Wiring two joysticks together?

[SephYuyX]

I just realised I made an oversight when planning for the parts I need for my CP. I plan to have 3 joysticks (2 players and one for 4 way games), and was going to use IPAC2, but then I realized IPAC2 only has room for two joysticks (keep in mind all the button slots are taken), duh, what was I thinking.

So I thought since one would never use one player 8 way and the 4 way at the same time (correct?), why not wire them together?

Would this be a passable idea?

[Bobulus]

It should work, as long as you don't jostle the 8ways while using the 4way.

Alternately, all the ipac inputs are the same; You could just wire the way to something else, like those 1A 1B 2A 2B connections at the bottom.

edit: Oh, you said all the buttons spots are taken. Yeah, I'd just wire both to player 1 or something.

[unclet]

I wired my 4-way joystick to my 8-way joystick.  Just as long as no one moved the 4-way joystick while playing a game then you should be fine.   Never happened to me, so it seems to work fine.

[Scotty]

I have done it as well.  Works fine.

[tommyinajar]

You could also wire a 2 way switch and wire the grounds to it so either the 4 way or the 8 way would be grounded, if you want to have no chance of bumping it.

[Thenasty]

or just configure your player 1 8-way to be 4-way via configuring MAME not to acccept the corners. But then its all about the feel of the true 4-way you'll be loosing. 

[cnsf]

I did the same on my cab and it works fine.  The 4 way and 8 way both are wired to the same opsitions on the IPAC.  see www notrica com/arcade/cpanel.shtml