wiring my control panel PLEASE HELP!

[katuuuz]

first time ever wiring anything. and i knew once i reached this stage, i'd be back to these wonderful forums. anyone have close-up detail shots of how they wired their buttons, joysticks, and trackballs? I have 2 super joysticks from happ controls, 6 buttons per joy stick, plus 1 player start, 2 player start, and 1 button on each side of the cp for pinball games. also, right and left button for trackball/mouse. my trackball is from happ, and i have an ipac2 and a optipac both from ultimarc.com. if anyone can at least explain this, i'd be highly appreciative. i probably wouldn't even call myself a beginner, i literally don't even know how to connect the wires with the quick-disconnect connectors.

[Nologic]

Try looking over at B.Y.O.A.C.

[katuuuz]

Try looking over at B.Y.O.A.C.

but you stick the end of the wire in that hole in the ipac and screw it in?!

plus, what switch do i connect all the buttons/joysticks together?

[Nologic]

Frankly I don't know since I'm a ghetto-gamer...ie I lack a cab.

[Atari800]

but you stick the end of the wire in that hole in the ipac and screw it in?!

Yes...according to pictures I seen it looks like each button has a screwdown connector

plus, what switch do i connect all the buttons/joysticks together?

I dont get this question

Are you referring to micro switches? The buttons? or maybe are you looking for GROUND on the IPAC?

Didnt the IPAC come with a manual?

[katuuuz]

Didnt the IPAC come with a manual?

actually it didn't. i was pretty upset learning this. yeah, according to pics i've seen, it looks as if the p1 pushbuttons/joysticks are all connected to each other and to the ground. i don't really understand anything about it, since i'ven ever tampered with wires before. i'm tackling the task tomorrow, since i finished applying the formica and mounted the trackball, buttons, and joysticks tonight. i can't even imagine how much trouble i'm gonna have. any kind of knowledge on the topic is truley appreciated.

[rygars#1#fan]

Start with your microswitches which will be connected to each button,joystick,etc.Start a (DAISYCHAIN)google it and you will find valuable info)Do the ground wires first-it is easy just wire one to another and so on untill all are grounded.Then get your various coloured wires and connect each one to the microswitches and then each single wire will have a place on your ipec to connect to(should be numbered and lettered)for each command that you want to achieve.

I was in the same ship as you my friend but after exhaustingly searching the net for (HOW TO WIRE UP A CONTROL PANEL,HOW TO WIRE UP MICROSWITCHES,ETC)i now have come to love doing this side of the cab(i hate the computer side-not that computer literate yet-but trying hard).

I hope this has helped a little,but i am more than willing to email you my documents that i have lying around if that would help you out,just PM me.

Good luck

[katuuuz]

Start with your microswitches which will be connected to each button,joystick,etc.Start a (DAISYCHAIN)google it and you will find valuable info)Do the ground wires first-it is easy just wire one to another and so on untill all are grounded.Then get your various coloured wires and connect each one to the microswitches and then each single wire will have a place on your ipec to connect to(should be numbered and lettered)for each command that you want to achieve.

I was in the same ship as you my friend but after exhaustingly searching the net for (HOW TO WIRE UP A CONTROL PANEL,HOW TO WIRE UP MICROSWITCHES,ETC)i now have come to love doing this side of the cab(i hate the computer side-not that computer literate yet-but trying hard).

I hope this has helped a little,but i am more than willing to email you my documents that i have lying around if that would help you out,just PM me.

Good luck

have you wired up a trackball? that's my biggest concern.

[emphatic]

Have you looked here? http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html

Also, if you run into any problems, send an email to Andy at Ultimarc, I've heard he's very nice and helpful, just like Tom.

Emph

[shbon]

first time ever wiring anything. and i knew once i reached this stage, i'd be back to these wonderful forums. anyone have close-up detail shots of how they wired their buttons, joysticks, and trackballs? I have 2 super joysticks from happ controls, 6 buttons per joy stick, plus 1 player start, 2 player start, and 1 button on each side of the cp for pinball games. also, right and left button for trackball/mouse. my trackball is from happ, and i have an ipac2 and a optipac both from ultimarc.com. if anyone can at least explain this, i'd be highly appreciative. i probably wouldn't even call myself a beginner, i literally don't even know how to connect the wires with the quick-disconnect connectors.

Hi katuuuz

Hope this is pitched at the right level for you...CP Wiring 101!

I went looking for some pictures!

Refering to the first two pictures below, you'll see a prototype for a simple CP and its underside, showing the wiring to an IPAC (old style, but essentially the same as your one). Referring to the wiring picture:

1. Notice the BLACK wiring. It's connected to the GND terminal on EACH microswitch. Starting from the GREEN button notice how the black wiring goes in and then out of the nearest BLUE button, then in and out of the second blue button, third blue button etc...It then goes to the other buttons and then around the joystick microswitches. There's then a single black wire going to the IPAC. This is one example of a GROUND DAISY CHAIN. Connect this to the terminal GND on the IPAC by trapping the wire with the screw. Effectively all the GNDs are CONNECTED TOGETHER.

2. Notice the YELLOW wire at the WHITE Player1 button. It runs from the NO (normally open) terminal on the microswitch to the START1 terminal on the IPAC. Similarly, the yellow button's NO terminal is connected via an ORANGE wire to the COIN1 terminal on the IPAC. Infact, each button (switch) is connected from the NO terminal on the microswitch, via a single colored wired to the relevant terminal on the IPAC. Note: the NC (normally closed) terminal on the microswitches are never used.

