up to CHANGE the game. Once the game you want to play is selected, you can play that game in FREE PLAY mode all you want, but if you want to change games again, you need to coin-up. Adding the switch makes it very easy to change games.

Now the negatives... the first being the switch isn't also a LOCK. That means that your coin doors will be un-secure... obviously not the best scenario for non-home use... but not so bad for home use. To prevent the doors just from opening up I added a bit of industrial velcro at the end of the door...slide it in to place and it stays secure unless you "want" it to open. The second "issue" I have is that these switches only "hold" the key in place during the "twist" action of the mechanism. Since it's a momentary switch, it's spring loaded and "pushes" the key back to it's original "open" position where the key can be removed. While the key DOES hang in there while in this position, it's a bit precarious... it doesn't make a ton of contact and I can see the key being "bumped" out of the key hole. Finally, it would be nice if the switch was also a lock... but you can't have everything I guess.

For the price, this is a helluva an option to those games without FREE PLAY mode. $2.99 is hard to beat. I think I am going to order a couple of their double bitted versions of this switch. They're $6.99 though, quite a bit more than this version...but I assume it would rectify the whole "loose key" issue this one has the potential of causing.



http://www.twistedquarter.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=462

EDIT:  I wrote this review for the MOMENTARY switches I picked up and posted it on KLOV.  I figured these little parts would make a GREAT option for MAMErz looking for a credit switch PLUS each type (barrel and double bitted) is available in both MOMENTARY and ON/OFF types.   The ON/OFF types would make an AWESOME on/off switch for a MAME cabinet.... and at the price asking,  sheesh,  it's a no-brainer.

[Ginsu Victim]

Thanks. I've considered something like this for my TAB settings, to keep people from changing stuff on my MAME cab. I may have to order a few of these.

[severdhed]

very cool switch.  i just have my coin reject buttons wired up as coin buttons, but this would also be a cool idea

[doctorhifi]

I have one of my coin reject buttons wired up as the power on/off switch and I also have one of these switch locks in line so I can disable the machine completely if the kids are "over spending" their play time.

[Ginsu Victim]

I also have one of these switch locks in line so I can disable the machine completely if the kids are "over spending" their play time.

Yeah, never thought of that. Just toss one of these on the ground wire of the Ipac and you can disable the whole machine if needed.

[severdhed]

i'm thinking it would make a better power switch than a coin switch..except it wont hold the coin door shut