My home built metal DDR pad (Part IV)

HitokiriX · Trick Member Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Location: Berwyn, PA

Hey can someone tell me where to get 33 in. lengths of wood 1in. by 1 1/2 in. for my border? I can't find any wood at those lengths at home depot or lowes. Did everyone just make their own or sumthing?

Also I'd really appreciate it if someone could post a picture of the madcats control board with indications of where each contact is and what it signals for. I know padmaker described it with words but i think a picture's a thousand times better!

grgisme

Thanks, HitokiriX. That would be a good way to go about it. I'll see if I can't find a used and or broken metal dance pad for cheap. Otherwise I'll just test voltages until I can find it out on my own. As for low voltage not being strong enough, Riptide said 2 LEDs were bright enough to light the graphic, and I figure if I use UV I'll be able to get my graphic to glow, which will amplify the effect. I may end up with an external power source, but I'm going to strive to take things one step further.

latindude88wpg · Trick Member Joined: 12 Nov 2004 Location: winnipeg, mb

grgisme:

if you're planning on spending more money on a converter, i'd just get one of those mad catz soft mats and rip it apart. they have the connectors for both the ps2 and xbox plugs (and with a little bit of modding, you can turn the xbox plug into an usb one, so you can use it on the compy too).

i'll try to find a picture of them. i saw them at electronic boutique (i'm in canada, but i'm guessing they'd carry the same products).

now, if you're using your pad on ps2, i don't know how you'd be able to use some lights using only the console as a power source. if you're going to use your pad with your computer, there is a way to set the lights up so they go to the beat (a la arcade). let me know if you're interested.

grgisme · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 2:35 pm Post subject: Lights powerd by console

I know how I'm going to figure it out. The plan is for the lights to light up when you step on them (like the arcade machine). I have 3 soft pads at home (2 really nice ones), all which will likely be ripped up as I build my new pads. There are red LEDs on all of the pads that light up when you step on ANY button, so there has to be power flowing from the console to power those leds, so I'll tap into that current and light up some small blacklight leds. I've got pads to experiment with so I'm going to start sometime this week figuring that out. I'll post pictures and a walkthrough when I figure it all out.

Still looking for directions on the screw mod... (for anyone that only reads the newest post).

ch · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 3:06 pm Post subject:

if you use the circuit from the controller box to light your arrows, then all the lights turn on when you press a button. if you want each individual light for each individual arrow to light up when you press that light, you cant draw power from your playstation. it only gives you about 3 volts, and you would need nine or so.

heres a schematic:

+/-9v goes to a 9v dc adapter. theres another post on it in here, i have no time to explain now. must go do this thingSTOP YELLING ALREADY
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grgisme · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 3:30 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info CartoonHero. I'll rethink my lighting design and figure out what I'm going to go with. Get me a link to the other post when you get a chance, I'll read that too.

ozmeth · Basic Member Joined: 07 Aug 2004

ch · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 5:12 pm Post subject:

http://www.ddrfreak.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=59254&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=2814

scroll down to see flaws.

theres also a .doc somewhere that tells you how to light using noisy bulky relays
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CStarFlare wrote:

I approve of the direction this thread is going

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grgisme · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 8:17 pm Post subject: DDR Pad with LEDs

I've spent a long time with an electrical technician tonight (my mentor), and we went through the whole patster's design on how its wired up. I understand how that works now, thanks CartoonHero.

However I've found something you said to be false, and I'll prove it. (Not being disprespectful, just stating what I've found. I'm excited about making this possible and general knowledge as I find it out.)

ch · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 8:36 pm Post subject:

i didnt think the playstation let out enough power to run bright enough lights. then again, it does run motors in the dualshock controller...

ok, after a little research, i found this information, which i converted into a picture of me:

so i guess theres a pin for 7.5v out of the playstation. try hooking up to that and recalculate your amps. sorry!
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CStarFlare wrote:

I approve of the direction this thread is going

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch?e=20090310025322668

grgisme · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 8:43 pm Post subject: Wow, THANKYOU

Awesome CartoonHero, that information was invaluable. Heh, can't say I know exactly where to go from here, but I know my mentor will be able to help. Question is how to tap into that 7.5 volts while at the same time using a preexisting controller. I'm done for the night, but I'll get back on it tommorrow and Monday. Thanks for the help.

