My DX-style pads broke. Help me fix them.

pokecapn · Basic Member Joined: 10 Jan 2004

Due to the dry dry conditions of winter, when I went to pull my pads out of the controller ports, static electricity hit them. Plugging them back in and testing them out, the LEDs light up when I hit arrows, but no signal is sent to the PS2. Since I've opened up the pads before, I know that the LED circuitry bypasses the controller board circuity. I've tested actual controllers on my PS2 and they work just fine, so I know it's not the controller port that's causing the problem. I've determined that the static electricity fried the controller board (the green thing that the wire goes to). Since these pads cost me $50 each and I know they aren't worn out, I don't want to get rid of them. As I see it, I've got two options:
1 - Buy 2 Madcatz pads and just tape them on top of my broken ones so that I've got the foam and raised buttons.
2 (and the one I want to do) - Buy 2 cheap PSX controllers, take out the controller board, and replace the broken ones.
What I want to know from you guys is how to go about option 2. I'm able to access as far as the end of the ribbon cable that goes from the buttons to the controller board without tearing up anything. Is this possible? Have any of you done this before? If yes to both of these, give me pointers and wish me luck.

Knee-ill · Trick Member Joined: 10 Jan 2004

1 - I'll save you lots of money after buying the pad if you use my mod (private message me or reply here).
2 - If your going to use a psx controller and replace the pad's then just make a brand new metal pad, one plus side is that you'll know what everything does if it breaks and your looking on how to repair it.
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Narsil · Trick Member Joined: 04 Jan 2004

I'd be interested in seeing your mod..
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pokecapn · Basic Member Joined: 10 Jan 2004

Although I might be interested in seeing the mod, one of the main things I want to have is portability, since I do bring these pads with me to parties often. That's why I'm much more interested in seeing if there's a way to just replace the controller board. Knee-ill, from what you said, it seems that this is possible, and I'd like to know how, not that I could do things other than replace.

Knee-ill · Trick Member Joined: 10 Jan 2004

Yah this this is portable (lightweight). I decided to upload some pictures to a website and I'll display 'em here. The good thing to this pad is that if a pad breaks (for some reason) then you can easily replace them. Now for the pictures (by the way I own a lpt1 PC pad, and two intec pads, yet to have any problems and I (13, 130p.) and my bro (15, 150) use them all the time):
http://www.geocities.com/nelcadbz/ddrsoftpad/DDRPAD.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/nelcadbz/ddrsoftpad/DDRPAD_wood.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/nelcadbz/ddrsoftpad/DDRPAD_woodpad.JPG

1) As you can see there are two layers of wood, one as the main, the other has holes where the arrows are (so you can tell if your hitting the arrows)
2) On the bottom there are 5 2 by 4's support the pad for less sound, and movement
3) As you see I have the pad duct taped down do to the many pad switches I do, very convient.

Anything else? Questions? Comments?
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Reenee · Trick Member Joined: 21 Nov 2003

My god, those pictures hurt my eyes...size them smaller, please.

pokecapn · Basic Member Joined: 10 Jan 2004

Let's try again.

I do NOT want to spend the money to buy new dx style pads.
I do NOT want to spend the money to make a metal pad.
I do NOT want to let these existing dx pads go to waste, because they are perfectly fine wear and tear wise.

I DO want them working.
I DO know that the part that is broken is the controller board.
I DO know that the controller board is the green thing inside the black thing where the lights turn on.
I DO know that I can get as far as the end black and white ribbon cable that connects the pad sensors to the controller board before ripping things open.

I WANT to know if I can fix this by buying a cheap psx controller, taking out the board, and replacing the controller board (THIS DOES NOT MEAN I WANT TO MAKE A NEW PAD IT MEANS I WANT TO TRADE GREEN THINGIES BECAUSE THE ONE INSIDE DOES NOT WORK).
I WANT to know any specific knowledge that would help me replace the board (THIS DOES NOT MEAN I WANT TO GLUE WOOD TO MY PADS OR WHATEVER ""MODS"" YOU CAN COME UP WITH, IT MEANS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WIRES WILL GO WHERE).

Knee-ill · Trick Member Joined: 10 Jan 2004

lol, you can not replace wires with a REGULAR psx controller, only another PAD. This is because they are two completely different wiring sytems. Ever notice:
PADS: Have a mesh button that responds to pressure
CONTROLLERS: When you press the button the bottom is metal which COMPLETES the circuit, unlike a PAD.

I think you should buy a cheap $20 pad and use my mod (like I did

)
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22bond · Basic Member Joined: 02 Oct 2003

except that hes not looking to replace the wiring of the buttons, those work fine. hes looking to replace the controller board where all the wires from the buttons go. they are the same in pads and controllersi believe.

pokecapn · Basic Member Joined: 10 Jan 2004

Do you see the green thing? That's what's broken. I do not see what the problem is with taping wires to the numbered black leads and attaching them to the corresponding parts of a psx controller is. I hope someone with more experience could tell me if I'm just speaking madness and the green board is actually magical and does not map incoming signals to psx wires, or that yes there is a solution and here is what each black lead is and this is where you wire it to the psx controller.

Knee-ill · Trick Member Joined: 10 Jan 2004

OK *cracks knuckles*:
1 ) First you need A DeSoldering Iron
2 ) And a Soldering Iron
3 ) Desolder all of the wires from the chipboard off of both pad and controller (cutting the wires off then soldering those parts won't work, I THINK)
4 ) Solder the appriopiate button the there right spots
5 ) Doing this gives you the oppurtinity to make a control box

(reply if interested, as I have ideas for that too)
6 ) Don't know the psx controller around? Here ya go:

& ) Need a plan of the DANCE PAD controller?
I can't find one, so p00p on that!

OTHER LINKS:
http://axelb.free.fr/caj/psx.html
http://www.geocities.com/ddrhomepad/printable6.html
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If you have DDR Cabinets, Metal Pads, Tutorials (or hosting), then PM me!