9 replies to this topic

[grinch11]

I've seen bits and pieces of wiring possibilities in threads and youtube.
Can anyone point me to a detailed internal wiring diagram using buttons and the e.g. ipac controller or other?
I think I want to attempt making a cabinet, but this is the step I'm most worried about. Looks complicated.
Thanks, and if a thread of that exists, then could you post it in a response?

[powerchisper]

Don't worry Grinch , I am a proffesional wiring electrician ( cableador ) , and I work wiring huge electrical panels for the industry.
Those devices are really easy to wire , tell me what kind of interface you have , I can give you plenty of tips.

What I don't know very well is how people connect three screens , as most pc video cards only accept two.



Here is a picture of one of my joysticks , using GPWIZ , and two home made rotary joysticks.It is still a little bit sloppy , i'll have to finish the wiring.

You just ask me what you need , it is different to wire a keyboard encoder or a pad encoder , but they're all alike.Just tell me the model and the buttons you have to connect.

http://s917.photobuc...s_Powerchisper/

Here's the link for the album , if you want to see it. There's some schematics I made for a friend's real pinball machine, too.

[Joe]

Don't worry Grinch , I am a proffesional wiring electrician ( cableador ) , and I work wiring huge electrical panels for the industry.
Those devices are really easy to wire , tell me what kind of interface you have , I can give you plenty of tips.

What I don't know very well is how people connect three screens , as most pc video cards only accept two.



Here is a picture of one of my joysticks , using GPWIZ , and two home made rotary joysticks.It is still a little bit sloppy , i'll have to finish the wiring.

You can put 2 cards in or use Display port screens that let you have more then 2 off 1 video card.

[grinch11]

powerchisper

That certainly does look impressive and yeah really sloppy
That is a MAME cabinet wiring job, correct?

I am in the early planning stages for a poss pincab, but do not have any stuff yet.
Was thinking about the ipac with buttons that most people have.
I've just never really wired anything.
Are there wired connectors that you don't need to solder or is that the best way?
I don't have a button to ipac connection diagram, but maybe that comes with the ipac.

In my simple thought process it would work something like this, but please correct me (seems to go along with your photo, somewhat):

Connecting the two side prongs to wires and then to the ipac for the diff buttons (not sure how the wires connect directly to ipac)
Then the ipac connects via USB to the computer (i can do that) and you program it somehow.
I suppose you connect nudge devices in a similar way.
Some type of ground must be employed so you don't electrocute yourself, but not sure how.
It would be bad to get it all setup and go to play and then get shocked or blow everything up . . .

If I couldn't get that to work was poss thinking about just trying a computer with 2 screens and a regular keyboard, an Xbox360 controller
reprogrammed or the Nanotech thing, but most board posts seem to discourage the Nanotech device

Thanks,
- grinch11

[pinball buzz]

Hi Grinch,
I use an ipac in my cab - the wiring is not too complex.
The connectors you use are solderless crimps, which connect to the 2 lugs on the buttons.
A wiring harness comes with the ipac - this has a block connector on one end which plugs into the ipac board the other ends are all individual bare wires, ready to accept the female crimp connectors. The wiring harness has say 15 black neutral grounds daisy chained for you, plus say 15 individual coloured live wires. Each button you have requires 1 black plus one "live"
You then use a program supplied to assign keys to buttons.

Hope this makes thing a bit clearer.
Cheers Pinball Buzz

[turnedmyworld]

If your really worried about wiring go for one of these:

http://www.xgaming.c...arcade-usb-ps2/

It comes with all the wires labeled and they plug into the board. For the buttons you just slide the wire onto the switches. The board is completely programmable as well. You just switch it into program mode, hold down the button you want to program and push the key on the keyboard you want that button to be. Once the light on the board flashes let go and the button is now whatever you set it to. I like it because its quick and easy. The boards connects through USB and the computer recognizes it as a USB keyboard. So say your flipper buttons are programmed to "A" and "L", if you open up notpad and push your flipper buttons it types those letters. I just go mine in the mail today and was able to hook up all the buttons and program it in less than 5 min. To me it is just as good as a keyboard encoder at half the price.

[grinch11]

Thanks!

[powerchisper]

Anyway , for a Pinball cabinet you don't need that amount of digital inputs.

I have GPwiz working ( I don't have an actual cab but I play FS ) with no problems , it just needs Joy2Key .It is much cheaper.

Another issue I'm not sure about is the analog axis support for the plunger. I can't see such an option in the VP menus , but I have seen people with analog plungers.

In that case , I think Ipac is better.Can't remember but I thing it supports analog axis too.

About the wiring you don't have to worry.Go getting some thin wire ( 0,5 square mm ) and faston terminals ( you can buy them for crimp or solder ).
As soon as you get the device I'll help you to connect it.

[powerchisper]

Anyway , for a Pinball cabinet you don't need that amount of digital inputs.

I have GPwiz working ( I don't have an actual cab but I play FS ) with no problems , it just needs Joy2Key .It is much cheaper.

Another issue I'm not sure about is the analog axis support for the plunger. I can't see such an option in the VP menus , but I have seen people with analog plungers.

In that case , I think Ipac is better.Can't remember but I thing it supports analog axis too.

About the wiring you don't have to worry.Go getting some thin wire ( 0,5 square mm ) and faston terminals ( you can buy them for crimp or solder ).
As soon as you get the device I'll help you to connect it.

[grinch11]

I'm about to get started with ordering stuff for my cab.
Found this helpful link with pix (MAME) which applies to Pincabs too, I suppose.

http://www.arcadecab..._Wiring_CP.html