What did I fry on my retropie multicade? Help.....

ChristianG · 15 Jan 2019, 03:40

Hey guys,

So upset about what happened. So I am running retropie on my raspberry pi3 board with a two sanwa stick multicade setup. I was walking across my carpet and bam an electric shock went from my hand to the machine. So now my player one and player two buttons as well as my coin select and left joystick are not working.

Here are the sticks that I have..
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DK9IO0U/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The left controller board lights don't light up either while the right stick board does. The left stick board is where i hooked in the player one, player two and coin buttons. Is it possible that its fried from rug static electricity?

Thanks for your help.

TheBlueDragon · 15 Jan 2019, 04:10

@ChristianG It's perfectly possible. Just get a random USB encoder, and some individual sanwa buttons and sticks in the correct colors as replacements

ChristianG · 15 Jan 2019, 05:01

@TheBlueDragon So the sticks and buttons aren't the issues more than likely? The board is my first thing to replace? Are the sticks and buttons able to be fried anyhow?

How can frying your controller boards be avoided? Can they be grounded?

Thanks,
Chris

TheBlueDragon · 15 Jan 2019, 05:44

@ChristianG i have a question: All of the buttons/joysticks that aren't working, they're all hooked up to one board, correct? If it's all connected to one board, then it might be a board issue... If you get a new board, and it still doesn't work, then get new sticks/buttons

Cyborgbob · 15 Jan 2019, 21:00

I also believe it is the board, that all your buttons are hooked too.

Cyborgbob · 15 Jan 2019, 21:02

If you have a multimeter you can check each of the buttons and stick to see if they have continuity... If they do then you know it is the board..

ChristianG · 16 Jan 2019, 00:43

@TheBlueDragon The buttons and the controller are hooked up to one board. The working controller is hooked up to the other board by itself.

ChristianG · 16 Jan 2019, 00:43

@Cyborgbob what would be the process to check the board with a multimeter?

ChristianG · 16 Jan 2019, 00:47

@Cyborgbob

TheBlueDragon · 16 Jan 2019, 00:52

@ChristianG a different way to test it is to connect the other sticks/buttons to working board, and see if they input right. If so, then its the board.

Cyborgbob · 16 Jan 2019, 01:14

@ChristianG Not the board but the buttons

Cyborgbob · 16 Jan 2019, 01:19

I need to read these before I post. Please let me start again. Use the multimeter to check the buttons and your stick for continuity. If they all work, and have good continuity then you know they are not the issue and it is USB board converting the signals and sending that information to the Pi. Please let me know if you are following me. Thanks

ChristianG · 16 Jan 2019, 02:45

@Cyborgbob Ill give it a shot. Thanks!

ChristianG · 16 Jan 2019, 03:40

@Cyborgbob BTW is there a way to ground these boards? I am not sure I even looked into it.

Cyborgbob · 17 Jan 2019, 01:13

@ChristianG Great Question. The truth is there is no good way to ground this unit, and I am not sure I would try. It kind of blows my mind that you were even able to blow the unit via a static shock. I mean yes I know it is possible. All of my teachers 20+ years ago warned me about it. That being said I have been in the low voltage industry all my adult life, and I have never seen anyone in real live blow a unit via static. I did not design the joystick board and I would have to look at it's specs, cut sheets, and wiring diagram to show you how, but you should be able to by grounding the main negative at the board. But do this at your own risk....