This is the "How-to"
guide to building
your own SNES joypad adapter.
| DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this page is provided "as is" and is for educational purposes only, and although I have checked it for accuracy and errors to the best of my ability, I give no warrantee that it will work, be safe to use, be fit for any purpose, or not cause damage to your computer. If you decide to follow these instructions, then it is at YOUR OWN RISK, and I will not be held accountable or responsible for any damages, losses, harm, or any other form of compensation, arising from your use of this information, or inability to use it, even if I have been advised of the possibility of such damages. |
Now that the legal stuff is over.....
How to build a 2 joypad SNES adapter
How to build a 4 joypad SNES adapter
How to build a 1 to 4 joypad NES adapter
How to mix and match SNES and NES joypads on the one adapter.
Adding an external power supply
Update! A Possible "fix" for Speed problems. (NEW!!)
Build you own SNES compatible circuit. (NEW!!)
How to build a 2 joypad Saturn adapter (Coming soon!)
This is how I built my own 2 joypad adapter:
1) Gather the components needed. 1 DB25 male (i.e. with pins) connector. 5 diodes, preferably germanium (1N34A should be fine.) 2 SNES joypad extension cables.
2) Cut off the connector that connects to the SNES console from the extension cables. (Not the end the joypad plugs in to, or you're screwed.)
3) Using a multi-tester, continuity tester, or what ever, check which pins from the connector still on the cable, go to which color wires at the end you cut off. Write this down, you will need it later.
4) With a soldering iron, connect the 5 diodes to the DB25 connector, making sure the ANODE side is soldered to the connector. One diode for each pin 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Anode
Cathode
5) Twist the 5 CATHODE sides of the diodes together to make one twisted wire then, solder them together. (Don't forget to snip off the excess wire at the end. Leave just enough to solder a wire to.)
6) Solder a piece of wire straight across pins 18-25 on the DB25 connector, by this I mean connect pins 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 all together.
7) Solder the wire from pin 1 of the SNES connectors (the pin near the rounded edge,) to pin 18 on the DB25 connector.
8) Next solder the wire from pin 5 of the SNES connectors to pin 3 on the DB25 connector.
9) Then solder the wire from pin 6 of the SNES connectors to pin 2 of the DB25 connector.
10) Now solder the wire from pin 7 of the SNES connectors to the twisted end of the diodes you soldered to pins 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
11) Now comes the tricky part. The wire coming from pin 4 of the SNES connector (the one just after the separator,) has to be soldered to pin 10 or 12 of the DB25 connector. First select which cable you would like to make joypad 1, and which is joypad 2. The wire from pin 4, from the cable selected as joypad 1, has to be soldered to pin 10 on the DB25 connector. Now pin 4 from the cable selected as joypad 2, needs to be soldered to pin 12 on the DB25 connector. Disregard the other 2 wires (if there are left over, they will be connected to pins 2 and 3 of the SNES connector,) and trim them off.
12) Put a back shell (cover) over the DB25 connector, (make sure it's plastic, you don't want any of those diode connections shorting out,) and you should have yourself one, dual joypad adapter.
13) Download the small test routine, written for me by Kerry High, and make sure your adapter is working. To test your adapter, plug it in to LPT 1, 2 or 3, and enter the information in to the test program.
14) If all is ok, then you're ready to blast in to your favourite game or emulator that supports SNES joypads.
15) If you got this far, then I guess something is wrong...... not a good thing really. A common problem is your LPT is not set up in a standard way, (&378h, for LPT 1, &278h for LPT 2.) Also make sure you LPT is set to NORMAL, or PS/2, or STANDARD mode.
If you have followed the instructions correctly, checked all your wiring, checked it again, and it's still not working, then email me, and we'll see what we can work out. It could be that you may need an external power source.
Four SNES joypads on the same adapter.
1) Gather the components needed. 1 DB25 male (i.e. with pins) connector. 5 diodes, preferably germanium (1N34A should be fine.) 4 SNES joypad extension cables.
2) Cut off the connector that connects to the SNES console from the extension cables. (Not the end the joypad plugs in to, or you're screwed.)
3) Using a multi-tester, continuity tester, or what ever, check which pins from the connector still on the cable, go to which color wires at the end you cut off. Write this down, you will need it later.
