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A lot of noob questions
Sig00:
Hey everyone!
I'll be starting on my first arcade build soon (hopefully sometime this month?), but I have a bunch of questions that I'm unsure about. I currently have the second edition of Project Arcade Build Your Own Arcade which I'm referencing, and plenty of threads on this forum. But I'm still unsure about quite a few things so I was wondering if a few of you could help me out.
The basic layout of my cabinet will be a 2 player control panel hooked up to a 32" LCD TV. All of the buttons will be LED along with the joysticks I will be using. I will have a total of about 26 buttons, 2 joysticks, and a trackball. I may want to add a spinner and possibly a third joystick in later, so I want to make sure that my iPac will be big enough to support that. Next, I will be using two car speakers that I have laying around. If I'm not mistaken I need an amplifier and a separate power supply for this?
1. Which iPac will I need, the iPac 2, or iPac 4? Or is there something better currently out there?
2. Is it possible to hack my computer power supply to power my car stereo speakers?
3. Can I just power all of my LED buttons and LED joysticks and illuminated trackball by using my computer power supply?
4. Where can I find a cheap amplifier for my car speakers that will get the job done?
5. Is there any suggestions on where to buy the wiring I'll need to wire the control panel?
6. Anything else I'm just totally not thinking of?
I'm sure I'll have plenty of more questions soon! Thanks for the help everyone, and I'm sorry for all the questions! I've been researching on my free time between work and life but that never seems to be enough time right?
jdbailey1206:
Sig-
Remember there are no stupid questions. Just the stupidity you'll feel if you didn't ask them and you screwed yourself for not asking.
1) iPac 2 is good for 2 player set ups. While the iPac4 is good for 4 player set ups.
2) http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=118031.0
3) http://www.ultimarc.com/pacled64.html
4) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-2CH-Mini-Audio-Digital-Power-Stereo-Amplifier-AMP-/360668006787?_trksid=p3284.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D21%26pmod%3D360618159630%26ps%3D54
Damn that one has a USB charger. Wish I would have found that one for me. :lol
5) http://www.ultimarc.com/JShopServer/section.php?xSec=2 Make sure you get the right connectors for the buttons you get. I did not. Had to reorder. Good thing my buddy is an electrician. The wrong ones I ordered moved quick.
6) Yes. There will be things that you totally get blindsided by. That's why everyone is here. And remember this is a labor of love. It will take time and don't get aggravated. There are some who will put out a better product than you but if you have patience and perseverance it will all work out. Good luck and check the forums constantly. There is probably someone who had the same problem before you and has solved it.
Lastly, Welcome to the forums!
Brian74:
I still ask tons of questions. I get stuck or fustrated, I just move on to one of my other projects. think about what games you wanna play the most and concentrate on those controls. Ask tons of questions, measure twice cut once and you should be good to go.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2
Sig00:
Thanks for the help guys!
@jdbailey
1.) I know iPac 2 is good for two players, but I just wasn't sure if it would be able to fit all three joysticks, the spinner, trackball, and all those buttons. If it will then thats awesome! :)
2.) Thanks, I'll look more into that thread tonight when I have time.
3.) If I'm not planning on controlling the brightness or making any cool effects with the lighting, is it possible to do it without a dedicated LED controller? the PacLED is 60 USD which I'd rather not fork out if possible, as I'm trying to save as much money as possible for college next fall.
4.) That one looks great, it's just an amplifier so I'll still need to either get a dedicated power supply or hack my computer power supply right?
5.) Thanks, I looked at those but wasn't quite sure if that's what I needed. :)
PL1:
--- Quote from: Sig00 on June 14, 2013, 04:31:45 pm ---1.) I know iPac 2 is good for two players, but I just wasn't sure if it would be able to fit all three joysticks, the spinner, trackball, and all those buttons. If it will then thats awesome! :)
--- End quote ---
The IPac won't allow you to connect the spinner and trackball (optical inputs), only the buttons and joysticks. (digital inputs)
Not sure how you came up with 26 buttons, but you can add up the inputs you need:
Each button = 1 input
Each 4-way or 8-way joystick = 4 inputs
3 joysticks = 12 inputs, leaving 20 inputs on an IPac2
Can you be more specific about what you had in mind for the 26 buttons you mentioned in the OP? (sounds a bit excessive)
--- Quote from: Sig00 on June 14, 2013, 04:31:45 pm ---3.) If I'm not planning on controlling the brightness or making any cool effects with the lighting, is it possible to do it without a dedicated LED controller? the PacLED is 60 USD which I'd rather not fork out if possible, as I'm trying to save as much money as possible for college next fall.
--- End quote ---
Always-on single color LED buttons like these don't require a controller and are easy to wire with simple .25" daisy chains for power and ground. (pic shows only the LED wiring)
Protip: Use 12v LEDs powered by 5v to lower the current draw.
Also check if the LED buttons you're considering are good for player buttons -- I've tried some that ROYALLY SUCK as player buttons, but work perfectly as admin buttons. YMMV.
Scott
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