Ideas: DIY
Step by step guides on how to adapt low voltage electronic gadgets and computer controllers for use with external switches. The inexpensive way to get powerful 'assistive technology'.
SAFETY: Adapting equipment voids the manufacturer's guarantee, and the attempt may cause irreparable damage. Always use adapted equipment under supervision, and disconnect any batteries when not in use. These adaptations are at your own risk. Good luck!
I highly recommend using insulated 3.5mm switch sockets (code 126-7396) from Farnell Electronics if there is room for them in your adaptation. Custom boxes (aka enclosures) can be found at RS, Farnell, eBay and beyond. For one-off custom shapes see SUGRU and Polymorph Plastic. See this Instructables Basic Electronics guide for more help.
Latest news on switch D.I.Y. AT guides at the OneSwitch.org.uk Blog.
OneSwitch.org.uk switch equipment guides
- D.I.Y. - Switches: Sanwa button.
- D.I.Y. - Switches: Foot
- D.I.Y. - Switches: Illuminated
- D.I.Y. - Switches: Sip-Puff
- D.I.Y. - Camera: vTech
- D.I.Y. - Camera: DRIFT HD GHOST
- D.I.Y. - Electronic Dice
- D.I.Y. - OOglies
- D.I.Y. - Ball Launcher
- D.I.Y. - NERF Hyperfire Elite (NEW)
- D.I.Y. - Scalextric
- D.I.Y. - Remote Control: Car
- D.I.Y. - Remote Control: Plane
- D.I.Y. - Remote Control: Power Socket
- D.I.Y. - Remote control: TV
- D.I.Y. - Talking Tins
- D.I.Y. - Talking Clock
- D.I.Y. - Virtual Betting System
- D.I.Y. - Water Pistol: Water Blaster
- D.I.Y. - Water Pistol: Super Soaker
Switch adaptations for games machines
- D.I.Y. - Pinout guides for PS5, Xbox One, etc.
- D.I.Y. - C-SID 2: Switch Interface Deluxe
- D.I.Y. - C-SID: Switch Interface Deluxe
- D.I.Y. - Ultrastik
- D.I.Y. - Playstation Joypad
- D.I.Y. - PC (impact joypad)
- D.I.Y. - Xbox One Light Sticks
- D.I.Y. - ROCK BAND Drums
- D.I.Y. - ROCK BAND Guitar
- D.I.Y. - Atari VCS
- D.I.Y. - JAMMA arcade
- D.I.Y. - NES
- D.I.Y. - Sony Playstation One and PC
- D.I.Y. - SEGA Saturn Joypad
- D.I.Y. - Vectrex
Other gaming D.I.Y. guides
- D.I.Y. - XAC Analogue Joysticks.
- D.I.Y. - XAC Bluetooth Wheelchair Joystick.
- D.I.Y. - XAC Digital buttons.
- D.I.Y. - Golf Ball toppers for APEM style.
- D.I.Y. - Auto-Fire Circuit - for Mice.
- D.I.Y. - GameCube Switch Adaptation.
- D.I.Y. - Guitar Hero - via Gavin Philips.
- D.I.Y. - PS3 SAP Analogue Controls.
- D.I.Y. - Talking Joystick.
- D.I.Y. - Wii Adaptations - Broad list of adapted Wii-motes. See also this Wii switch mod guide.
- D.I.Y. - Xbox 360 Tentacular - External controls for Xbox 360 joypads.
Other D.I.Y. switch guides
- Secret Life of Switches - Tim Hunkin
- D.I.Y. - No solder Battery Interrupter.
- D.I.Y. - Battery Interrupter Instructable.
- D.I.Y. - Battery Interrupter.
- D.I.Y. - Buzz Switch - Easy USB switches.
- D.I.Y. - CD Switch - Cheap switch.
- D.I.Y. - Foil Switch - Very low pressure.
- D.I.Y. - Glove Switch - Low pressure.
- D.I.Y. - Latching circuit for switches
- D.I.Y. - Touch Switch - Low pressure.
- D.I.Y. - Combat Wheelchair.
- D.I.Y. - Digital Camera.
- D.I.Y. - Mouse - via MERU.
