I have an NES system embedded into a full standup arcade cabinet. Is there any solution that will allow me to keep the zapper gun plugged into the NES and usable while the other 2 controllers are also still plugged in? I don't want to have to unplug a controller and then plug in the zapper each time I want to use it. I'm okay with flipping a switch to make this happen. What if I take 2 NES splitters, splice them and wire them together?
Solution for the NES that will allow me to keep the zapper plugged in and usable while other 2 controllers are plugged in
nes
Best Answer
According to what I can find online the NES controller port has 7 pins, power, ground and 5 data lines, but only three of those data lines are used by the controller and only two of them are used by the zapper.
http://www.taylorbooth.com/NESController.htm
https://www.beardypig.com/2015/12/11/nes-zapper-experiments-1/
We don't need to switch the ground line, we definately need to switch the two data lines that are used by both zapper and pad and it's probablly a good idea to switch the power line and the data line only used by the pad.
So that is four lines that need to be switched, four pole changeover switches are readilly available and it should be easy enough to cut up a couple of controller extension cables, use a multimeter to identify the wires and then solder them to the switch.