Making a Saturn Playstation PAD, help requested

[M47R1X]

I don't see why you have to take the corners out.

I figured that if I have to in order to make room for wires, chips and stuff that I could. Not necessarily that I WOULD.

On the Sega board, cutting away the traces from the chip and any resisters will prevent any "shorts" in relation to the PSX replacement PCB.

So just make sure to cut out that main chunk or am I going to need to divide the buttons into their own little sections (on the surface; still one whole PCB)?

Also, (remember, my knowledge is limited here, using what all you guys have told me and playing by ear) it appears that the buttons work by completing a circuit. Will I have to solder two wires for each button (one on either end of the circuit)? I imagine just soldering one point per button wouldn't do much, would it? And also, how all will this work out on L1 and R1 (going to Z and C, respectively)? Should I treat each pole of the switches in L1 and R1 as separate contact points of a button? And (I know, lotsa questions, right? But hey, I'm learning something that I actually CARE about.) I noticed that it seems like on the Saturn pad's PCB that ALL buttons share one side of the contact (the signal follows the "light green" portion of the PCB, not the "dark green," right?). Would one wire connecting from the major portion of the Saturn PCB going to the major portion of the PSX PCB work? Unless I am misinterpreting how exactly the buttons work. I understand switches better. Thanks!

[CRTGAMER]

I don't see why you have to take the corners out.

I figured that if I have to in order to make room for wires, chips and stuff that I could. Not necessarily that I WOULD.

Oh, okay I see, cut one or both only if you have to. That PCB is easy to crack.

So just make sure to cut out that main chunk or am I going to need to divide the buttons into their own little sections (on the surface; still one whole PCB)?

it appears that the buttons work by completing a circuit. Will I have to solder two wires for each button (one on either end of the circuit)? I imagine just soldering one point per button wouldn't do much, would it? And also, how all will this work out on L1 and R1 (going to Z and C, respectively)? Should I treat each pole of the switches in L1 and R1 as separate contact points of a button?

All you have to do is cut the traces, isolating each side of the button pad. Leave enough trace to solder the wire UNDENEATH the Sega button pads, trick is seeing where the trace matches below, 2 wires per switch. That way all the extra wire may not have to be routed between the Sega button and pad side. Cut enough to ensure enough clearance for the PSX board to fit.

I noticed that it seems like on the Saturn pad's PCB that ALL buttons share one side of the contact (the signal follows the "light green" portion of the PCB, not the "dark green," right?). Would one wire connecting from the major portion of the Saturn PCB going to the major portion of the PSX PCB work? Unless I am misinterpreting how exactly the buttons work. I understand switches better. Thanks!

PSX is same way, one side of a button matches the other buttons, common power or ground. All switches still need two wires to make or break a circuit. Be careful tracing the commons, end result is one wire to each side of the button pad on the PCB, two total per button. The L1 and R1 are the same, two wires per switch.

This brings up another point. Limited on which games will work since you are losing both sticks and L2,L3,R2 and R3 buttons.

[M47R1X]

**double post, stupid iPod touch...**

[M47R1X]

All you have to do is cut the traces, isolating each side of the button pad. Leave enough trace to solder the wire UNDENEATH the Sega button pads, trick is seeing where the trace matches below, 2 wires per switch. That way all the extra wire may not have to be routed between the Sega button and pad side. Cut enough to ensure enough clearance for the PSX board to fit.

How exactly should I do that? Should I cut a very shallow cut with a dremel to cut the traces? Also, should I drill a small hole through the board in the traces to rout the tips of the wires through the back of the board and solder onto the front side?

[CRTGAMER]

All you have to do is cut the traces, isolating each side of the button pad. Leave enough trace to solder the wire UNDENEATH the Sega button pads, trick is seeing where the trace matches below, 2 wires per switch. That way all the extra wire may not have to be routed between the Sega button and pad side. Cut enough to ensure enough clearance for the PSX board to fit.

How exactly should I do that? Should I cut a very shallow cut with a dremel to cut the traces? Also, should I drill a small hole through the board in the traces to rout the tips of the wires through the back of the board and solder onto the front side?

No holes, might weaken or crack the board. Just follow the traces and see if you luck out with solder points on the other side of the PBC. If not, you can route wires around those proposed corner cutouts. Just gotta clear all the buttons from rubbing the wires.

You can cut the traces with any sharp blade, the Dremel will be too destructive.
All this is moot if PSX board doesn't fit, maybe verify that first.

[M47R1X]

No holes, might weaken or crack the board. Just follow the traces and see if you luck out with solder points on the other side of the PBC. If not, you can route wires around those proposed corner cutouts. Just gotta clear all the buttons from rubbing the wires.

You can cut the traces with any sharp blade, the Dremel will be too destructive.
All this is moot if PSX board doesn't fit, maybe verify that first.

I plan to see if I can cram it in there before I make any cuts. The problem with soldering to the back of the PCB is that there is absolutely NO circutry on the back o the PCB. Jut a place for the cable to plug into via 15 or so pins and a small wire budge for the Star button. No trace whatsoever. I like the knife idea. Tiny, shallow cuts with a dremel scare me. Most of the buttons have an area further down in the trace that is nice and wide; I'll ty to route the wires there via the proposed corner cuts. Lots of room in th front side of the pad, but the backside is cramped, further complicating things.

[CRTGAMER]

No holes, might weaken or crack the board. Just follow the traces and see if you luck out with solder points on the other side of the PBC. If not, you can route wires around those proposed corner cutouts. Just gotta clear all the buttons from rubbing the wires.

You can cut the traces with any sharp blade, the Dremel will be too destructive.
All this is moot if PSX board doesn't fit, maybe verify that first.

I plan to see if I can cram it in there before I make any cuts. The problem with soldering to the back of the PCB is that there is absolutely NO circuitry on the back o the PCB. Jut a place for the cable to plug into via 15 or so pins and a small wire budge for the Star button. No trace whatsoever. I like the knife idea. Tiny, shallow cuts with a dremel scare me. Most of the buttons have an area further down in the trace that is nice and wide; I'll ty to route the wires there via the proposed corner cuts. Lots of room in th front side of the pad, but the backside is cramped, further complicating things.

A pain having to route wire same side as buttons, but if that's all you got.
You can use that knife to scrape away the green coating for a solder point too.
I would scrutinize the commons, would be less wires to solder up between the two boards.

[M47R1X]

No kidding, the less crap in the way the better. Not really sure why it all had to be on one side, major pain in the butt. For sure C and Z will have to have their own wire pairs. I still feel this whole experience will be worth it if I get it working. I heard there were a lot of cases of some games not working with the official Sega PS2 pad. This SHOULD alleviate the problems. We shall see. Probably won't get the ASCII grip in until Monday or Tuesday, so I'm on hold on working on the pad, but certainly not planning.

[M47R1X]

Alright, got the Grip in! It's pretty small, so it should be able to fit in. I will post some comparison pics later. I feel alot of hot glue is in my future...

[CRTGAMER]

Hope it works out, curious what the guts look like too.