- D.I.Y. - Playmobil Trainset.
- D.I.Y. - Scalextric - via William Merritt.
- D.I.Y. - Sip-Puff device
- D.I.Y. - Tape Player - YouTube video guide.
- D.I.Y. - Various D.I.Y. Ideas.
You can purchase most of the electronic components used in these guides from Maplin Electronics (UK) and RSWWW (International). For an interesting array of joysticks and push buttons try Gremlin Solutions (UK), Happ Controls (US), Arcade Shop (Germany) and Akihabara Shop (Japan). Very nice arcade stick shells from B15SDMDesigns (UK).
See the Accessible Gaming Shop for help finding off the shelf switches and mounts if you don't want to make your own.
For further D.I.Y. help, please e-mail. If you would like me to try to adapt something for you, please see my adaptation page.
ROMPA booklet of ideas
Using Switches and Switching systems - Practical ideas for the uses of switches, and a very simple method of adapting basic battery devices.
Various Links
- MERU - A UK charity which concentrates on designing and manufacturing a variety of bespoke equipment and devices to meet the individual needs of disabled children.
- REMAP - Charity that make free of charge one off technical aids which help disabled people of all ages to enjoy a better lifestyle.
- Able Data - Huge number of D.I.Y. ideas and guides. (Able Data is now defunct).
- Acid Mods - Hacking community with a game accessibility forum.
- BenHeck.com - Various hacks for game accessibility.
- Build Your Own Arcade Controls - Very useful lively forum.
- Guillaume De Mattéo Ergothérapeute - Organisation that adapts equipment for switch use. Fantastic ideas and help (French).
- Circuit Bending - Reed Gazala's very useful electronics information for creating amazing cheap musical instruments.
- Circuit Benders - UK Circuit Bending outfit with a very good D.I.Y. page.
- Controller Theory! - A basic break-down of how modern controllers work.
- DIYability - Guides and workshops for adapting toys and gadgets.
- Dual-Ring - Superb range of solutions from free software scripts to help with controls, to Ikea furniture adaptations.
- Go Baby Go! - DIY guide for modifying kids electric vehicles. See also Go Baby Go Israel's Houdini DIY projects for switch mounts and adapting controls for accessible battery powered vehicles.
- Hack-a-day: Various projects.
- Hirai Potter Net - Great enabling hack-projects, switches and software (Japanese).
- iFix it: Tear down YouTube videos.
- Japanese Assistive Technology - Some fantastic D.I.Y. projects and help (Japanese).
- LED centre - Help around adding Light Emitting Diodes to circuits.
- Makey Makey - Makey Makey DIY control kit.
- MakeZine - Massive resource of electonics and mechanical projects. Search on "gaming".
- Radio Control Cars - One handed method of adapting some Radio Controlled toys and vehicles.
- Raphnet-Tech.com - Many retro game controller circuit boards to adapt for work on other machines.
- Science Share Ware - Brad Whaley's great project ideas and assistance, including switch adapted sit-in electrical vehicles for small kids.
- Suck and Puff Games machines - Mark Bosanquet-Bryant's inspirational page for adapting Nintendo 64, Playstation and XBOX controllers, Radio Control car adaptions, and much more.
- Sugru - self-setting rubber for fixing, modifying and improving "stuff". Really useful for a huge range of projects.
- The Controller Project - A project designed to shared Game Accessibility solutions, started by Caleb Kraft of Hack-a-day. Many 3D print solutions.
- Tindie - Market place for small scale electronics.
- Universal Remote using a PC - Pointers to the USBIRT and Endurance RC PCTx. Between them these boxes allow for PC control over a wide range of infrared and radio-wave remote control vehicles.
- Web-Rings - Other people making their own video game controllers for Arcade Games.
- Fixperts - International fixing movement.
- Makers Making Change - community of DIY guides and help.
- TADQ - Australian outfit that offers modification services.
- Thingiverse - A range of DIY projects, search on the likes of Xbox Adaptive Controller, Joy-Con adapter, disability and so on.
- Tikkun Olam Makers - maker communities starting from Israel and spread globally.
Electronics for Beginners
- Multimeters for Beginners - from Make Magazine.