DDR Extreme Machine Broken select button?

[danooct1]

Hi, I haven't posted on these forums for years, so I hope this is the correct topic to post under. On my local DDR Extreme machine (literally a 5 minute walk from my apartment at this university) the right side's green select button is broken. I don't know how it's broken, but it will not select to play, meaning no one can ever play on the right side. The lightbulb inside it still flashes when enough quarters are inserted, but no amount of force, light or heavy (I've seen people literally pounding on it) will make the button register and allow right side play.

Thanks for reading my problem, has anyone ever heard of this? Is this particular problem even fixable? Is it expensive if it is? I'm just wondering about these things as the people who run the machine (students at the university) probably do not know all about its maintenance or replacements, and was wondering if anyone here would know the solution.

Thanks for your time.

[Tomo_kun]

You probably just need to replace the microswitch, which should be fairly fairly cheap, like less than $5 to replace.
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[danooct1]

Thanks for the reply. Sorry to sound helpless, but do you know where I can order one/ what has to be done to replace the switch? I'm assuming you just take off that steel panel that houses the select buttons and the switch will be in there, but I don't want to damage the machine any further.

Is this the thing I'm looking for?

http://www.uniarcade.com/microswitch/microswitch.htm

[Suko]

If you do have access to work on the machine, I'd suggest troubleshooting first. Some things become very obvious or at least give you a much better understanding as to how the machine may be acting up. If you can, I'd pop off the metal panel and look at the button assembly and the wring. Make certain a wire hasn't simply come off or something trivial like that. Oh yeah, and PLEASE make sure the machine is OFF before doing anything to it.

Since the light is working on the button, but you're getting no response, I would have to agree that this might be a microswitch issue, though I only say this because I can't see the inside of the machine for myself. So, try getting in there before you go and order parts and stuff. It might be something ridiculously simple.

Btw, check to see whether the light in the button is directly attached (wired) to the button, or does the button's light "signal" come from a microswitch or other piece of equipment?
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[danooct1]

Ok, so when I tell them what they should specifically focus on on the machine, basically they should turn it off, unscrew the 6 screws that hold the buttons, pop it off, and inspect the wiring. If something is lose, it should be reconnected, and if the switch is gone to hell, it should be replaced. If it is the switch that needs to be replaced, where would you recommend getting one? From the link I posted above, or would something like ebay or amazon work, since I don't feel like getting 200 microswitches to replace one?

If it is a wiring issue, how would I (or them) reattach the wire if it is loose? Is it as simple as wrapping a wire end around or is their soldering involved, or what? Sorry, I have very little experience in troubleshooting this kind of thing.

Thanks again for all of your help, I really do appreciate it.

[MonMotha]

The assembly that holds the microswitch and lamp just "snaps in" to the rest of the button assembly. It can pop out. If that's all that happened, just reseat it.

Failing that, there's two possibilities. One is that the microswitch finally died. That happens, though DDR buttons don't get as much use as, say, IIDX keys, and even those don't fail quickly. An appropriate replacement is the Omron V-10G-1C24-K. You can buy them in single quantity at http://www.mouser.com or http://www.digi-key.com/ . That's the closest to the original switch you can buy that doesn't seem to have minimums in the USA. Of course, any microswitch in the proper formfactor will work. Most arcades have tons sitting in the back.

The other possibility is that the plastic "plunger" that actuates the switch broke. This is harder to fix. You can try turning the switch/lamp assembly 180 degrees in the button as there's another plunger on the other side. However, it may still not work right. The exact button is a Sanwa Denshi OBSA-45UK in green. You can't get them in the USA very easily. A Happ Controls "low profile" button should fit pretty close, but it's not an exact replacement.

The light is signaled by the game hardware. Its operation is independent of the button operation, and so one can work without the other from an electrical and mechanical point of view.

Of course, if this isn't your machine, don't go disassembling it without obtaining approval of the operator. Taking a screwdriver to somebody else's equipment without authorization is usually frowned upon. Chances are your operator has somebody to repair their machines. Just let them know at things are broken. Chances are they don't even know.

[danooct1]

Thanks for all your replies and helpful tips, guys.

As it turns out, the Student Union doesn't even own/have access to repair the machines. Apparently they are owned by some guy who comes and fixes all the arcade machines at regular intervals, A.K.A "Whenever he feels like it." So I guess it might be broken for a while more, and it might be something just as simple as a button assembly being loose.

Thanks again for all of your great help. I really do appreciate it.