5 replies to this topic

[shadow460]

Is there a way to make the Amiga Power stick function like a Pro Line?
I used a Power Stick in the past, and I'm wondering if the dual fire buttons can be wired to work like those on a Pro Line controller.
This would make Rampage way easier on my hands...

[A.J. Franzman]

shadow460, on Sun Sep 18, 2005 2:40 PM, said:

Is there a way to make the Amiga Power stick function like a Pro Line?
I used a Power Stick in the past, and I'm wondering if the dual fire buttons can be wired to work like those on a Pro Line controller.
This would make Rampage way easier on my hands...

I just had one of those apart a few minutes ago, and I can say "Not very easily". The main obstacle is that both buttons actually press just one internal contact, using a physical linkage.

BTW, this has got to be the strangest internal joystick configuration I've ever seen. It uses a conductive silicone rubber disc, with a hole in the middle and 4 sets of interleaved contact tracks underneath. There's a smaller, slightly stiffer, plastic disc on the back of the rubber disc, which tilts when the stick is moved, and its edge presses down in the mid-radius area of the rubber disc. The rubber contact disc has a grid of tiny non-conductive nubs to lift it back off the contacts when the stick is released. The fire buttons both work by cam action to press down a lever which in turn presses down on the very lower edge of the rubber disc, where there's another set of interleaved contact tracks. The directional contact tracks are spaced rather far from one another, which can sometimes make it difficult to get this stick to sense diagonal moves properly.

Edited by A.J. Franzman, Tue Sep 20, 2005 8:36 PM.

[shadow460]

I kinda suspected there was only one contact for the fire buttons inside there. It makes for extrememly quick Joust flapping, though.

I always wondered why the stick would spin freely, too. My old one spun free until you pressed it in any direction, then it would not spin until you "worked" it a bit.

I guess if one wanted to add a second fire button, a pass trough connector could be used along with a handheld trigger. It's kind of a cross between the Omage Race controller and the Revolution nunchuck thingy. Since the Power Stick can be used with one hand, I think that might work.

I'll probably just use it for 2600 games, though.

[shadow460]

Update: I got the Power Sticks. They don't work at all on Asteroids or Mean 18 Golf. In fact, Mean 18 won't do anything unless you use the Pro Line stick or an equivalent.

I opened both Power Sticks for cleaning and about 8,402 little bitty parts came outta there.

Here's how I'd mod them to simulate Pro Line sitcks:
Cut the lever that presses the disc when the fire button is pressed. Cut it in half vertically. Now each side can move independently.
Next cut one of the traces on the bottom or outer edge of the circuit board where the lever presses. Don't cut the ground trace, cut the other one and expose enough to solder to.
This is the limit of my knowledge on 7800 control mods. I'd have to look at a diagram to find out where to wire the resistiors in. Once wired, they go into the base of the stick where the Amiga labels are.
Change the cord to a 9 wire model and presto!

Now don't try this--it is only a hypothetical thing, and there are yet unsolved problems.

[A.J. Franzman]

shadow460, on Mon Sep 26, 2005 10:27 PM, said:

Cut the lever that presses the disc when the fire button is pressed.  Cut it in half vertically.  Now each side can move independently.

... except that the 2 lever halves will then just fall out of where they belong and rattle around inside the case.

To avoid this pitfall, before you cut the lever in half, you should first drill precisely down the center of its pivot axis, all the way through, with a bit a tad bigger than some steel rod of appropriate diameter to use for a pivot. Then after you've cut it, as a hinge pin, insert a piece of the rod which is just short enough to fit inside the case at the centerline of the lever pivot axis, all the way through the hole in both lever parts, with a spacer between the lever halves, the same thickness as the cut you made. Now all the pieces should behave as expected.

Sounds like a bit of work, you must really love that controller! Let me know if you need another one, you could buy mine or swap for it.

[shadow460]

I appreciate it. I was just theorizing, though. That's more than I care to do to a controller, so I'll save them for the many 2600 games I have.