Again... any info on the screw mod is appreciated. If not I'll find it myself eventually.

coN · Basic Member Joined: 30 May 2003

What? I build joysticks and the Playstation controller is problematic because with the newer Happ 360 Optical Joysticks, it requires 5v to operate the optical sensors, and the PS controller provides 3.3 - 3.5v. Due to the lack of voltage, it doesnt operate properly unless it has a SPDT switch with a AA battery. (1.5v) It is the VCC (center pin) that provides this voltage.

Now, if you want to light up your pad with lights WITHOUT external power, you would need to use LEDs. The 3.3v given by the PS to the controller is nowhere enough to power light bulbs. If you want it just like the arcade, you WILL need an external power source AND a relay. Patsters design is done perfectly if you want lighting like the arcade.
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Uhhh... What?

5thDementian · Trick Member Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Location: Kalamazoo, MI

grgisme · Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 9:06 am Post subject: LED Pad

slvrshdw · Trick Member Joined: 05 Jan 2005

im so glad i found this site..

its good to kno i wasnt the only one to think about building your own pad..

anyway, thanks for all the good designs; they helped alot..

the only problem is that they cost so much..even tho they are really good quality..

has anyone made a pad that works well and was about $75 or less??

just wondering because i made my first model, (roughly based on ur ideas) for about $40, but i had a broken controller..

i have some pics if ppl want but im not sure when im gonna post them...hopefully soon

mine isnt all that great but as i said, it was about $40, so its good enough for me

5thDementian · Trick Member Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Location: Kalamazoo, MI

mtwieg · Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 7:07 pm Post subject:

I calculated that if you build in bulk, designs similar to chris's cost about $70 a pop, which is pretty awesome.
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ch · Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 7:27 pm Post subject:

you could save 50 dollars if you used plywood instead of any plexiglass, but its not the same. and you can save a lot of money if you dont use corner braces and instead use thepadmaker's design
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CStarFlare wrote:

I approve of the direction this thread is going

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch?e=20090310025322668

grgisme · Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 9:16 am Post subject: Update on design

I've researched more and confirmed a couple things. There is definitely a 7.93 volt source (most say 9v, but I tested at 7.93) coming out of the playstation from pin 3. Once I confirmed that I wondered whether the the voltage was always available, or if it was turned on by the controller (considering its used for dual shock, I was afraid the latter was true). I tested it with my multimeter, and its a steady source. This is good news because it means that I'll be able to use that without any additional programming to the controller. Now it comes down to finding the right components (and determining if its possible) to run a circuit to light some low voltage leds. Not yet sure whether relays will be used or not, I'll be figuring that out one night this week. I'll update as I make progress. I think the hardest part is going to be finding the leds. There's also 3.5 volts coming from pin 8, another unconnected pin, but I don't know enough about what that's used for to mess around with it and risk screwing up my ps2. I'm going to keep searching to see if I can use some of that, but my hunch is no.

slvrshdw: please do show us these pics! I'm interested as well. Perhaps there's a few ideas I can utilize to save money in some areas to spend more in others.

EDIT: I've given up on finding the pictures to the mod I'm talking about, so I'm going to recreate it. To highlight why this is so important to me let me explain. This contact system will be adjustable from the bottom of the pad, without opening the pad up in any way. You simply turn the pad over and tigthen or loosen the screws. I'll be using copper screws and cutting them off so there's no point (it wouldn't puncture the sheet metal anyhow -- if i use sheetmetal -- but just to be safe). I'm also considering using springs in place of the weatherstripping. It's not a new idea, but I think it'll work well (maybe). Still a tossup there.

ch · Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:04 am Post subject:

you can get low volt leds from radioshack for cheapo

make sure you lower the amps with a resistor or it will explode.

v=ir
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CStarFlare wrote:

I approve of the direction this thread is going

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch?e=20090310025322668