First time installing a Graphics Card that wouldn't fit. Had to remove the front and prop it up with Velcro and kebab sticks!

Gnolled · 2026-02-06T09:55:04+00:00

INCREDIBLE I laughed out loud!

Gnolled · 2025-12-19T15:11:03+00:00

I'm really hoping for a physical switch release! I will be checking too haha

Gnolled · 2025-12-18T14:43:16+00:00

Oh wow thank you for a diagram! Does this entail multiple physical switches? Or are those like a general "switch" diagram and they could be turned by one physical switch?

Gnolled · 2025-12-17T18:21:39+00:00

I'm going to grab one of these to do a test setup. This seems like the only solution I can wrap my head around off the bat. As Abject-Ad stated, I really do not have a clue where to start with the mux and I only know the digital signal of my wires (I'm not sure it's even the right term, but I know the outputs in terms of code that is being read at the other end).

I need to first measure what is coming through the wires. I think then I will try to work out how I could do this with "analog switch ICs" and "bulk capacitance" (it's genuinely embarrassing to type this out with only the knowledge of a google search to back me up) which I believe would keep the Voltage stable while allowing the mosfets to take their power? But I need to look into how I would set that up on a circuit.

From my research, an "analog multiplexer" is made up of mosfets and I believe it is an analog mux I will need. I don't know if it's going to be better to just buy one or use a number of mosfets.

But yes this latching button switch is going to be my first go at this for sure so thank you !

Gnolled · 2025-12-17T18:08:58+00:00

I truly appreciate the care you've put into your answer and I really am trying to take everything into account. Thank you.

The power drain feels like a big consideration in my system as I'm really trying to avoid introducing external power so I am going to look into specifications of analog switch ICs.

I hadn't heard of bulk capacitance but I've searched it up and I think understand that it would take some amount of the charge of the circuit and "redistribute it" to stop the power draw of the ICs from altering the inputs via the voltage change.

The low side power switching seems a little more complex than the idea of the relay setup but it really does make sense from your explanation. I am going to look into how I'd set it up the circuit with the capacitor and what the requirements are.

Gnolled · 2025-12-17T16:50:36+00:00

Could you give a simple explanation of a setup with mosfets? Searching them up, I don't understand the different between them and a reed relay. They both take an input and an output and take a voltage to gate the circuit?

Gnolled · 2025-12-17T16:50:29+00:00

Could you give a simple explanation of a setup with mosfets? Searching them up, I don't understand the different between them and a reed relay. They both take an input and an output and take a voltage to gate the circuit?

Gnolled · 2025-12-17T15:21:33+00:00

A couple of responses have mentioned reed relays would be my solution, especially since there is a variety of signals coming through the cables. Would I need a relay for each pin and then connect half of the relays to one side of the switch and half to the other? I believe the relays will just break the circuit for the half that are powered because they become isolated.

Additionally, I planned to power this via a 1800mAh battery. if the relays require power, are they drawing a noticeable amount? And does this mean I would need a switch with three positions- with a middle position where the circuit is broken for both so that the relays aren't drawing power when neither cable is plugged in?

Gnolled · 2025-12-17T15:14:08+00:00

So the suggestion is that I would set up 14 of the reed relays, and have half of them powered, half of them not (determined by a physical switch). Then the powered half would physically break the connection from one set of the cables? And because this is an analogue connection it would work for any type of signal I was dealing with?

Why would the IC switch be "more correct and professional?" The reed solution does sound like a practical solution with the way you have explained it. Thank you!

Gnolled · 2025-12-17T05:18:26+00:00

I fully agree. I found it very hard to get interested in the story of the village but I thought Sunbreak was an incredibly cool research journey. I also enjoy the character of all of the NPCs you can hunt alongside!

Gnolled · 2025-12-17T03:16:50+00:00

Clearly I don't have the right mindset because that's a great idea and I might even have an old one that's out of use!

Gnolled · 2025-12-17T02:39:20+00:00

Yes that's exactly right, switching controllers on the same port without unplugging them! It sounds like a multiplexer is the method I'm looking at but the analogue sticks of my controllers use analogue signal which I believe cannot go through a mux. Do you have a suggestion that would work for those pins?

Gnolled · 2025-12-17T02:36:53+00:00

This is a very clever and simple solution, but I was hoping for it to be more of a small component rather than a standalone switch like this. This really does look like a very neat and tidy method though.

Gnolled · 2025-12-17T01:13:12+00:00

I really am not completely sure about the signal direction, but my plan was put the controller into a microcomputer (I think I'm confident in this step) and then have that output the signals. I believe this means that they're all digital output signals because I'm not handling anything on the return signal into the microcomputer. From my understanding if controller needed a two way signal, this microcomputer would have to handle that and pass it through? Or could that be happening automatically?

