Cobalt Flux Dance Platform

[stefx]

Hi

I just got my Cobalt Flux pad yesterday.

When I step on the center button, it activates the down arrow.

If I remove the top plate of the center button, and then press on the wooden shim glued to the "bottom plate" of the center button, it still activates the down arrow.

Should I assume that the down arrow's wire insulation has a hole and is grounding to the base metal plate?

Are there instructions anywhere for the disassembly of the Cobalt Flux so I could put some electrical tape on the down arrow's wire?

Thanks

[yukihime]

Hi stefx

You got it yesterday and it's doing that? Have you called CF?

They would be the first people I'd talk to. They might be able to help you over the phone or, worst case (or maybe best case?) scenerio, they'll ask you to send it back to them for repair/replacement.

I wouldn't go messing about with the wiring until I talked to them.
_________________

Live Like There's No Tomorrow,
Dance Like Nobody's Watching!

[ChilliumBromide]

[Dacool561]

I got both my pads today, one works fine. The other one not so much =(. The up arrow keeps getting triggered when i step on the middle panel, and also sometimes when i hit upper part of the down arrow. I tried loosening the screws, tried electrical tape, etc....

I think it's just something with the up arrow thats making it super sensitive. I literally to test it out, took the middle panel out and put the plastic cover BETWEEN the sheet metal and the pad. and when i stepped on it, it was still triggering the up arrow.

Going to just call them tomorrow and ship it back to have them fix it, i've tried everything i could think.

[Gremzor]

[ChilliumBromide]

I've heard a few cases of malfunctioning up arrows. Sounds like something in their construction is compromising the integrity of some of the wires.

It sounds like a wiring issue; I think CF's just getting lazy and not putting the wires in right. Probably the ground plate is pinching the up arrow's wire.
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[Dacool561]

So they sent me some velcro to put between the velcro already on teh top arrow, and that seemed to fix the problem. The only thing i dont like about this fix is that it leaves my up arrow as tall as my middle panel (with arcade mod) but it's nothing major.

Now for the bad/good news. My OTHER pad starting showing the same problems but with a right arrow triggering while i stand in the middle panel. I called and they are sending me some more velco, but i assume i could just probably put something in there myself to make it rise higher.

[yukihime]

Dacool, wait ... you spent at least $600 plus shipping for two pads, neither work right and their answer is to send you velcro?

No way! I'd be pitching a fit, seriously. I'd be emailing, on the phone, whatever; telling them to send you a prepaid shipping label, send them back and get them working right.

Stefx, hope you're having at least some luck getting your problem taken care of.

Don't they have any type of quality control? Don't they test their products before they send them out? They sure claim to.

For a smaller company that prides itself as a "manufacturer of high-performance professional gaming peripherals" and also claim "Designed, engineered and refined under the most rigorous testing conditions imaginable" - well, they're not living up to either of those claims for you two, and who knows who else who isn't a member of this forum.

Either, as DT said, they're just getting lazy and not putting the wires in right or they have a disgruntled employee and this is the way they're taking it out on the company - by messing with the customers OR they have someone new building pads who either hasn't been trained properly, isn't capable of wiring properly or doesn't care.

Regardless of the why - this shouldn't be happening. I don't care if you spend $10 or $10,000. When you order a product it should work. I know things happen, and shipping can always be a culprit too. But these 2 cases don't sound like shipping, sounds like someone at CF better get their priorities in order or they'll end up with the same crappy rep as some of the other pad companies.
_________________

Live Like There's No Tomorrow,
Dance Like Nobody's Watching!

[Laid_back]

I'm with yukihime on this one.

You should in no way have to deal with this crap, especially when you bought new! It must be that the recent fluxes aren't as well made as those made a few years ago.

I recently found 3 CFs used for a total of $400. 2 of them worked perfectly, and the third had a broken control box. After fixing the bad control box, I got $180 for that one, so I ended up getting 2 perfectly fine V2 CFs for 220 bucks total.

If you can return those 'new' fluxes, why not just get a pair of used ones for much less? They will probably also be more reliable. Mine get played on all the time, and I've only had to clean them once. They still work perfectly!

Good luck!

[cable1096]

Do sensors ever go bad in CF's? The top sensor in my bottom arrow isn't working. I'm assuming they go bad like arcade pads? Is it possible that I might not be able to fix it? Please help.

[Laid_back]

[ChilliumBromide]

Get some fine-grain sandpaper, open the panel up, and rub off all the gunk. Other than that, control box issues, and wiring problems, CF's will require no maintenance. Like Laid_Back said, their incredibly simple design is what makes them good pads.
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[cable1096]

I'm wondering what the deal is. Inbetween the upper-right arrow and the right arrow, I see a yellow wire when it's all put together. Do you think someone tried to mess with it and did a bad job?

Also, isn't there a chance a wire is ripped or an electronic failed and it's not working on that area now? Has this never happened to anyone?

Also, is it suppose to work that you take off the plastic top, then there's the black piece with the arrow decal glued on it? Then, that black piece is glued to the metal panel? After I get the plastic top off, I see that black flat piece below and it's like glued to the pad. If I try to clean the pad, how will I get that black piece back on securely when I'm done?

Is there a chance someone put one of these together themselves or something? It looks like my friends. We both have V1's. I'm so confused.

[Laid_back]

Actually, seeing wires between the panels is normal, since they all seem to come out from under the center panel.

Yes, it is possible that you have a broken wire going from the pad connector to the actual panel in question.

Here is a pin-out of the CF's pad connector:

http://www.allpinouts.org/index.php/Cobalt_Flux_DDR_Pad

I used this when I replaced the broken connector of one of my pads.

You should check to see if you have a continuous connection between the top panel of the arrow that doesn't work to the pin that corresponds to that arrow button. This can be done with an ohm meter on 'continuity check.'

If you have a good connection, you may have control box issues.

A new control box is about 30 bucks from Cobalt Flux.

[stefx]

I fixed my problem

When removing the center pad and stepping onto the ground baseplate in the center, it would activate the down arrow.

With CF's online help, it confirmed that the baseplate was pinching the down arrow's wire.

I first figured out the routing of the down arrow cable (from front/center it goes soutch in a center groove. After passing the center pad it takes a turn east.
I didn't have to disassemble the whole platform.

I removed the up arrow pad and the down arrow pad.
I inserted a small shim between the groudbaseplate and the wood base, in two locations. It seems to give enough clearance to not pinch the down arrow pad.

Platform is working fine now.

[stefx]

*edit = double post, sorry*

[cable1096]

Thanks for the help. I will try these things.

I still don't understand. Once you take the clear part off the top, is your black part under it glued to the pad or not? I could get to the wires if I took this part off, but I would have to glue it back on? I don't understand how you get that part back on the right way.

[simx]

I have a question about the arcade mod for the cobalt flux. Does it really make it feel more like an arcade pad... in other words, is it worth it to get the arcade mod to get a more authentic arcade feel?
_________________

"When life gives u lemons.... squeeze it in someone's eyes and run like hell"

[Laid_back]

If 'more like an arcade pad' means you can tell where your feet are, then yes, it is a vast improvement to the flat surface of the 'flux.

I actually made my own 'arcade mod' with some spare lexan I had lying around.

Definitely makes it easier to know where you are stepping.

YMMV...

[rlpowell]

OK, so the arcade mods help. *Yay*. Still two questions:

1. If I'm going to buy a mod from them, do I want the black one or the clear one?

2. Do the corner arrows work in both cases?

Thanks.

-Robin