Console Pad Hacks ?

[Setch]

Hi

I've not hacked any console pads before but would like to hook one up to my test rig to confirm controls are working on my pcbs.

Whats the cheapest/easiest pads to hack ?

I assume there aren't any I can just cut off the end and wire a new plug on to suit my testrig ?

Dont need any other tech info other than pad recommendations, I will figure the rest out.

Thanks in advance
Setch2013-01-24 21:17:03

 

[ZedEx48K]

The cheapest will prob be one of the Chinese PS2 type pads if you dont mind the wait, then it's just a case of a quick scrape off of the contact material to get to the copper trace and solder how ever many wires you need, some pads though have a common earth and some completely separate (and occasionally one for d-pads, one for buttons).

Or get something like this and just wire direct to the switches http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Logic3-Arcade-Stick-Joystick-Controller-Gamepad-With-Turbo-For-NIntendo-Wii-NEW-/200751171843?pt=UK_Controllers_Attachments&hash=item2ebdb3c903
ZedEx48K2013-01-24 21:49:04

 

[ZedEx48K]

I've just though, you will actually have to do some circuit tracing and find spot of where to put the wires that won't compromise closing it all back up again, TBH why not just chop a little wood up and create a mini stick and a couple of buttons box, otherwise use these to help you with an Xbox or 360 pad.

ZedEx48K2013-01-24 22:02:34

 

[PaulSwan]

Or just get something from a car boot sale. I found an old Gravis game pad in a rubbish bin and used that for mine.

Paul.

 

[IDCHAPPY]

Dreamcast ones are pretty cheap too I think?

 

[cools]

Use a Megadrive pad, and wire up a DB9 connector to your rig. No hacking required.

 

[cliff_poole]

I second the Megadrive option, by far the easiest.

 

[ZedEx48K]

The Megadrive pad will only give you directions and 2 buttons without an extra select line being used to double up on some outputs.

Also depending on what you wire up you will need 4 action buttons and 2 more for start & credit, leaving the megadrive and dreamcast pads lacking.
ZedEx48K2013-01-25 09:25:13

 

[Alpha1]

What about NeoGeo pads? I use them on my supergun/test rig.

 

[Setch]

Some great info here, thanks guys

 

[cliff_poole]

I do remember that I hacked the Megadrive pad (a Competition Pro one), that I use on my test rig, although I did it many years ago.

I kept the original cable and 9 pin plug, but I seem to remember taking out a DIL chip and connecting a couple of the spare wires for the third button and start button.

 

[grobda]

megadrive pads work with the vogatek supergun mk1(poss others) to give 4 way and 4 buttons (1 is start button), or you can build chad grays circuit to decode them.

doc here; http://www.jabba.demon.co.uk/retroranch/supergun.html

neo pads arent encoded so are easiest to wire straight to jamma, 4 way 6 buttons (2 are start/select, which you could wire to start/coin)

i use chads circuit with md pads and have coin test and service buttons on the test rig box.

 

[ben76]

The Megadrive pad will only give you directions and 2 buttons without an extra select line being used to double up on some outputs.

Also depending on what you wire up you will need 4 action buttons and 2 more for start & credit, leaving the megadrive and dreamcast pads lacking.

I disagree mate. Megadrive pads are the cheapest and easiest. As long as it has gnd and +5v you will get 8 way and 3 buttons.

They're definitely the easiest and cheapest to do

- Ben
ben762013-01-25 19:48:20

 

[Alpha1]

Hey Ben

Great to see you, is there a Megadrive hackpad wrote up anywhere on the internet?

 

[Alpha1]

forgot to say 500 points per write up for making a hackpad out of the various favourites to anyone that makes a comprehensive post in the tech section. We'll also sticky

 

[RaveN]

Another one here for Neogeo pads.
Easy to hack analogue pads, with 4 way / 4 button, select (coin) and start buttons, what more do you need for standard jamma?

Plus DB15 connectors are easy to obtain.

Andy

 

[ZedEx48K]

I actually have 2 hacked 360 pads in my upright MAME machine, planned to add a 360 for a few games like SF 4 and never got round to it.

 

[ben76]

forgot to say 500 points per write up for making a hackpad out of the various favourites to anyone that makes a comprehensive post in the tech section. We'll also sticky

Its not the best but the basics can be found over the road. It does need re working though and is in the pipeline. Feel free to use it but credit it to me if its any good to you...

www.jammaplus.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32661

- Ben

 

[ben76]

For a quick pad hack guide. I've found 2 pics in my photobucket.
Basically get a megadrive pad
and all you have to do is open it up and find the ground side. To do this all the connections will have a ground side. Grab your multi meter and check for continuity also you will see the ground goes to one side of all the button connections.....
Then on the other side it where you want to solder a wire as seen in the (bad) pic each one of those wires goes to the connection that matches it, up to up, button a to cab button 1, start to player one, etc. Then you need to add one wire to the ground side ( I usually use the other side of the start button but that's just me!) funnily enough it needs to go to ground. A bit of glue makes it nice too

Then to finish it off neatly put it back in the case and seal it up....

Pics...

then sealed up...

As for the PS2 pad hack......

How many wires

The md pad is the cheapest and easiest to hack.

- Ben

Forgot to add to connect the wires here's the controller plug pin out...
http://pinouts.ru/Game/genesiscontroller_pinout.shtml
Connect the wires as per that ^^^ gnd , +5v, etc and you're good to go

ben762013-01-25 23:51:33

 

[ZedEx48K]

You made the mistake I first did about this thread, he wants to use a pad on a jamma rig, not hook up arcade controls to a console, so a hack this way doesn't work.