3. The Joystick is done exactly the same way. It's four switches wired to 1RGHT,1LEFT,1UP,1DOWN (the PINK wiring)

4. I think you're going to use quick disconnect connectors (Red Lucar style in the UK) to connect the wires to the microswitches. To do this effectively, you'll need a wire stripper tool and a CRIMPER tool (picture 3 left hand tool) which are easily available from a DIY shop. To fix the wires into the connectors: After you've stripped about 1/4 inch of the plastic from the wire's end, you need to put the wire into the round end of the connector (from the back). Now notice the red dot at the top of the crimper tool. Put the connector between the jaws of the crimper tool and crush it (thus trapping the wire) using the grooves at the red dot. (You can see the crush mark on the red plastic area of each connector in picture 2). Practice it a few times...

5. For the ground daisy chain, at say the FIRST BLUE button, there are TWO wires, one COMING FROM the GREEN button and one GOING TO the second blue button. After stripping the wires, wind them both together and crush them in a connector with the crimper tool as you did before.

6. The wiring colors have no particular significance. It's often helpful to color-code wiring for ease of tracing. Black is generally used for ground contacts. Any old wire will do but if you're buying it, .22 gauge is about right.

That's how you wire an IPAC! You then connect the IPAC to the PC via the cable that came with it (either a USB or PS/2 cable)!

For the trackball, the buttons are wired the same way as above. You should download the Opti-PAC install documents from Ultimarc website to connect the trackball. It mentions a Happ trackball. Link the Opti-PAC to the PC using the supplied cable (USB or serial).

Hope that helps and sorry if it's too basic for you.

Shaun

My CP picture source is here.

[katuuuz]

Hi katuuuz

Hope this is pitched at the right level for you...CP Wiring 101!

I went looking for some pictures!

Refering to the first two pictures below, you'll see a prototype for a simple CP and its underside, showing the wiring to an IPAC (old style, but essentially the same as your one). Referring to the wiring picture:

1. Notice the BLACK wiring. It's connected to the GND terminal on EACH microswitch. Starting from the GREEN button notice how the black wiring goes in and then out of the nearest BLUE button, then in and out of the second blue button, third blue button etc...It then goes to the other buttons and then around the joystick microswitches. There's then a single black wire going to the IPAC. This is one example of a GROUND DAISY CHAIN. Connect this to the terminal GND on the IPAC by trapping the wire with the screw. Effectively all the GNDs are CONNECTED TOGETHER.

2. Notice the YELLOW wire at the WHITE Player1 button. It runs from the NO (normally open) terminal on the microswitch to the START1 terminal on the IPAC. Similarly, the yellow button's NO terminal is connected via an ORANGE wire to the COIN1 terminal on the IPAC. Infact, each button (switch) is connected from the NO terminal on the microswitch, via a single colored wired to the relevant terminal on the IPAC. Note: the NC (normally closed) terminal on the microswitches are never used.

3. The Joystick is done exactly the same way. It's four switches wired to 1RGHT,1LEFT,1UP,1DOWN (the PINK wiring)

4. I think you're going to use quick disconnect connectors (Red Lucar style in the UK) to connect the wires to the microswitches. To do this effectively, you'll need a wire stripper tool and a CRIMPER tool (picture 3 left hand tool) which are easily available from a DIY shop. To fix the wires into the connectors: After you've stripped about 1/4 inch of the plastic from the wire's end, you need to put the wire into the round end of the connector (from the back). Now notice the red dot at the top of the crimper tool. Put the connector between the jaws of the crimper tool and crush it (thus trapping the wire) using the grooves at the red dot. (You can see the crush mark on the red plastic area of each connector in picture 2). Practice it a few times...

5. For the ground daisy chain, at say the FIRST BLUE button, there are TWO wires, one COMING FROM the GREEN button and one GOING TO the second blue button. After stripping the wires, wind them both together and crush them in a connector with the crimper tool as you did before.

6. The wiring colors have no particular significance. It's often helpful to color-code wiring for ease of tracing. Black is generally used for ground contacts. Any old wire will do but if you're buying it, .22 gauge is about right.

That's how you wire an IPAC! You then connect the IPAC to the PC via the cable that came with it (either a USB or PS/2 cable)!

For the trackball, the buttons are wired the same way as above. You should download the Opti-PAC install documents from Ultimarc website to connect the trackball. It mentions a Happ trackball. Link the Opti-PAC to the PC using the supplied cable (USB or serial).

Hope that helps and sorry if it's too basic for you.

Shaun

My CP picture source is here.

wow, thanks for the much need explination. just one more question, i heard you strip the wire, then bend it over. example is here: http://www.darkravenwind.com/cdvision/madcatz2.htm. now i'm wondering, if i bend the wire over before inserting it into the ipac screw connector.

[shbon]

wow, thanks for the much need explination. just one more question, i heard you strip the wire, then bend it over. example is here: http://www.darkravenwind.com/cdvision/madcatz2.htm. now i'm wondering, if i bend the wire over before inserting it into the ipac screw connector.

Yes, you can do that. (I was trying not to complicate the post any further!). By bending it round or creating a loop, you're just bulking up the wire a bit (effectively double thickness) which should have less chance of working loose. You can also do it at the IPAC end aswell. Alternatively, use slightly thicker wire...

Shaun

[katuuuz]

Yes, you can do that. (I was trying not to complicate the post any further!). By bending it round or creating a loop, you're just bulking up the wire a bit (effectively double thickness) which should have less chance of working loose. You can also do it at the IPAC end aswell. Alternatively, use slightly thicker wire...

Shaun

awsome man, i'm headed downstairs to do this now... just applied the primer coat to the cab, now for wiring... i'll let you know my progress.