In over my head, need major help to finish or salvage control panel project

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Hey folks -

I've been piecing together a cab for the last several years, but I've always wanted a 4 player control panel with dynamic colored buttons, so I decided to undertake a major project. I don't have the woodworking skills to build my own, so I dropped a ton of money on a kit from Monster Arcades and spent double that on parts from ultimarc.

I knew that the standard length connector wires wouldn't be long enough, so I bought a couple extension packs, assuming I could connect them to the existing wires coming from the harness connected to the pcb and go from there. Unfortunately, they don't connect, and the intention is to just replace the wires in the harness with the longer ones.

Two problems here: 1) I don't have the skills to do that, and 2) the wires still don't reach all of my buttons.

I looked for adapters online, and it appears my only option is cutting and crimping my own wires, something I do not have any idea how to do, and even if did learn, I lack the skill to do it properly.

Basically, I need to know if there's a solution to this problem that is available to an unskilled moron, or otherwise, if there is anyone who would be interested in buying the parts off me. I have:

31 goldleaf rgb buttons
4 black goldleaf buttons
Trackball
4 j-stiks
2 spinners with tops
Ipac ultimate io
PacLed64
OptiPAC
And a huge 4-player control panel that is really high quality and looks great.

I spent $600 on the panel and about $1200 on components because I'm an ---uvula---. If I could get 40 cents on the dollar for stuff, I'd strongly consider it.

[Mike A]

Well. This is probably too far after the fact, but it doesn't seem like you have the tools or skills to do this.
Unless you can find someone to help you out locally, you should return what you can and
cut your losses.

If you live anywhere near McHenry county in Illinois, I could take a look at what you are dealing with.

[Xiaou2]

Hey folks -

I've been piecing together a cab for the last several years, but I've always wanted a 4 player control panel with dynamic colored buttons, so I decided to undertake a major project. I don't have the woodworking skills to build my own, so I dropped a ton of money on a kit from Monster Arcades and spent double that on parts from ultimarc.

I knew that the standard length connector wires wouldn't be long enough, so I bought a couple extension packs, assuming I could connect them to the existing wires coming from the harness connected to the pcb and go from there. Unfortunately, they don't connect, and the intention is to just replace the wires in the harness with the longer ones.

Two problems here: 1) I don't have the skills to do that, and 2) the wires still don't reach all of my buttons.

I looked for adapters online, and it appears my only option is cutting and crimping my own wires, something I do not have any idea how to do, and even if did learn, I lack the skill to do it properly.

Basically, I need to know if there's a solution to this problem that is available to an unskilled moron, or otherwise, if there is anyone who would be interested in buying the parts off me. I have:

31 goldleaf rgb buttons
4 black goldleaf buttons
Trackball
4 j-stiks
2 spinners with tops
Ipac ultimate io
PacLed64
OptiPAC
And a huge 4-player control panel that is really high quality and looks great.

I spent $600 on the panel and about $1200 on components because I'm an ---uvula---. If I could get 40 cents on the dollar for stuff, I'd strongly consider it.

 Dude.. Come On.   It doesnt take much skill to soldier some wires together.

I think you are just too fearful to even Try.   Did you even look up a video on youtube, of how to soldier?   I learned that
skill in less than an hours time.

Practice on some Scrap Wire.   You could even get that scrap wire, from broken items that people throw away, on the side of the road.

After a few successful splices... Order the correct sized Heat-Shrink tubing.. and put everything together.


Also... I used to Manage an Arcade.. and let me tell you... most of the time I just soldiered wires directly to Microswitches, rather
than bothering with Crimping Wires.   Microswitches probably lasted over 5 years in a non-stop Arcade environment.
For home use... you might never wear them out.   But if you did.. its still just as easy to solder them off,  as it was to solder them on.

I actually preferred soldiering wires directly to the switches, because in the arcades, the constant vibrations, could eventually lead
to the connectors getting Loose, and falling off.

Now... that said, crimping isnt rocket science either.  You just need the crimping tool, and the correct sized connectors.

But splicing wires together, is pretty easy... and should never stop you from completing your cabinet.
Its also very useful to be able to do, for other potential future repairs.

[Zebidee]

Don't be discouraged. You just need some soldering skills. That stuff's easy, you don't even need to be clever.

Just visit your local hardware store and grab a cheap soldering iron, some solder (leaded, ~0.6mm flux core), some of that brass wool for cleaning the tip. Grab some of that flux that comes in a little tub too, dab it on problem joins, helps the iron burn hotter. Mmmmmm, flux....

You'll also want a wire stripper, small pliers, small wire cutter, some heat shrink in different sizes, and cheap hot air gun (for the heat shrink). That'll cover the basics.

Then practice, practice, practice. Eventually you'll remember to put the heat shrink on *BEFORE* soldering the wires together, lol.

Always take extra care when using the iron, easy to touch or grab the wrong part. First aid for burns is always running cold water for several minutes to start with, then ice. No lotions, but potions of booze are OK if not on other painkillers