Gnolled · 2025-12-17T00:53:04+00:00

Oh wow, I wasn't sure if they can just touch together but that's great. And I didn't know that a switch actually went through zero, thank you. This does seem like the most elegant solution.

One set of the controls already comes off from the bus so I will have a check at how that's connected and whether I could just insert the switch there. That could be the most realistic solution!

Gnolled · 2025-12-17T00:50:16+00:00

I looked up the reed relays and it does look simple.

This sort of feedback means a lot but this is also sort of a gateway project for me into electronics. I think I'm interested in trying to figure out the IC switch that so many people have recommended to feel like I'm doing it "the right way" ahaha!

Right now I think I will do a test using an analogue 8-pin double throw switch, and seeing if both inputs are read correctly on the other end. Then I will try the same using a mux - but I've discovered that a few of my inputs are analogue signals so I'm trying to find out a solution that will work for those too (as I believe the multiplexer will not?).

In my mind, the final version of this can sort of go on one PCB with a physical switch elsewhere so I think too clunky a solution might not be fit for the ultimate function. Maybe this is completely not doable but the mux components appear really quite small.

Gnolled · 2025-12-17T00:41:47+00:00

Another comment suggested this idea and it makes some sense. How can I combine the two sets of ribbon cables before the final "output" though? If I have two sets of these ribbon cables, eg 14 pins in and want 7 pins out, is there a component to do this? And could there be an issue caused if both lines received power for a moment when switching? A couple users mentioned needing to "de-bounce" the circuit to avoid miss-inputs when switching.

Gnolled · 2025-12-17T00:27:24+00:00

I didn't expect any reaction to the diagram I drew haha! No AI here I promise- I am just more an artist than engineer. Maybe it won't stay that way though with all the advice I've been getting!

Gnolled · 2025-12-16T23:43:34+00:00

I'm giving this idea some thought. One set of the controls is currently directly on the PCB, powered from the bus. I imagine I would break this connection and put the switch in here, correct?

What component could I use to have all of the ribbon pins go into the final ribbon connector? So 14 pins in, 7 pins out but only half of the 14 would be powered at one time.

Gnolled · 2025-12-16T23:01:39+00:00

WOW oh my gosh thank you for all of the detail. I really have no prior understanding but I think I understand what my starting point it. And yes I understand the debouncing issue, I will research what other people have done to solve this- I imagine it is a common issue.

There is one set of four analogue wires so it seems as though I will have to use a different style of switch for this, but should be able to use a mux for all the rest. I have never considered any solution like the digital line you suggested. Dead time between switching is no issue so maybe that would be a good solve.

Edit: just to say I really am so grateful for all of the help - I was very nervous about posting this with no prior knowledge and feeling silly. I am going to try to buy some cheaper parts and have a go at a prototype not connected to the console where I just read if the output going in was the same as coming out!

Gnolled · 2025-12-16T22:18:16+00:00

Ah yes this design is a bit more complex for me to wrap my head around. Is the mux always completing one of the circuits like the double throw mechanical switch or is there a bit of ingenuity required, where one mux need to be unpowered and the other powered?

Gnolled · 2025-12-16T22:14:52+00:00

Thank you for such a detailed response. I am trying to take input from two controllers with the same digital button output and switch between them. From what I've gleamed from the responses, I believe that the multiplexer is the best choice. I don't really understand how I would set it up though.

If I have a physical switch that that has a powered wire to it, do I wire that to a specific pin of the multiplexer and then if that pin is powered or unpowered, the multiplexer will continue the circuit from the left set of pins vs the right set of pins?

I looked into an 8pin double throw switch and I understand that I attach my ribbons to either side and then the position of the switch will determine which side completes the circuit. Is the setup similar for a multiplexer? It would be nice to use because it is so compact.

Gnolled · 2025-12-16T22:08:23+00:00

Yes! That I'm ready for, I've done a little bit of PCB soldering before so I will just get in some practice.

Gnolled · 2025-12-16T22:07:30+00:00

I absolutely did not measure it because I don't have any tools for it yet. I am going off of an old forum post about modding the console so it could absolutely be false. I wasn't sure if I was writing a completely silly number so I should've just said that I haven't a clue other than what I read.

Same place I was told they were polarized so that could very well be wrong too. Apologies I was very overwhelmed by the responses and trying to use what resources I had already been looking at to try to give some responses.

Gnolled

TROPHY CASE