Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Bones on May 21, 2005, 09:57:30 pm
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Question out of curiosity only....
Why bother have a (arcade) microswitch with a NC function?? What would be a practical example of choosing to wire to a switch to a NC connection?
For what we all do I can think of no reason!
???
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For starters...
These switches are not specifically arcade microswitches, and have many uses outside our beloved hobby.
Secondly...
There are actually switches out there that do NOT include the NC connection.
As far as our use for it...
You're right, there really isn't one.
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For my project I have actually been supplied the type that don't have the NC connection.
I suppose at the heart of my question I am left wondering why these are not more common for us folks if in fact there is no disadvantages.
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Simple, because they're not Cherry! :P
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NC connections are used for dead-man switches on back doors. Rig a switch so that when the back door is on, the switch is closed. Remove the door, the switch goes open. If the switch goes open, kill power to the game. Stops people from poking around inside and getting hurt I suppose.
Usually those switches have a pull-out toggle of some kind that closes the switch while the door is open, but you have to know to pull it out.
--- saint
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NC also works great for connecting microswitches to the coin drop on CoinCo coin doors, where they press against the metal or plastic reject lever on the coin mech (activated by the plastic "pork chop" on the door frame). This way you can connect up a credit bypass switch where no holes are made in the door/cabinet. Just press the reject and it opens the NC and activates it. WOuld be hard to connect a microswitch any other way to such a door.
And as others have said... microswitches are used in many other areas than arcade... so NC is a required option.
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I'd tend to think it's more cost efficient to make a switch with both contacts. Doing so saves Cherry the cost of manufacturing both types, it saves the distributors the costs associated with stocking two different versions, it also saves field service techs time and money when they show up to fix something only to find out they needed the other type.
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I'd tend to think it's more cost efficient to make a switch with both contacts.
Bingo. No retooling, only one production line. Probably an extra $0.01 to manufacture but no extra employees/machines/stock/confusion.
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Yeah, that makes good sense.
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Here's one use for them in our hobby: http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/encoder/nocodeload.htm