My home built metal DDR pad (Part IV)

fr0zenxer0 · Trick Member Joined: 18 Oct 2003

I have a question. My CG metal pad circuit BOARD is TOTALLY screwed up. When i do song selection it scrolls my left arrow non stop. However in the difficulty selection the left arrow doesnt respond at all. So i decided to CHANGE the damaged circuit board. I'm rewiring the whole CG metal pad. To get things straight. Do i UNSOLDER the wires that are currently connected to the DAMAGED circuit board and unscrew and take out the circuit board from a ps2 controller and solder the corresponding arrow wires to the PS2 Controller circuit board? IF ANYONE has EVER done something like this please help me out. Do any ps2 controllers work? Would a psx controller work? I have 3 official psx controllers. Iv'e given up trying to save the damn CG pad. I figure rewiring is the best i can do. Please reply ASAP i just got extreme and i havent even PLAYED it on PADS yet. THANKS
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TheKornKid · Trick Member Joined: 11 Aug 2002 Location: Toledo, OH

Hello everyone, i aslo have a question, will this relay work with the 'Patster' lighting design? http://www.crouzet.com/OLC/item.cfm?item_ID=3902000000022302000000126502

Just curious, and thanks for any help

Patster · Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2003 10:05 pm Post subject: Relays

ddrpablo · Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2003 10:11 pm Post subject:

patster, did ur site die?

Patster · Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2003 10:36 pm Post subject:

I don't think so. I think comcast.net is having problems tonight.

Edit: Go to digikey.com and type in S101S06V in the "Parts Search" field, or try S101S05V. The S101S05V is cheaper but it does not have "Zero-Cross" circuitry. I prefer relays with Zero-cross circuitry because it will generally be "gentler" on the lightbulbs and help them to last longer.

The main difference between these relays and the Crouzet relays that I used to use is the input current (low voltage side) of the relay. Where the Crouzet relay required 3 to 32VDC, the Sharp requires only 1.2VDC at 50mA. I haven't measured the power supplied by the PS1 controller yet, but I would guess that it has enough power to connect directly to the relay input side. This would eliminate the extra power adapter in my old design. So, the 4 relays would be connected to each of the 4 button leads directly, no power adapter required.

Be sure that you do a good job when you solder the wires on the 120V side. You do not want those wires to break loose. I usually insulate each wire with some extra electrical tape. Another warning: Do not use solid copper wire. It is not very flexible and will eventually break. Instead, use copper stranded wire.

Sorry if I don't have much time to go into detail, it's already 1am and I gotta get up for work in about 4.5 hours. PM me if you or anyone has questions.

KickTheCan · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2003 12:03 pm Post subject:

Hey patster i made a pad modeled after yours and i had 2 questions. What kind of contacts did you use, in the pictures i noticed u said OLD microswitch design, so i assume you changed. Also if you do mending bracket contacts do you really need washers and if so what kind.
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Patster · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2003 3:59 pm Post subject: Web

Little Firefly · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:03 pm Post subject:

Patster-

My dad (who is helping me with this whole project) was looking at the pics on your site, and they made him rather twitchy about the whole idea of building it. I understand your screw contact idea, (this is not in technical terms at all) you attach one wire to the screw and the other to the sheet metal, but i am a bit confused as to how (and on which side) you attach the wire to the sheet metal, do you soder it on?

(I will be PMing this to you as well since you said you haven't been checking the thread)

And uh, just a random question of the moment, how heavy are these pads exactly, and is there anyway to make them lighter? I MUST be able to move mine, or my mother will kill me, then i can't play ddr anymore and i would be very very sad.
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Little Firefly · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:07 pm Post subject:

OK one more question, does that weather stripping foam need to be replaced often, and how long does it last before getiing less springy, cause i was playing with some the other day and it didn't seem that durable.
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thetaller1 · Trick Member Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Location: Ur Momma

well you should be able to lift them by yourself or with a friend. Why would people make a pad that you can't move? Worst come worst just lift it onto a scroller and then roll it.
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fr0zenxer0 · Trick Member Joined: 18 Oct 2003

hmm would if i were to use a ps1 controller as the controller for my ddr pad would it work on ddr extreme for ps2? Because a ps1 controller cant be used to play ps2 games. Is it different when turned into a pad?
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Mikeweiser · Trick Member Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Location: Saginaw, MI

