Hi
Ive build a few project boxes in the past for my universal DB15 Stick but im now interested in building a PS2 project box , Hows the best way to go about this ? Anyone recommend a decent pad to hack or is there a dedicated PCB i can use like the CTHULHU PCB
Thanks
well its pretty much the same as a normal db15 project box, link up your signals to your pcb corresponding the inputs you want
if you’re going to use a pad, use a DS1 or an analog-less ps1 controller as the DS2’s for the ps2 aren’t common ground
try using the MCthulhu instead though since you could just RJ45 it using the plethora of tutorials on SRK and you can use it for (insert system here unless its an xbox360 or an n64)
Hori joystick or Hori pad PCB’s would work, too.
There are old threads with people making project boxes from cut-down Tekken 5 PCB’s. Those PCB’s are huge mainly because of the fact that the buttons are soldered into them in the factory. Those of us who customize our T5 joysticks do generally desolder the old buttons and solder signal wires to the old direct contact points.
The one picture I saw of a T5 PCB project box, the fellow who made sawed off like a good 2/3 at least of the PCB and soldered directly to the CPU on the board for almost everything (except the system connector cord). There just isn’t a big enough project box sold anywhere that would accommodate the whole T5 PCB — which the project box modder showed 67-85% of wasn’t needed for project box operation.
Right now, I’ve got two Tekken 5 PCB’s that are just sitting that I’d let go for cost of shipping. Can’t use them… They don’t have PS1/PS2 connector cords (which you need for obvious reasons!) and I’ve had signal issues with at least one of them that might or might not be related to the contact soldering. (Doubtful— they’ve worked fine for over a year until I tried an RJ-45 runaround for a frayed connector cord on one of them… was NOT aware that you needed all 8 original wires for the PCB… There’s an instance of where not having an electrical background but presuming what worked for the MC Cthulu would work in this case… it doesn’t. You need all 8 wires!)
What’s a project box, is it another term, for your own stick built from scratch. Before everyone attacks me, yes I have googled it and all links direct to this site, but it seems in the upgrade alot of threads have been removed. Are the threads coming back or is it part of the upgrade, as alot of these threads were useful, so what happens now, all that loast knowledge…
Here you go sir. It died in the sticky upgrade.
Wow, Kyle you’ve gone from a character avatar from something out of “Invader Zim” to the Grim Reaper!
Nice to see the Reaper doesn’t always zoom down to collect souls! 
Going back to Dave’s question… A project box is also a way to save money by recycling/reusing the same PCB over and over for different joysticks. The problem, though, is that you have to plan this mod very well and make sure the wiring is set up the same for EVERY JOYSTICK you’re going to use a Project Box. IF PB-using joysticks don’t have the same wiring set-ups, your buttons and directionals will NOT be common and you’ll find out quickly that Button “X” on one joystick is LEFT, RIGHT, or START on another one! That is the biggest drawback to using a Project Box.
Also, any PCB you use has to fit in that plastic box (generically called a Project Box). Note that you are pretty much limited to plastic containers only… You try using a metal container and you WILL get shorts quickly when and if your PCB’s exposed wires or solder points touch it!
Project Boxes cost a bit more to make than buying a PCB for a single joystick but because they’re modular you could use the same PCB for many joysticks if they’re set up with the same connector and REVERSE of the wiring set-up used for the project box. Just read the guide Kyle linked to… It’s not hard to understand unless you’re doing something a bit different. I’m trying to figure out now HOW to avoid soldering as much as possible.
A Project Box wouldn’t be worth it if you were getting say a replacement PCB for one joystick and that joystick is the only one you’re going to own… However, if you were to decide to buy 4 joysticks and gut them or buy four empty joystick cases then the economy of the Project Box kicks in quickly. Equipping 4-5 joystick cases with 2 Project Boxes split among them would be cheaper than buying 4-5 custom-made PCBs.
The last two avatars are from the Gorillaz - Demon Days live DVD. I get bored and change avatars like smelly socks.
I hear ya, luckily my first custom stick is usb and works perfectly on my ps2, ps3, and mac. But I get it seems like alot of hassle, and I’m finding it hard to see how much you will actually save but I guess if you have the time and some spare parts and you are making a few it’s wort it. I did want to make something that had hot swapable sticks, I’m still trying to work out the best solution, I love my suzo, but I have th einductive one and the rubber gronet version, and I want to make a box that can change depending on game I play, also button setups etc. This might have some tips that could help me out. By the way I didn’t do any soldering apart from the turbo latch button I modded, but if I planned ahead I wouldn’t have had to do that as I just was fixxing a rushed decision, so I’m sur if you use male and femal cable adapters, you could solde some wire to the pcb and attatch the adapetrs and have plug and play, but I have seen some custom pcbs that use speaker style spring sockets, so no soldering whatsoever, I’m sure your aware, if not hit me up and I’ll put you in right direction. PS nice to see some polite manners onhere for once, sick of people who hav eno life trying to be hard on the net lol
Hopefully you’ll find that Tech Talk has the lowest ratio of douchebags on the boards. We don’t stand for it. The worst that should happen is that someone points you in the direction you need to go rather than hand holding.