Help with arcade stick - A button doesn't work properly

[DiegoPonga]

Hi there!

As I mentioned in a previous thread, I had to re-solder all the connections. Now, my stick works PER-FECT

except for just one button. It seems to have some kind of delay, but I would say that it actually works when it desires to, which makes it really frustrating. I tested different games and different atributes for that button (i.e., jumping, punching, shooting). It's all the same.

It looks like it is a problem of wiring. However, I have checked that option and it looks OK. Just in case, I have re-wired that specific connection, but it is exactly the same.

Does anyone know what could have happened?

My arcade stick is (used to be) a Mayflash cheap stick with a Seimitsu stick and 8 Sanwa buttons, just like this:



I think there are some possibilities:

1) I'm clumsy as hell. Just re-wire/re-solder the freaking button once again.

2) The button is damaged, so it won't work properly.

3) That specific part of the PCB is damaged, so the connection is unsatisfactory.

[gray117]

Just detach from the button and touch the 2 wires together: Does the button punch/kick/shoot or whatever 100%? Then it's the button. If it doesn't then it's the wiring or pcb. This thing is just an open/closed switch - nothing complicated

... If it's a little hard to tell from 'feel' of touching two wires, you can basically do the same thing by wiring it to a working or spare button.

[DiegoPonga]

Just detach from the button and touch the button and ground wire together: Does the button punch/kick/shoot or whatever 100%? Then it's the button. If it doesn't then it's the wiring or pcb. This thing is just an open/closed switch - nothing complicated

... If it's a little hard to tell from 'feel' of touching two wires, you can basically do the same thing by wiring it to a working or spare button.

Thank you very much!

I'm thinking about soldering the PCB to the button directly. It cannot be the grounding connection, since in the Mayflash USB/PS2 arcadestick you have to wire all buttons at the same PCB slot. If it were the grounding, it wouldn't be the only button that didn't work properly. It has to be the remaining wire. Probably soldering it directly to the PCB solves any connection problem. Give me some time and I'll answer.

On the other hand, it is a red 30mm Sanwa button, replacing it costs a couple of €...

[beatsgo]

You can also try using a different button on the wires if you're using Quick Disconnects. If it's soldered, you can unsolder and just use gator clips/electric tape the wires onto the contact points and determine if there's any closer. This determines if the button is going bad.

[gray117]

lol I editted not sure if I was clear - don't need the button to test - just the 2 wires. (button signal wire and ground wire)

[TransatlanticFoe]

If I remember right, the buttons have a common ground which should make things easier - should be obvious from the PCB layout.

I removed the PCB for the buttons entirely - it connects to the main board via a few fairly thick metal connectors. I soldered wires straight onto those and it came out fine.

The problem with soldering onto a board (even when you're poking a wire through an existing hole) is if you don't have clean metal to solder to, you end up with a very bad electrical connection.

[DiegoPonga]

I soldered this button, and now IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But the rest don't. I think the problem is the Faston connecters I have are shitty as hell. They tend to move around.



Thus, I'm soldering every single cable to every single button. It would be cleaner. Difficult to detach but somehow cleaner, safer, cooler.

Now I have some doubts about arcade sticks in general. Don't know if this is the kind of thing I should post here or better in a new thread. Anyway, I've seen those Zero Delay cheap PCBs. How are they? Do they allow you to introduce buttons such as 1P, 2P, Turbo, Select, Start, etc.?

[Shoryukev]

If the crimp connectors feel loose, you could squeeze the part that slides over the contact of the button with a pair of pliers a little bit to give it a tighter grip. It should be very snug when you plug it into the buttons or you will have intermittent problems and "gremlins" when you take your stick with you to places.

[powerfuran]

Anyway, I've seen those Zero Delay cheap PCBs. How are they? Do they allow you to introduce buttons such as 1P, 2P, Turbo, Select, Start, etc.?

I have briefly reviewed the PCB in the custom sticks thread:

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... 9#p1245769

[DiegoPonga]

If I remember right, the buttons have a common ground which should make things easier - should be obvious from the PCB layout.

I removed the PCB for the buttons entirely - it connects to the main board via a few fairly thick metal connectors. I soldered wires straight onto those and it came out fine.

The problem with soldering onto a board (even when you're poking a wire through an existing hole) is if you don't have clean metal to solder to, you end up with a very bad electrical connection.

Quite true. In fact, I have soldered it wrong, so a button sends 2 inputs. Those tiny holes for soldering were quite difficult for me. I think I'm done and I'm going to buy a new Zero Delay PCB

Which was your solution, anyway?

If the crimp connectors feel loose, you could squeeze the part that slides over the contact of the button with a pair of pliers a little bit to give it a tighter grip. It should be very snug when you plug it into the buttons or you will have intermittent problems and "gremlins" when you take your stick with you to places.

That's why I decided to solder every cable. Now it works perfectly straight in that sense, except for a couple of cables that are currently soldered together and they send inputs wrongly. What a shame

Anyway, I've seen those Zero Delay cheap PCBs. How are they? Do they allow you to introduce buttons such as 1P, 2P, Turbo, Select, Start, etc.?

I have briefly reviewed the PCB in the custom sticks thread:

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... 9#p1245769

Thank you very much!

So, materials are somehow poor, but it works. For 10€, I think this is wonderful.