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First timer, could use a few tips...
Ayrk:
--- Quote from: Stobe on June 13, 2007, 08:51:03 am ---If you fear the wiring a little more than the woodworking, then you'll be just fine. You'll look back at this post some day and say "what was I so worried about, that was simple!"
-Stobe
--- End quote ---
I second this. All the wiring is is literally sliding the quick connect over one plug and sliging the other end over another. If you go with the minipac, you can even get the wiring harness already made for you and color coded to boot.
The best thing about the wiring is that it really impresses people when you say "Yeah, I had to wire all of this up myself." They will think you are a genius.
javeryh:
--- Quote from: Stobe on June 13, 2007, 08:51:03 am ---If you fear the wiring a little more than the woodworking, then you'll be just fine. You'll look back at this post some day and say "what was I so worried about, that was simple!"
-Stobe
--- End quote ---
I third this. If you think the woodworking is going to be easier than the wiring definitely go for it and build your own. I was in the same boat once and I can't believe how easy it is to wire up the controls. Plus you can customize the control panel so it is exactly how you want it to be. You will learn a ton too!
Welcome! :cheers:
unclet:
Please do not let wiring your control panel stop you from doing the control panel yourself. It is extremely easy to do. If you can strip two ends of a length of wire and press a quick disconnect to one end of that striped wire, then that is pretty much the skills you will need. Everything else is simply connecting the quick disconnect to the push button switch (just push it on) and the other end of the wire you put into a keyboard encoder terminal block (ie: put the wire into a hole and tighten a screw to hold the wire in place).
Do you know what a "quick disconnect" or "terminal block" is actually? Perhaps the verbage has you stumped?
My 10 year old can wire on the control panel, so I am sure you can do it.
My most important points are the following:
1) You most likely would be much more pleased with the final control panel if you cut everything yourself and then wired it up yourself as well.
2) If a wire comes loose, you will immediately understand how to fix it with no problem at all, instead of calling X-Arcade for help.
3) After understanding basic wiring (and I do mean "basic"), you will then be able to understand how to include other hardware to your cabinet at a later time (spinner, trackball, 49-way joysticks, etc....) since you will understand what the wires actually "do" for the cabinet.
I remember feeling the same way when I started thinking whether I could build a cabinet. There was just so much information overload going through my head, it was a challenge to keep everything straight. Although when you break it down into manageable pieces, it became quite do-able and much more exciting thinking that I could actually build this thing myself. The feeling is kind of similiar as to how my friends feel when they come over and see my finished cabinet today. They just stand there with disbelief that I could have built something like this, when in reality it is quite simple, especially with the help of people in this forum.
Do it yourself ...... so much more enjoyable (in my opinion) then ordering a control panel which is fully configured.
GAtekwriter:
But let's be a little honest about the book - I own it and am referencing it as I build my own BUT BUT BUT
It doesn't cover wiring. It shows the parts you'll need and mentions soldering and how circuits open and close, but when it comes to actually showing you how to wire the CP, you'll have to look elsewhere. But there's good news... there are so many examples of CP wiring here and on the Internet that this shouldn't be an issue.
I just wanted to issue the warning that if you thought the book would step you through every part of the cab and CP build, it will not.
Jim
dcsipe:
Wow, thanks everyone! You have definitely helped to slay any fears I'm having with wiring. Never having done this before and looking of pictures of the bottoms of custom CP's and seeing the mass of wires is what was throwing me. Hearing that it's not that bad from the lot of you has definitely swayed my decision from buying a pre-built CP to building my own now.
Stobe - thanks for the info on the book. I had a feeling that it wouldn't give me 100%, good to know that I was right. I feel that I've found enough resources now on my wiring and the cabinet build to get started in the near future.
Though this is my first post on this forum, it's really great to see that responses are helpful and quick!
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