4) With a soldering iron, connect the 5 diodes to the DB25 connector, making sure the ANODE side is soldered to the connector. One diode for each pin 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Anode
Cathode
5) Twist the 5 CATHODE sides of the diodes together to make one twisted wire then, solder them together. (Don't forget to snip off the excess wire at the end. Leave just enough to solder a wire to.)
6) Solder a piece of wire straight across pins 18-25 on the DB25 connector, by this I mean connect pins 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 all together.
7) Solder the wire from pin 1 of the SNES connectors (the pin near the rounded edge,) to pin 18 on the DB25 connector.
8) Next solder the wire from pin 5 of the SNES connectors to pin 3 on the DB25 connector.
9) Then solder the wire from pin 6 of the SNES connectors to pin 2 of the DB25 connector.
10) Now solder the wire from pin 7 of the SNES connectors to the twisted end of the diodes you soldered to pins 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
11) Now you are ready to connect the wires from pin 4 of the SNES connector. First select which cables are going to be joypad 1-4. The wire from pin 4, joypad cable 1 is soldered to pin 10 of the DB25 connector. The wire from pin 4, joypad cable 2 is soldered to pin 12 of the DB25 connector. The wire from pin 4, joypad cable 3 is soldered to pin 13 of the DB25 connector. The wire from pin 4, joypad cable 4 is soldered to pin 15 of the DB25 connector.
12) Put a back shell (cover) over the DB25 connector, (make sure it's plastic, you don't want any of those diode connections shorting out,) and you should have yourself one, four joypad adapter.
13) Download the small test routine, written for me by Kerry High, and make sure your adapter is working. To test your adapter, plug it in to LPT 1, 2 or 3, and enter the information in to the test program.
14) If all is ok, then you're ready to blast in to your favourite game or emulator that supports SNES joypads.
15) If you got this far, then I guess something is wrong...... not a good thing really. A common problem is your LPT is not set up in a standard way, (&378h, for LPT 1, &278h for LPT 2.) Also make sure you LPT is set to NORMAL, or PS/2, or STANDARD mode.
If you have followed the instructions correctly, checked all your wiring, checked it again, and it's still not working, then email me, and we'll see what we can work out. It could be that you may need an external power source.
How to add an external power supply:
Adding an external power supply may be necessary if your SNES joypads don't seem to work with the standard adapters. Some joypads that will probably need an external power supply are: Arcade style sticks, (like the Street Fighter 2 stick,) Capcom Soldier, some clone joypads, exotic type joypads such as Infra Red wireless joypads, and sometimes even the original SNES joypad from Nintendo, (although I have used 7 different Nintendo pads with no need for one.)
To add an external power supply to your adapter, you need to add in some extra wiring. The wiring needed is minimal, and shouldn't take any more than a few minutes to add. First you need a 5 volt power source. Your selection of power source is up to you. You can take +5v from many places in the PC, like the joystick port, pin 1, using pin 4 as a ground, or the keyboard port, using pin 5 for the +5v, and pin 4 as the ground.
My recommendation would be to use an AC plug pack, that supplies 5 volts DC at output. This will cut down on extra connectors needed, and keep your wiring simple.
To use an external AC plug pack, you need the following parts:
To connect your plug pack to your adapter, either 2 joypad or 4 joypad, you will need to solder the CATHODE side of the extra diode to the twisted ends of the diodes installed earlier, (steps 4 and 5,) where the wire from pin 7 of the SNES connector joins up. Then the positive wire from your plug pack is soldered to the ANODE side of the extra diode you just installed.
Now all that is left if to solder the negative wire from your plug pack to pin 18 on the DB25 connector. This will complete the wiring necessary for the external power supply.
I will not get in to the other 2 power sources mentioned above, because they are for advanced constructors only, and therefore should not need any explanation if you have the required skills to do such things.
This is where I found my
parts:
DB25 Male connector. RadioShack, part number
276-1547 (solder type)
or 276-1429 (crimp type)
Diodes. RadioShack, part number 276-1123
(Germanium 1N34A)
Backshell (hood). RadioShack,
part number 276-1549
SNES Extension Cable. Electronics Boutique, Canada
and the U.S.
I know RadioShack is quite expensive, so you would probably be able to find these parts a little cheaper in your local electronics store. I am currently trying to source a supplier of SNES joypad extension cables, that will ship world wide, and offer them at a fair price, after all, I paid CAD$2.99 for mine, so how expensive can they be? If anybody can help me with a reliable and trust worthy source, could you please email me.
