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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: santiago on March 22, 2012, 12:18:19 pm

Title: Question about joystick quality (platinum contact?)
Post by: santiago on March 22, 2012, 12:18:19 pm
Hi! First, I'd like to apologise for my basic english.

This is my first time building an arcade cabinet (actualliy, just the control panel first) and here in Argentina are this joysticks (I don't know the english word, in spanish is 'palanca') that claims to have 'platinum contacts' (around 8 USD) instead of microswitch (20 USD). Is it better or worse?

EDIT: Brand: 'Asahi seiko'

Here are the pics:

(http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/237/pict1220z.jpg)

And here are some more pics: link (http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.ar/MLA-142556007-joystick-palancas-importadas-asahi-contacto-de-platino--_JM)
Thanks a lot !
Title: Re: Question about joystick quality (platinum contact?)
Post by: yotsuya on March 22, 2012, 01:59:20 pm
Those look like leaf-style joysticks.
Title: Re: Question about joystick quality (platinum contact?)
Post by: D_Harris on March 22, 2012, 05:36:01 pm
Those are interesting looking leaf-switch joysticks, and obviously they are claiming that the leaf-switches are platinum coated.

I don't know if that's true or not, but unless there is a longevity advantage then I assume that using Platinum in amounts enough to coat the leaf contacts would be more expensive than just gold or nickle plated contacts.

How would you confirm that they are really plating with Platinum?

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
Title: Re: Question about joystick quality (platinum contact?)
Post by: brad808 on March 22, 2012, 05:53:05 pm

How would you confirm that they are really plating with Platinum?



... if all the rappers start buying them for their mame cabs instead of those whack gold contact joysticks then we know they are platinum  :laugh:
Title: Re: Question about joystick quality (platinum contact?)
Post by: ark_ader on March 22, 2012, 05:53:54 pm

How would you confirm that they are really plating with Platinum?



... if all the rappers start buying them for their mame cabs instead of those whack gold contact joysticks then we know they are platinum  :laugh:

 :laugh2: :laugh2:
Title: Re: Question about joystick quality (platinum contact?)
Post by: SavannahLion on March 22, 2012, 06:02:34 pm
It'd be interesting to see them by themselves. The link isn't working for me though  ???
Title: Re: Question about joystick quality (platinum contact?)
Post by: santiago on March 22, 2012, 07:29:29 pm
It'd be interesting to see them by themselves. The link isn't working for me though  ???

 :-\ the link works for me. It's from an ebay-like page.

Those are interesting looking leaf-switch joysticks, and obviously they are claiming that the leaf-switches are platinum coated.

I don't know if that's true or not, but unless there is a longevity advantage then I assume that using Platinum in amounts enough to coat the leaf contacts would be more expensive than just gold or nickle plated contacts.

How would you confirm that they are really plating with Platinum?

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

Are there any advantages or disadvantages on the leaf contacts? They are a lot cheaper.
I have no idea on how to confirm the Platinum...

EDIT: Reading on the main page (not the forum), seems to be that leaf contacts feel better. I think I'm gonna try those

Here's a bottom pic

(http://bimg1.mlstatic.com/s_MLA_v_F_f_134893934_9126.jpg)
Title: Re: Question about joystick quality (platinum contact?)
Post by: SavannahLion on March 22, 2012, 07:54:53 pm
Many of the early arcade cabs used leafs and some arcade purists will swear by them in preference over Cherries. It really depends on what you grew up with or how you feel games should be experienced. How these compare to the originals? Can't say. How I feel about it? I haven't formulated an opinion one way or the other yet. I would like the option of leafs but it's not always availabe to me.

As for the platinum? It's an exceedingly expensive metal though it is used in electrical applications, sometimes. For $8 and being cheaper than the Cherries?  I say to assume they're not platinum at all. Best you would expect are plated switches.
Title: Re: Question about joystick quality (platinum contact?)
Post by: santiago on March 22, 2012, 08:07:52 pm
As for the platinum? It's an exceedingly expensive metal though it is used in electrical applications, sometimes. For $8 and being cheaper than the Cherries?  I say to assume they're not platinum at all. Best you would expect are plated switches.

Yeah, you're right... But I'll give them a try. Thanks for all the help !