A lot of the information on the site is being repeated quite a lot. Maybe it would be useful to have one thread that has generic info about the most popular subjects.
For instance, I have lost count the amount of times I have posted links to PS2 controller to usb converters. I’m sure Milo and a few others are also a little bit fed up re-posting things over and over (not that we don’t want to help - we do - but it means hunting for old posts that we have dredged up a few times before)
I don’t want to get bogged down with specific builds, just the kind of things that can be used on any controller. For instance the wiring diagram of how to wire an LED button from a 5v (usb) supply or a training video on soldering
If the idea catches on, maybe it could get sticky-ed?
Maybe do a sticky thread with info about these basic mods everyone are doing? Links to basic brains, pots, sliders ect and info about that? What people use to wire and stuff.
I started a thread like this already actually (see my sig) - problem is, it requires people to contribute links as I don’t have time to keep it updated all the time. What I’ve started doing is editing the tags of any interesting threads with the word, “mil0” so I can easily search for them later and update the FAQ. If other people want to do the same, feel free!
But personally, I think this forum needs a wiki… thoughts mods?
Ok, it would only be fair to start at the beginning with the man who’s idea this site is, Ean, over to you for a basic tutorial on how to build a controller…
How to connect a Leo Bodnar device to buttons, encoders etc. A good tip on here is how to avoid a lot of soldering. Use the crimped spades that you see at 3:40.
One thing he did miss out was that you have to download the software to get encoders to work.
How to hard wire led buttons. An image tells a thousand words.
You can normally pick up a 5V supply directly from your usb port connection and from memory (correct me if I’m wrong here folks) the resistor should be about 330 ohms.
You can also get double connectors where you can plug in two controllers and double your buttons and pots. One thing to remember is when you are looking to connect pots, the controller must be in analogue mode or the gamepad will revert to POV switches.
If you are looking to buy some, then Google Shop or Ebay ‘PS2 controllers to usb’. If you just google PS2 to usb you will get something completely different - the old connectors for connecting your keyboard and mouse before usb became popular.
If you are modding gamepads/joysticks, then you want to choose 10K LINEAR POTS.
When wiring the pots the most common way of doing it is to connect the 5v to one of the outside terminals. The 0v would then connect to the other outside terminal. The variable voltage would normally be the centre connection, commonly known as the wiper.
Health and safety, the bit where everyone moans and feels like they are being treated like 5 year olds. Trust me, this kind of stuff has its dangers. If you do not know what you are doing - ASK. The chances are that you will be dealing with power tools, soldering irons and/or electricity at some point. These are not thing to be fucked around with. Worst case scenario - Death or permanent injury.
Please be as safe as you can. If you feel like you are rushing things for whatever reason, STOP and ask yourself if what you are doing is really worth loosing an eye for. If you are pushing yourself too far, too fast, then you’re probably not in the right mindset to be working. Stop for a bit, get a cup of tea (or coffee if you’re from the States ) chill out and go back to it later.
The other side of the coin is you will be working with materials that will cost you money. If you are rushing things, you WILL fuck up, meaning it WILL cost you more money.
Not sure if questions are needed in this awesome idea of thread of tips and tutorials, but the diagram shows the LED and says it connects to the 5v of the USB. How would you connect multiple LEDs on devices where you may have, for example, as many as 16+ of them?
Personally, I have connected 7 leds to one resistor which was placed at the start of the 5v circuit. The way I see it, is every time you add more resistance to the circuit, you lower the voltage.
Though, I think it may be an idea to have a directory on the OP linking to the specific posts within the thread if this thread fully takes off (as I hope it will!).
If you check the first link in my sig, you’ll see a thread that links to other useful threads on djtt so I think the way that archies is doing this thread is fine.
But a wiki would probably be much better.. at least that way the useful information wouldn’t get lost among all the replies…
) chill out and go back to it later.
