Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: bpjacobsen on February 15, 2018, 12:22:43 am

Title: Why does my joystick only work with my arcade box standing up on its side?
Post by: bpjacobsen on February 15, 2018, 12:22:43 am

So on my arcade box, I have one joystick. Problem is this: If I put the control box on it's side standing tallest part up, I can map the 4 points fine in a game (mame) and play it sideways. As soon as I place the arcade control panel down so it is In the correct position, the joystick stops working. The connection is not loose on the xin mo board. any ideas how the heck this would be happening? really frustrating as I can't play any joystick games. Why would a joystick only work when I stand the box on it's side? really really strange.

Title: Re: Why does my joystick only work with my arcade box standing up on its side?
Post by: Titchgamer on February 15, 2018, 02:21:36 am

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180215/875a021da6921273a7c607df5c2821d6.jpg)

Title: Re: Why does my joystick only work with my arcade box standing up on its side?
Post by: bperkins01 on February 15, 2018, 10:42:28 am

If it works on its side and none of the directions work when it is flat - then you have a loose ground wire either at the board or at the first connection point of the daisy chain on the joystick. You can't lose all 4 joystick inputs at once unless it is a bad ground connection.

Title: Re: Why does my joystick only work with my arcade box standing up on its side?
Post by: bpjacobsen on February 15, 2018, 09:11:27 pm

thanks! makes perfect sense. I will tighten up on all of them. (squeeze connectors a little with pliers) to ensure a tight connection.

Title: Re: Why does my joystick only work with my arcade box standing up on its side?
Post by: bpjacobsen on February 16, 2018, 01:17:35 am

Hmm, so I checked every ground plug and made sure they were all connected but still can't get it it to work. I just don't get it. Any other suggestions?

Title: Re: Why does my joystick only work with my arcade box standing up on its side?
Post by: UEDan on February 16, 2018, 02:53:17 am

Got a multi meter?
Start probing.

Don't forget to check from board to connector. Not a fan of header pins for something that needs to be reliable.

Title: Re: Why does my joystick only work with my arcade box standing up on its side?
Post by: bpjacobsen on February 16, 2018, 11:28:16 am

is it possible that a ground on another button could cause the joystick to not work or is it more likely that one of the four grounds for the joystick is the culprit? Remind me how do I test the ground with my multimeter? been a while.

Title: Re: Why does my joystick only work with my arcade box standing up on its side?
Post by: bperkins01 on February 16, 2018, 11:33:19 am

Most multi-meters have a setting (usually associated with the Ohms setting) that is a continuity tester..

so - if you touch both leads of the meter together - the meter beeps - meaning you have a valid circuit/connection.

I would clip one of the leads to the last connector on the daisy chain
then working your way one connector at a time, test for continuity at each connector.
You *should* get to a connector where the meter no longer beeps.
That segment is the one with the issue..

HTH

Title: Re: Why does my joystick only work with my arcade box standing up on its side?
Post by: Titchgamer on February 16, 2018, 12:45:53 pm

Because its working on its side I would not suspect its a electrical fault.
It generally cares not for direction :p

Have you visually checked the bottom of the stick when its lying down? Is the actuator sliding down the shaft or something so its not engaging the switches?

Title: Re: Why does my joystick only work with my arcade box standing up on its side?
Post by: bpjacobsen on February 18, 2018, 11:34:14 pm

OK, I'm an idiot. lol. So my issue was that I assembled it wrong. was missing the spacer. once I but that on now it works normal. much smoother too. sheesh!