PowerBlock Sliding switch (like in your pictures)

Flo_W

Hey guys, noob question ahead :)

I'm totally new to this Retropie and PowerBlock scene.
I've ordered and got my PowerBlock already, but I stepped into one huge problem. In one of the pictures, you showed the PowerBlock attatched to a slide switch, and I have a reeeally hard time finding the right one myself.

In said picture I can see that the switch has two pins (to solder on a cable), but all I can find (weather its ebay or electronics-shops) are ones with three or more pins. I have absolutely no clue which one is suitable and how to solder it right, without destroying my PowerBlock and/or RPi

A REALLY cool thing would be, if you could tell me how to use that powerswitch from a real Nintendo 64, since I gutted my broken one (after 19 great years) and I am now repurposing it as a case for my Retropie-Setup (including working N64 controllers)

And as a bonus: if you could name a shop in germany, I wouls save a lot of time and shipping costs. But its just a bonus ;)

Thanks in advance for helping me out

petrockblog

Actually, the sliding switch from the article is an original one from an NES console. It is important that you use a latching switch (i.e., not a momentary one). Any latching switch will do.

You need to connect the switch such that it is closed when the button is in ON position and open, when the button is on OFF position.

GtBFilms

Hi @Flo_W

I think I explained why some of these latching buttons have three pins on this thread:

https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/7431/powerblock-switch/7

That might help.

I'm not familiar with the N64 sliding powerswitch, but I'd imaging the three connections are similar (one common, and one for each side of the switch, to be used depending which way you want to be 'ON'?)

Regards wiring up the switch, I've documented what I did (with a illuminated push-button type latching switch) here:

https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/1771/specific-questions-regarding-the-powerblock-abilities/18

Danorak1981

I have a miniature sliding switch with 3 pins, I just soldered negative to the end pin and positive to the middle pin. I then covered the remaining exposed pin in hot glue to avoid any misdemeanours, and so if i removed the switch i knew which pin to use again. It's not a really clear photo, but you can see it in my picture here.

Unfortunately i'm in the UK, and I can't actually find it on their website, but my local Maplin (electrical hobby store) had one on the shelf, was about £2.

:: Edit - Switch I purchased is this one (it is tiny) ::