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Here is the IPAC interface. It was once necessary to hack a keyboard in order to connect the joysticks and buttons to the computer's keyboard port. This involved ripping all the keys off and wiring the buttons and joysticks to the microswitches that corresponded with certain keys. However, the invention of the IPAC makes the connection of the arcade controls to the PC much more convenient. There are pots for each of the positive leads from each button and joystick microswitch and two pots for all of the negative leads. When a button is pressed, the circuit is completed for the corresponding pot and the electrical impulse travels directly into the computer's keyboard port-and presto!-all of the arcade controls are hooked up to the computer. Also, because the pots use small screws to keep the wires in place, there is no soldering required for those of you that fear the soldering iron. Well, almost. Because you have to connect all of the grounds to only two pots, it is necessary to solder all of the grounds together, with one lead connecting all of them to the negative pot. So, not much soldering here to my disappointment-I actually like soldering! Not to worry, I would have PLENTY of reasons to break out the soldering iron later when I repaired the monitor's PCB board and remote PCB. The monitor was "blown" when I bought the cabinet, which is probably why I got it for so cheap. I am actually glad it was blown, because I learned a great deal about Printed Circuit Boards when fixing it. |
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