I need YOUR help...

Marq(uistadorous) · Trick Member Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Location: Arvada, CO

Hey guys. I'm probably gonna start building my homemade metal pad this weekend with my dad. I need YOUR help. I need...

1) the exact arcade pad dimensions, including the bar.
2) I want it very durable and I am gonna have lights in the arrows. Is there any particular plan you could show me that is like what I might want
3) Should I use 1/4 in. thick lexan?
4) I'll probably also need help with the wiring and getting the pad to actually work with a ps2

Thanx alot for your help

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MinN_Limited · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 9:02 pm Post subject:

Hey it's cool you decided to build a pad, I built one a few months ago and it works great. All those questions and more are answered in this thread which has links to a few designs which you can choose from and a link to an faq on pad building posted later in the thread. Good luck with construction!

Marq(uistadorous) · Trick Member Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Location: Arvada, CO

MinN_Limited · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 9:25 pm Post subject:

well, the basic dimensions of the pad are 33" x 33"(each panel is 11" x 11"), however, I don't know the dimensions for the bar at present, sorry. I'll try to explain basic wiring as best I can: In a game controller, there is a positve voltage connection for each button and a common ground. When a button is pressed on a controller, the voltage for that button is connected to the common ground, completing the circuit and allowing current to flow. When this happens,a signal is sent to the computer indicating which button was pressed. To simulate a button being pressed, you will need two metal contacts that connect when the arrow is pressed and disconnect when depressed. You will then connect one of these contacts to the circuit of the corresponding button inside the controller, and the other contact to the common ground. Do this for every arrow. I cant really explain it much better than that, but here's an image of where to connect the arrows and various buttons on a basic psx controller and the common ground (the common ground is basically everywhere on the conroller though, as it connects to every button).

notice how one side of each sensor connects to the black circle in the center (these are the positive voltages for the individual arrows) and the other side of the sensor connects to a wire that circles the board and connects to each other sensor (this is the common ground). All controllers are connected in this manner and most look somewhat like this so I hope this helps.

EDIT: Apparently that image didnt process, so here's the link:
http://www.angelfire.com/d20/ddrhomepad/closepcb.jpg

Marq(uistadorous) · Trick Member Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Location: Arvada, CO

Alright. Thanx for your help. But I , being not smart when it comes to these things, had a hard time understanding all that. So I have more questions

Marq(uistadorous) · Trick Member Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Location: Arvada, CO

And also, where is the common ground? The pic says it's only that 1 spot, but you said that it is pretty much anywhere
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MinN_Limited · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 7:54 pm Post subject:

Yes, I was referring to the type of contact system in the tx, afterburner, etc, but if you are using a type of switch then it should be even easier. the switch should have two places to solder or connect wires to. the ground wire will connect to one part, and the button inside the controller will connect to the other.
What I was saying about the ground is that there is a wire on the circuit board that touches a part of each sensor as it circles the board; this is the common ground. (this isnt too important though, as long as you know one place where common ground is, you can connect all the ground wires to that spot). The picture only indicates one spot that ground is located, but there are many.
If you need any more help on connections, post a pic of the circuit board you are using an I'll highlight some places where you can connect wires to and where the common ground is.

Marq(uistadorous) · Trick Member Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Location: Arvada, CO

Alright. Thaks. 1 more thing. I'm gonna put big ol lights under each arrow. Won't I just connect the light on lets say the left arrow to BOTH of the wires in the left arrow?

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MinN_Limited · Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 8:38 pm Post subject:

I dont really know much on the subject of putting in lights cause there are none in the pad I built, however, I think it'll be bit more complicated than that. First of all, if it's a decent sized light you will need a secondary power source, because most controllers werent build to supply the amount of power that the lights require. The connection will also be more complicated than that if I understood your post correctly, but explaining it wont make any sense unless you or your dad know a decent amount about electricity.
Maybe make a post in the homepad thread about adding lights, because there are some people who have added lights to theirs and will know how.