2 PCB's in one stick - Possible?

dav3yb · February 14, 2009, 3:24am

So, looking at this picture, if you allow both cords to hang out of the case, do you still need to wire both pcbs together. it might just be im not thinking about it correctly, but if you wire everything to the terminals, have both wires to power whatever pcb you use, then would you need to connect the 2?

Kyle · February 14, 2009, 3:34am

Both the power and ground of each PCB have to be connected. Even with the two wires coming out of the case.

dav3yb · February 14, 2009, 3:39am

so, the green line, connecting all the buttons and ground of the joystick. could you just connect both pcb grounds to that? or is something else connected to that?

i’ll add this since im sure it’ll come up eventually:

Is the new SF4 fightpad pcb something worth using for a 2 pcb stick?

Kyle · February 14, 2009, 4:19am

If this seems confusing then feel free to check out my thread. I try to break this down better with pictures.

I wouldn’t recommend the fightpad because 1. People are reporting a variety of issues with it and 2. I don’t think anyone has said if it’s common ground which is required for use in a dual-pcb setup.

Get either one of these or one of these. Both will be cheaper than the fightpad.

dav3yb · February 14, 2009, 4:29am

I seem to remember someone making a thread, although i cant find it now, saying he might offer a service of pre-wired pcb’s. im not that great at soldering, and if he is still willing, i’d like to know.

thanks for the link(s) btw…

one thing i’d like to do, to avoid having 2 wires coming out of the stick is just connect the pcbs to a usb b-type adapter, and have 2 ports on the outside, so i can have just 1 usb cable to cary and hook to which ever one i want to use… i cant see there being any issues with usb adapter, but do you (or anyone) know of any that might come up?

i’ve already ordered some of these btw

Kane_Blueriver · February 14, 2009, 7:24am

Jouki:

The reason that MadCatz controllers are easier to use is because they have better defined signal points, easier to solder onto without making mistakes, an isn’t as much an eyesore as compared to the official M 360 controllers. In those the points are really small and (I THINK) the controllers don’t share a common ground so that means that you would have to solder both a ground AND the signal piece to EACH button on the controller, which is an extensive and sometimes annoyingly frustrating process to undertake unless you are a good solderer.

I just looked at the joystick and saw that it had a common ground so the ground MUST be shared through all of its components. I stated where the common ground is up in the first picture. Although the PCBs are different they should all share somewhat the same characteristics. Just go by what I said up there and you should be fine in regards to the common ground and the signals.

Ok, thanks for the info. I guess I’ll have to import. However, I’m still replacing the PCB, as the PS1 one uses a lot less space than the Hori PCB. However, I’ve seen that there’s a MadCatz stick that doesn’t have the common ground (In Slagcoin’s diagrams there are a lot of “common”, differently colored in some of the pads). I guess that the Retrostick PCB would be the best option?, just to be sure?

Jouki · February 16, 2009, 10:48am

I wasn’t sure on which “common” to use as well, but as the word suggests, the ground is shared commonly throughout all of the points regardless of which one you pick.

(That’s how I looked at it anyways haha)

Jouki · February 16, 2009, 10:51am

I might start a service like this…just waiting on some things and then I’ll try to do this.

Jouki · February 16, 2009, 11:01am

Anyone else having trouble doing this kind of PCB-esque mod?

VOLTECH · February 17, 2009, 7:17am

Ok so I’d like to use a toggle switch that is low profile and that snaps in place . I’m talking about the black plastic slide switch not the common metal toggle switches. I need it to be low profile snap into place if possible and have at least 2 solder points for the USB data lines to connect to. Does anyone know of such a switch and can post a link???

Hejdlond · February 17, 2009, 4:04pm

Kane Blueriver: I posted my dual mod of the Hori case over at “The, I love my custom stick gallery”. Here’s a bigger picture of the inside:

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7877/insideqc6.th.jpg

If you remove the original PCB and use a DualShock PCB instead you could place the MadCatz PCB under the buttons (where I placed the PlayStation PCB) and put the DualShock PCB to the right (where the 5 pin cable is)

IceWilly · February 17, 2009, 7:14pm

I found a very good one this past weekend at radioshack in their little components bin. Its maybe 3/4" wide and 3/4 deep including the switch and pins. The pins are very small to solder to but totally doable. I recessed it in the edge of my box so when I flip it over I can toggle it, but it doesn’t protrude out of the case.

I will take a picture tonight. It didn’t snap into place though, it had 2 tiny screws that I drilled small holes for. But it was incredibly small and unintrusive. It’s a switch that slides left to right, not a button toggle. Again pics will help, I just can’t take them until later. send me a pm if i forget!

dongle · February 17, 2009, 9:15pm

Is it going to be feasible to wire a 360 Madcatz FightStick TE with a PS1 or PS2 PCB as well?

Sorry if this was asked already.

Jouki · February 17, 2009, 9:42pm

There should be no difference in soldering to tthe respective grounds and buttons other than its PCB specific diagramming.

Ubersaurus · February 18, 2009, 3:27am

I’m looking to dual pcb mod my 360 SF4 TE with the PS1 dual shock H pcb. Has anyone else done it here? I’m wondering what the easiest way to get everything set up in there would be.

Shin_Kaz · February 18, 2009, 8:55pm

do it with a digital only ps1 sony pad.

VOLTECH · February 18, 2009, 11:00pm

Yes!!! Pics please and or serial\model number :lovin::lovin::lovin:

Ubersaurus · February 19, 2009, 6:27am

Why a digital pad over the dual shock H? I hear some of the PS3 converters don’t like digital ones so much.

Jouki · February 19, 2009, 7:16am

InPin shouldn’t have that problem?

They are just easier to work with. There shouldn’t be any real difference in regards to the converter because you would only be using the specific digital (directional pad) signal anyways.

Shin_Kaz · February 19, 2009, 8:50am

this.
no idea about adapters though, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.