Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: endrien on August 24, 2009, 08:52:48 pm
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Just got one for that purpose, is it good for hacking to use for controls? If so is there a decent guide that works with it?
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/pc_gaming/gamepads/devices/301&cl=US,EN
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With the encoders on the market now so cheap - and software to program them I just don't get wantong to hack a joystick or KB?
I would keep the game pad intact and use it for NES/SNES emu.
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Because I don't want to wait for a encoder to get here and I'm bored.
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never hacked one, probably not very hard.
i assume you have basic tools.. a soldering iron.. some solder, some desoldering braid is also handy to have although may not be necessary for this particular project.[
a multimeter is also very helpful although not strictly necessary.
some wire, also a little bit of sand paper can be useful for cleaning contacts or removing PCB lacquer to tap into traces.
rubbing alcohol.
dont rush man.. it's good to want to get things done but it can get you into trouble.
btw what is your porjoject exactly? just controls or are you trying to convert a cab? or build one?
EDIT: @ miles2912
keyboard hacks are alot of work and rarely equal gain.
game pad hacks on teh other hand are'nt a bad way to go if price is a concern..
although it's hard to beat the functionality of the purpose built keyboard encoders they still are'nt cheap enough ot match a gamepad hack.. all 3 options are a matter of the amount of time, money, and work you are willing ot put into them.. all 3 have their pro's and cons
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Its a tekken 3 cab to mame. I have all those tools and some, I know how to solder pretty well and I've done my fair share of mods and etc.
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I hacked one of those for a 1 player box I built a while back. There is the thread with pictures. http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=78297.msg816690#msg816690 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=78297.msg816690#msg816690). None of the main buttons or dpad share a common ground other than that it was pretty simple. I'm okay with a soldering iron certainly not great.
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Greaattttt, that means I have to rewire the ground on all my buttons?
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Greaattttt, that means I have to rewire the ground on all my buttons?
Yup
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Atleast I have something to do today I guess haha.
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Not all of them. The four shoulder buttons and start and select share a common ground.
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There was a version of the Dual Strike hack I read about that came up with a way to get a common ground for all buttons. I can't remember what he did, but I remember wishing I had read that before I started cause it was very simple. You might search the board for Dual Strike hacks to see if you can find the easy way to wire it up. If not, you just have to make sure you get the right ground for each control (not that hard, just a bit more work).
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how muich did you pay for it?
take it back to the store before you hack it..
i know you're in a hurry i again suggest the keywiz as well.
but if you wanna go with a gamepad hack i've bought 4 of these off ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370227266989
im in ohio it took like 3 days to get to me from new jersey.
they are extremely easy to hack.
2 pads for 10 bucks to your door.. kinda hard to beat that.
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Paid like 10$ for it, I have it hacked already(Did it today, wouldn't recommend it to anyone who doesn't like soldering...)
Money isn't much of an issue, I'll order keywiz in a little bit when I get paid, but where do you get the 5v etc for keywiz?
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On a standard pc molex connector one rail is 12v and the other 5v.
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I did one of these.... let me rephrase... I ATTEMPTED to do one of these as my first hack ever and it was a chore. I didnt know that the grounds were different for several of the inputs so I had quite a mess.
I highly reccomend a game pad that GGG sells... or a cheapo one from Deal Extreme if you can wait 2 weeks. There are pics/instructions around here. The GGG one is a single ground for all inputs. very nice.
joe
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On a standard pc molex connector one rail is 12v and the other 5v.
I'm using a laptop....
I did one of these.... let me rephrase... I ATTEMPTED to do one of these as my first hack ever and it was a chore. I didnt know that the grounds were different for several of the inputs so I had quite a mess.
I highly reccomend a game pad that GGG sells... or a cheapo one from Deal Extreme if you can wait 2 weeks. There are pics/instructions around here. The GGG one is a single ground for all inputs. very nice.
joe
The Logitech pad is fairly easy if you know your stuff, I traced the buttons to there easier to solder counterparts and some of the buttons DO share a common ground. Alot of it is following traces.
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you can tap usb for 5v
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Ahh I should have thought of that. I need a way to power the coin door lights as well......
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can draw about 500ma ( or 1/2 amp) from usb, i dunno if that would be enough for everything.
if you switch the coin door lights over to LED you should be ok.
otherwise im not sure.
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Would they blow if I ran them off outlet power alongside my marquee light?
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yes most bulbs used in coin doors are for 5,6,12,14,16 volt DC, depending on which ones you use.
you can't just wire them up to AC.
usually they are ran off the games power supply which would have +5, -5, and +12volt lines.