Newbie button question - leaf to microswitch

Timbo

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Hi all, want to replace some tired out old 80's leaf buttons with microswitches. The microswitch buttons have 3 "large size" receptors, while the old buttons have 2 "small size" receptors, with the 2 black wires both feeding into the top receptor.

What's the conversion process here? TIA....
 

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Hi all, want to replace some tired out old 80's leaf buttons with microswitches. The microswitch buttons have 3 "large size" receptors, while the old buttons have 2 "small size" receptors, with the 2 black wires both feeding into the top receptor.

What's the conversion process here? TIA....

For each button there is one signal wire and one ground wire. The signal wire goes back to a particular pin on the game PCB (generally) and the ground wire completes the circuit when the button is pressed. The ground wire may be daisy-chained to all of the other grounds in the control panel.

For the leaf switch, there are two connectors for the two wires and one set of contacts - the leafs - when they touch, the circuit is closed.

For the microswitches, they also have two wires:

The ground wire goes to the connector (on the microswitch) marked GND, and the signal wire goes to the connector marked NO (Normally Open).

The third connector on the microswitch marked NC (Normally Closed) is left bare, in most cases.

Got it?

RussM
 
Yes, but the sizes don't match, the wires don't fit onto the big wide microswitch "prongs" (sorry I don't know electronics jargon! :)

Seems I need an adapter, big-to-small , or else i need to chop off the connectors on the wires from the PCB & replace them w/ bigger sizes.
 
Yes, but the sizes don't match, the wires don't fit onto the big wide microswitch "prongs" (sorry I don't know electronics jingo! :)

Seems I need an adapter, big-to-small , or else i need to chop off the connectors on the wires from the PCB & replace them w/ bigger sizes.

bingo. either strip the wire and drimp a new female end on or solder the exposed wire to the microswith tab.

And if memory serves me right if you were to attach your "action" button wire (not the ground) to the upper side tab, then that action would always be happening unless you push the button to stop the action. EX: On Street Fighter 2, if you accidentally would have connected the a punch button wire to the upper tab instead of the lower tab, then Ryu would be constantly punching until you were to press the punch button to stop it. Weird stuff.
 
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Microswitch Wiring

Timbo, the contact that is on the top of the microswitch unit has a 90 degree bend in it. This is the common (COM) or ground contact. The black wire needs to be connected to this one. The next one down, should be the "NO" or nominally open contact. The colored wire which corresponds to the button should be connected to this one. The bottom contact is the "NC" or nominally closed contact. This contact is not used often at all. Most of the time the contacts will be labeled on one side of the microswitch unit. Hope that helps.

I spent a lot of time in Portsmouth. My favorite spots were the Fresh Local truck and Tequilla Jacks.
 
Wow, thats some speedy replies! Many thanks all, i'm not about to go buy a soldering gun quite yet, so will look into different sized "teeth/receptors". Assume Radio shack will have such a thing.. i'm off... Thanks again!
 
Wow, thats some speedy replies! Many thanks all, i'm not about to go buy a soldering gun quite yet, so will look into different sized "teeth/receptors". Assume Radio shack will have such a thing.. i'm off... Thanks again!

Radio shack will have them,but usually if you buy the bagged sets, you'll get like 2 other styles of the same size which you'll never use. Find an electronics store, or maybe try Lowes. .187" Female Terminals is what you're looking for. Wire gauge is up to what you're using, but usually a 16-22.
 
the ground wire goes to the tab marked COM (common), signal wires generally go to the NO tab. pressing the button wired to NO ( normally open) will momentarily complete a circuit.
doing so while wired to NC (normally closed) will break a continuous circuit.

if you are doing any work on games its almost imperative to have a decent soldering iron.
 
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