Patster · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2003 7:40 pm Post subject:

fr0zenxer0 · Trick Member Joined: 18 Oct 2003

Can someone tell me what does the "ground" thing on a controller do? I'm trying to wire my ddr pad but i keep hearing about this "ground". So far all i know is that i have to connect a wire between the circuit board (contacts i believe) and the corresponding arrow/sensor. What do i connect to the "ground" contact?
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ddrpablo · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 1:43 am Post subject:

well see, the ground is connected to each arrow panel. when each arrow wire touches the ground, it connects and the arrow is pushed. thats why theres 2 peices on each arrow. one is ground, the other is the arrow wire. when they both connect, it forms the connection ya know

fr0zenxer0 · Trick Member Joined: 18 Oct 2003

OK so i would have to connect a split wire from the arrow panel then to the corresponding arrow and the ground button? (if this is confusing ill give u a example i.e. i have a red and yellow wire, So i connect the red and yellow on one end, to the panel and the red to the ground and yellow to the corresponding arrow contact? I never really opened up and saw hoow a ddr softapad cricuit board looks lke. So sorry if i mess up
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I am confused

fr0zenxer0 · Trick Member Joined: 18 Oct 2003

OK so i would have to connect a split wire from the arrow panel then to the corresponding arrow and the ground button? (if this is confusing ill give u a example i.e. i have a red and yellow wire, So i connect the red and yellow on one end, to the panel and the red to the ground and yellow to the corresponding arrow contact? I never really opened up and saw hoow a ddr softapad cricuit board looks lke. So sorry if i mess up
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TheKornKid · Trick Member Joined: 11 Aug 2002 Location: Toledo, OH

Yeah this metal pad should be awesome, i haven't updated my site in a few days because i've been busy working on it, but i'll update soon. All i have to do is wrap the front side with sheet metal and bolt/screw it down, and then solder all the wires into the relays and put in a few buttons and resistors and whatnot, and it should work!

:random comment: I made my back bar using 2" steel pipe spraypainted a shiny blue, (yay for originality!) :/random comment:

Me and my friend tested our controller we soldered and every button works perfectly, (we just plugged it in and touched the ground to all the other buttons to see if it registered, then temporarily connected the controller to an arrow and touched the contact screws with sheet metal)...and every contact worked! so far so good, almost done.

i think my ddr pad weighs in around 80-100lbs!

luckily i don't plan on moving it too much. But on the plus side this thing is NOT going to fall apart...EVER.

Tofu · Basic Member Joined: 23 Apr 2002

I don't understand how to do the soldering and the wiring of the controller of the pad. I checked out most of the websites but didn't really find anything. Can anyone help me with this?
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Little Firefly · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2003 1:54 pm Post subject:

I am planning to have my pad be 1" or less thick, so i really don't want a whole heck of a lot of room for contacts, I was wondering how much "give" each button on a ddr pad has, I know it isn't a whole lot.

I was thinking for the contacts, I could use a few layers of (sealed) paint to separate the contacts. Cause i want the sheet metal to be the outline of a square, I need 2 (one connected to the plexi glass and one on the bottom of my pad (possibly setting on 1/4" wood), then i'd paint stripes on it, seal the paint, and leave some of the metal bare to make the connection.

I thought paint would be a good idea because it is think, nonconductive, and lasts a REALLY long time if you do it right, whatd'ya think?

I've also encountered another problem. My pad design doesn't have any brackets, none, so i need to find something to hold down the plexiglass in it's squares. so i might wind up having to get brackets (expensive little buggers) anyway. I was wondering if anyone could come up with a cheeper solution.
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My pants fit fine! What is wrong with you? Don't you have eye contact?-Lucifer, Angel Sanctuary Yugioh Crossover fic
Go Ahead, Read about my Boring Life, You know you want to.