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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Jack Burton on December 13, 2007, 01:56:09 pm

Title: device for making pcb project boxes easier?
Post by: Jack Burton on December 13, 2007, 01:56:09 pm
I'm not sure how to word this, but I'll give it a try.

I'm looking for something that I can use to make project boxes for my controls for my cab.  This means that I run all the controls to a db 15 or 25 connector.   Then I make a project box from a PSX pcb and run the controls from the pcb to another db 15 or 25 connector.  I connect them together and I have psx controls.  I then make another box like the psx one for PC controls, another for Dreamcast, another for Xbox, and so on. 

My question is this:  Are there any premade devices that make this easier?  Something like the I-pac where you just insert the wires into the terminals then use a screwdriver to tighten it down, then it runs the controls to the already soldered on DB connector? 

Something like this would be really cool and would save me a lot of time and effort.
Title: Re: device for making pcb project boxes easier?
Post by: bfauska on December 13, 2007, 04:07:27 pm
I don't know of any products that do what you are asking, but maybe I can clarify what you are looking for (if I understand it right.) I think it would be best described as an encoder for an xbox or dreamcast or psx rather than a keyboard encoder. OR are you looking to control a computer with the above mentioned controls? In which case you would need a converter of sorts, so that it would convert the outputs of the console controller to interface with the computer. I don't think either version exists off-the-shelf, but they may be something that you could created with careful wiring and planning. I think the analog controls would give you the most trouble.
Title: Re: device for making pcb project boxes easier?
Post by: Jack Burton on December 13, 2007, 04:23:13 pm
I think I found it myself.

http://winford.com/products/brk15.php

What do you think?
Title: Re: device for making pcb project boxes easier?
Post by: shardian on December 13, 2007, 04:34:25 pm
The price point of that is really the deal breaker. You would need two of them to do a 2p panel, which would increase the cost of your enclosure more than $30.

The DB-15 connectors you can buy are made in a way that you can lay your wire in the cup like area and just lay the solder to it.
(http://fredgolden.net/mame/images/ipac_box3.JPG)

It wouldn't take but a few minutes to solder all your wires into this badboy. Then you can mount it, and cut the wires back to length to screw into your IPAC.
Title: Re: device for making pcb project boxes easier?
Post by: ahofle on December 13, 2007, 05:17:10 pm
Wouldn't it be easier to just get a long DB15 or DB25 cable and cut off one end??
Title: Re: device for making pcb project boxes easier?
Post by: quadmasta on December 14, 2007, 07:55:58 pm
Easier, no.  Possible, yes.

Most DB25s have all the grounds jumped together at the connector meaning there's only something like 6 wires running through the cable itself.