The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: acvieluf on January 27, 2016, 08:31:55 pm
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I ordered a wiring kit with my controls, from The Playdium Store, but I think something is off. I remember reading that the ground wires should be a thicker gauge than the other wires. But in the kit I got, they're all the same thickness.
I can find (and have found) what the gauge rating should be, but will it hurt if the grounds are thicker? (Assuming they're not daisy chained. Is it different if they are?)
Here's a picture:
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/8c4e5f646097302a187c5bedfd9cc9f8.jpg)
Sent from my Atari 2600
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Should be fine. I don't use thicker wire for grounds. A lot of people have used Ethernet cables for CPs and those conductors are tiny compared to what you have there.
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AWESOME! THANKS!
Sent from my Atari 2600
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I don't think I have ever heard that bit of advice before. Wires for power (including power ground) are usually thicker, but not controls.
I don't often see folks getting their gear from Playdium Store -- are you here in the big smoke?
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I'm sorry, what's the big smoke?
Sent from my Atari 2600
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I'm sorry, what's the big smoke?
Sorry -- Toronto. Probably means you aren't here.
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Nope. Nova Scotia.
Sent from my Atari 2600
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So you're saying I should follow what I've read, and use thicker wires for ground?
Sent from my Atari 2600
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So you're saying I should follow what I've read, and use thicker wires for ground?
No -- I'm saying I have never heard that advice for connecting controls and never seen an example of it in any cab I have ever seen.
The rest was just me trying to figure out what somebody might have said that ended up with the interpretation you cite.
Hook up with what you have -- you'll be fine.
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Oh OK, sorry for my confusion. Thanks again.
Sent from my Atari 2600
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I have that effect on people. ;)
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One more question about wiring it up, if i may. I noticed the ipac only has one (two? i can't remember at the moment) place for a ground. If i'm not daisy chaining them, where would i run all of the ground wires to? Is there a common solution to this? It seems like running 23 or so wires to a metal screw would get too crowded to work?
What to the experts usually do?
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What to the experts usually do?
They daisy chain the ground. Just buy a $7 JAMMA loom off of ebay and cut the connector off. BAM, instant wiring kit with daisy chained grounds and bonus, all the wires have QCs on the end.
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Why wouldn't you daisy chain the ground?
Malenko ' s advice is sound.
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Why wouldn't you daisy chain the ground?
Malenko ' s advice is sound.
Well, i didn't think i could. But i realized (after you two's prodding) that there's no reason i couldn't just construct my own daisy chain, using the wiring i already have. Because you're right, there's really no reason not to. The $7 Jamma harness isn't necessary, and it ends up being close to $40 CAD by the time it gets to my door. But thats ok. I'll make one and work it out that way. Thanks again, guys.
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The $7 Jamma harness isn't necessary, and it ends up being close to $40 CAD by the time it gets to my door.
if you get one from China its about $12CAD but you have to wait. If youre going to make your own that's even better , just put 2 wires into the QC before you crimp it down. Its easy but tedious work.I stopped crimping my own lines and just get the cheap ebay looms because the edge connectors on those are garbage but I don't use the edge connector anyway.
You could just strip and twist all the ground ends together and put a wire nut on it, looks like ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- but is just as functional.
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I used to roll my own too. But save yourself the time and just get a pre done daisy chain for future projects. Your hands and your sanity will thank you for it. The cheap Chinese harnesses are great for everything but the power wires. Stay away from those power wires. I actually had some melt on me in Janky Kong.