Has anyone made a 5200 Joystick PCB for the original controllers?

[Lynxpro]

I just wanted to know if anyone has built an actual PCB replacement for the CX52 joysticks. Seems like that would be a better route to go than adding gold contacts to the various revisions of the Flex circuits. Sure, it would probably make it a wiring mess like the Colecovision standard controllers but I'd speculate it would still be doable and reliable...

[0078265317]

Cool idea but space wise probably wont fit. Too thick.

[Shawn]

Cool idea but space wise probably wont fit. Too thick.

 

You have no idea what you are talking about.

[SoundGammon]

Here's this board you can build, don't think it'll fit into a controller, but I plan on puttting 2 of them into a 5200 4-port in controller spots 3 & 4 and tying them in with ports 1 & 2. I plan on taking out the 15 pin jacks and putting in 9 pin jacks.

[0078265317]

 

You have no idea what you are talking about.

 

The mylar is paper thin. So how can you squeeze a pcb inside that is 4 times as thick?

[Shawn]

 

The mylar is paper thin. So how can you squeeze a pcb inside that is 4 times as thick?

 

How about starting with removing the plastic plate that it sits on and put threw holes where the poles go on

the pcb so you can have screws in place to hold it in position.

[0078265317]

But that plate is not removable is it?

[Shawn]

But that plate is not removable is it?

 

You have just proven my point that you don't know what you are talking about.

[Lynxpro]

Here's this board you can build, don't think it'll fit into a controller, but I plan on puttting 2 of them into a 5200 4-port in controller spots 3 & 4 and tying them in with ports 1 & 2. I plan on taking out the 15 pin jacks and putting in 9 pin jacks.

 

Interesting idea… Could you condense that into a single PCB, install it inside the 5200, and then drill holes and mount the DB9s elsewhere? If you could somehow connect those to the 2600 Piggyback Parasite Adapter via the cartridge slot, that would be more aesthetically pleasant than hooking up the controllers to the adapter case.

[+Allan]

You still have to have connections to START,PAUSE, RESET and both fire buttons. That's why the used the flex circuit.

 

Allan

[Lynxpro]

You still have to have connections to START,PAUSE, RESET and both fire buttons. That's why the used the flex circuit.

 

Allan

 

Small PCB up front connected to the larger one below the keypad area. Hence the "wiring mess" comment.

[+-^CrossBow^-]

I think the wiring could be managed easily enough. Drill small holes through the top section where the start,pause, and reset section lies to keep the wiring away from the sides and possibly getting in the way of the fire buttons, because you would also need to create two other smaller PCBs for those as well plus their wiring.

 

And yes, if you remove the support plate from the keypad area there should be plenty of room for a main interconnect PCB there. Hell, the original wiring harness already has a ZIF like connector on it that you could probably just stick onto the edge of the new pcb and that would be more secure and longer lasting than the mylar connection used currently and allow resuse of the original wiring without modification in this way.

 

I don't have the software or knowledge to design such a PCB but it doesn't seem like it would be that difficult? Can even get small enough micro switches that could be surface mounted to reduce space even more. Similar to the tiny reset switch used on the turbo everdrive perhaps as an example?

 

In any design I would hope that all the wiring would be made with header pin connections or easy disconnects within the wiring to make maintenance and future repair on the controllers easier after the modifications.

Edited March 16, 2016 by -^Cro§Bow^-

[0078265317]

Or while you are at it why stop at custom pcb. Make a whole new controller shell and all. And then you don't have to worry about space and all.

[+-^CrossBow^-]

A custom PCB can be designed and sent off to get created for I believe a pretty much lesser cost than designing an entirely new controller?

 

The primary issue besides the lack of self centering is really the fact that the buttons and their connections to the mylar underneath sucks and doesn't improve with age. But then I assume you knew that?

[0078265317]

Not a whole new controller. Just reuse the same parts. Just a new shell to make space for the PCB.

[Micheloni2600]

This would be a project that would turn into a huge pain, we just got a 5200 in at work , and 3 of the controllers did not work, I took each one apart cleaning all of the contacts a long while, until they looked brand new, I put them back together and they worked no problem at all, these controllers are actually very fun until the sticks wear out or the rubber tears around them. But installing pcb board into them could be possible but it would be a major pain and in the long run I don't think it would be worth it . Just clean the flex-circuit/board over each contact where it meets and make sure its lined up when put back together!!! That's why they are such a pain to get working properly they are rushed, these controllers are the kind that need all the love in the world. ​

[Lynxpro]

A custom PCB can be designed and sent off to get created for I believe a pretty much lesser cost than designing an entirely new controller?

 

The primary issue besides the lack of self centering is really the fact that the buttons and their connections to the mylar underneath sucks and doesn't improve with age. But then I assume you knew that?

 

Speaking of the self-centering issue, I can't find the webpage of the guy who took the thumbstick parts off an Xbox controller and installed it in his 5200 joystick so he could use it with the 5200 emulator on his modded Xbox. If one could do the reverse of his project and made the Xbox pot output the same values as the 5200 pot, then you'd have the self-centering issue resolved.

[Micheloni2600]

Try a similarity to the n64. Have the joystick dead in the center. Then turn the console on. I mean these get worn out to where there isnt really a centering snap. If you can tolerate playing without it. I wouldnt spend 30 dollars on replacement or refurbishment