Just a question about running a Dreamcast and an Xbox360 in the same candy cab. I've got hacked controllers for both systems that terminate in molex connectors. I have a JAMMA fingerboard plugged into the cabinet harness, which has the controls terminating in molex connectors.
Right now I'm unplugging the Dreamcast molex connectors and plugging in the Xbox connectors to swap systems. Does anyone know if there would be a problem with connecting both Dreamcast and Xbox controllers together so they're both plugged in all the time? I only have controls and ground wired through the controller hacks, no voltages.
This would make it so no matter which game you turned on, the controls would be ready without extra plugging/unplugging.
To go along with that, how about using a 'Y' video cable so a VGA switchbox isn't needed either? Like this one:
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/83-3180
Multiple consoles in same cab question
Re: Multiple consoles in same cab question
This is such an old classic question, yet I can't seem to find the threads that debate this over on BYOAC forum...back in 1999. 
In short, you can't have multiple grounds tied to different systems, even if those systems are turned off...they are still grounds! This includes video as well as controllers. You'd have to isolate each ground wire with a diode, but even then, the risk of accidentally having two systems on at the same time would cause the controller ports on one or both consoles to blow their internal fuses...the dreamcast being especially sensative to this happening.
Some people have had success hooking both controllers and video up through AB switchboxes, since all the connections are then isolated, but seems like a whole lot of work to setup just to be lazy about about unplugging/replugging your consoles.
In short, you can't have multiple grounds tied to different systems, even if those systems are turned off...they are still grounds! This includes video as well as controllers. You'd have to isolate each ground wire with a diode, but even then, the risk of accidentally having two systems on at the same time would cause the controller ports on one or both consoles to blow their internal fuses...the dreamcast being especially sensative to this happening.
Some people have had success hooking both controllers and video up through AB switchboxes, since all the connections are then isolated, but seems like a whole lot of work to setup just to be lazy about about unplugging/replugging your consoles.
Re: Multiple consoles in same cab question
I use a y-connector only for my line out audio to my cabinets amp (a subwoofer). I've hooked up a PC and my 360 to this. Does this sound dangerous? I have the video connected to a VGA switchbox -> UVC -> JAMMA, so the only thing I have to unplug now is the JAMMA control interface (padhack/j-pac).Dave_K. wrote:You'd have to isolate each ground wire with a diode, but even then, the risk of accidentally having two systems on at the same time would cause the controller ports on one or both consoles to blow their internal fuses...the dreamcast being especially sensative to this happening.
I get kinda worried about the audio though, but I can't imagine it's as dangerous as having multiple controls hooked up to the same ground.
| My games - http://www.emphatic.seRegalSin wrote:Street Fighters. We need to aviod them when we activate time accellerator.