X52 - replacing stick with a "button box"

[sea2sky]

I'm getting a new stick (Gladiator Pro), but going to keep the X52's throttle. What I'm wondering is - since the actual usb board is sitting inside the throttle body I could possibly reuse those 20 button inputs that were used by the old stick, and connect my own button box to it. I'm wondering if anybody ever messed up with that board and if my idea is realistic at all? :)

[Sokol1_br]

Yes, several people already make X-52 a kind of button box.

 

Or a "Franken'throttle" like Bearcat did: :)

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=89259

http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=19222&page=2

 

But if not want don't need reuse parts of stick, make a button/switch box and connect in throttle in stick place, can reuse their PS2 cable.

 

Not sure but think that buttons in stick is connected in diode matrix, you need find what wires coming for stick are column and lines. Two, plus a POwer and Gnd are for X, Y axis.

 

Orr, feasible is, depends on your skill. ;)

 

This kind of mod where very common with X-45:

 

http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4056224/all/Saitek_X35T_throttle_gameport_

 

Useful for "warbirds":

 

Edited December 5, 2016 by Sokol1_br

[sea2sky]

Oh man that is golden! You are actually right - I could just re-use the whole stick, and rebuild it keeping all the wiring and components in place.

[LynxDK]

As an alternatvie can you break up the stick to the bare PCB, and then solder wires over the tactile switches on the PCB, to toggle switches placed in build Button Box, or sheet of wood.

 

I did exactly that with alot of Logitech Joysticks before i became more "serious" in the cockpit building.

 

I dont have any pictures of it tho... but i might have the PCB with the wires still soldered on somewhere. :)

[Braeden108]

Oh yeah it's possible! It's my bread and butter. Super easy too, all you gotta do is take the positive with that goes to each switch, solder it onto your switch then solder another wire across your switch to ground. (could be from ground to vcc, I've never tested doesn't much matter though switches are really simple)

[sea2sky]

As an alternatvie can you break up the stick to the bare PCB, and then solder wires over the tactile switches on the PCB, to toggle switches placed in build Button Box, or sheet of wood.

 

That is exactly what I'm planning to do. I already have a nice enclosure, buttons, switches. Just waiting for a new stick.

[Sokol1_br]

Will be easy to do.

 

Take a look in Bearcat topic in 1C forum, think their pictures help in identify what wires goes for stick axis - X, Y, twist, this wires can be used for new pot with knobs (rotaries for trim, etc).

 

The remain is matrix lines and columns and will be easy identify.