43 replies to this topic

[johnnyyogurt]

Wow, Brad this is incredible. I remember reading years ago about your original Pinmame-hw babypac project, glad you brought it back and are providing this information. I have a populated Granny and the Gators playfield that maybe I can use this info to get a working game out of it. Thanks again!

[brado426]

Looks like the old link expired.  Here's an updated link to the PinMAMW-HW software and source code:

https://drive.google...iew?usp=sharing

To completely replace all Baby Pacman electronics, you need:

1. Ultimarc Ultimate I/O Board for handling input switches and lamps
2. Ultimarc Pac DRIVE board for handling the 9 solenoids.
3. Custom Solenoid Driver board (custom board that drives the 48V to the solenoids) Schematics and Eagle files included.
4. DUPONT patch cables.... lots of them.

This requires that you totally hack the playfield LED and switch wiring. You would need to wire one wire per LED and one wire per switch. This is a major disadvantage of doing this.

This PinMAME also has a hack in it so that the high scores get saved (for Baby Pacman) even if you power off the computer without exiting/shutting down the OS.

To run PinMAME with support for the Ultimate IO and PacDrive, the command line looks like this:

pinmame babypac -ultimateio -joystick -dmd_only -scanlines -skip_gameinfo

Here's a few important notes to consider when doing this project that I learned along the way:

1. Be sure to install the Ultimate IO Gamepad firmware. You should use Gamepad inputs (not keyboard inputs) for all switches that may be constantly on (ie: the outholes and targets) Otherwise, you'll be fighting for keyboard control when trying to perform maintenance.

2. Be sure the PacDrive, Solenoid driver board and Ultimate I/O have a common ground. Otherwise, the coils will not get fired. The PacDrive does not have an output for ground, so just solder a wire to the top of the USB port and connect it to ground. That will fix it.

3. Ensure you never short any switches to any solenoid wires. Do whatever you need to do to ensure they are far away from each other. You will definitely blow out your Ultimate I/O board that way. I blew out a couple before I was done. 

4. You can use any Windows PC, but I'm using a little solid-state MINIX box. I'm sure there are better alternatives in 2023.

5. Do NOT attempt to trigger the solenoid driver board with the Ultimate I/O directly. At first, I had the bright idea to just use extra outputs on the Ultimate I/O board to drive the solenoid driver board. This may appear to work at first, but will eventually cause your Ultimate I/O board to fail because of the dimmable LED outputs. Coils do not behave well with dimmable LED outputs. 

 

https://youtu.be/4Yuk4nGWcgU

[COY]

Fantastic ! Thanks

[bossgp]

hey Brado426

did you ever modify this to handle up to 32 solenoids so to use on a different game ?would like to try this