MiSTer FPGA Forum

I was having trouble connecting my DualSense to my MiSTer, no matter what it would not show the green power light. Finally bought a better power supply (5V 5A), and that still didn't work, and then figured out the issue was actually the barrel splitter cable, by testing it with no splitter and using my old and new power supply cables for the MiSTer and USB hub.

So apparently the splitter cable is the problem. Is there a good barrel splitter cable with power switch I can buy somewhere online that can support the proper power to support the DualSense? I look on Amazon and all of them either have the same specs as the splitter I already had that didn't work or they don't have a power switch.

It's weird though because I am using the splitter cable that came with the pre-built Mister addons build, the same cable in the setups of a huge portion of the userbase. Yet I've searched all over online, reddit, this forum, and the discord for other users having similar issues with DualSense, and it seems like I'm the only one who has this issue somehow.

The splitters have caused numerous strange problems. All were down to the power loss in the splitter. Try and do without it. There is no need for an on/off switch for the Mister.

This is the power supply I bought

https://misteraddons.com/products/5v-5a-dc-power-supply

So I'm a little confused. So if I use the DC power jumper ( https://misteraddons.com/products/dc-jumper ) that would fill both of the DC slots that I'm currently using for power, so there is also a USB-A slot marked "POWER ONLY", so I would just use that to power the whole thing? And since they're both linked with the DC power jumper, a single on-off switch would control everything? So now I would just need a USB-A to USB-A cable with a 5v 5a power brick to power the whole thing then?

Does that sound right? Am I missing anything? Is there any benefit or downside to using the USB power vs. the other two connections?

USB is nice because there's no polarity issues to worry about

JohnNile wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2024 1:23 am

This is the power supply I bought

https://misteraddons.com/products/5v-5a-dc-power-supply

So I'm a little confused. So if I use the DC power jumper ( https://misteraddons.com/products/dc-jumper ) that would fill both of the DC slots that I'm currently using for power, so there is also a USB-A slot marked "POWER ONLY", so I would just use that to power the whole thing? And since they're both linked with the DC power jumper, a single on-off switch would control everything? So now I would just need a USB-A to USB-A cable with a 5v 5a power brick to power the whole thing then?

Does that sound right? Am I missing anything? Is there any benefit or downside to using the USB power vs. the other two connections?

No use a splitter cable but choose one without an on /off switch. The Mister can easilt be turned on and off at the mains and doesnt need a switch inline on a splitter. The power only usb isnt a power inpuit on a misteraddons board. its marking a USB that is power only. ie it has no data lines so can be used to only power a usb device.

FPGA64 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2024 6:29 am

No use a splitter cable but choose one without an on /off switch. The Mister can easilt be turned on and off at the mains and doesnt need a switch inline on a splitter. The power only usb isnt a power inpuit on a misteraddons board. its marking a USB that is power only. ie it has no data lines so can be used to only power a usb device.

So if you can't use the USB-A connection there to power the USB hub (and the whole device when using the DC Power Jumper), then how does the DC Power Jumper even work since that fills both of the DC power connections that you would need to power the device? Where else would you get power from?

I just don't get how this is so complicated. I bought the most common pre-configured build and I can't use the most common controller available under any circumstance without buying additional cabling. First I was told it was a lack of power issue (doesn't make sense as there are zero other controllers or peripherals), now apparently it's an inline switch issue, when most people with a MiSTer are using these same splitter cables with the switch, and seem to have no problem connecting DualSense controllers. I couldn't find a single other person with a similar issue, despite searching this board, other message boards, reddit, discord, etc.

That jumper is for the digital IO board. For the Digital IO you provide power to the IO board and jumper the DE10 and USB hub with that. It has nothing to do with USB power.

The switched splitters have caused numerous issue in the past.

FPGA64 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2024 3:17 pm

That jumper is for the digital IO board. For the Digital IO you provide power to the IO board and jumper the DE10 and USB hub with that. It has nothing to do with USB power.

The switched splitters have caused numerous issue in the past.

Does it matter what kind of splitter cable it is as long as it doesn't have the switch? Or is there some kind of spec it needs to meet?

Would something like https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M7N1GOH/ work fine?

I would go for one that has the thickest wires.

something like

https://misterfpga.co.uk/product/mister ... ter-cable/

Ok, the problem has been solved. If anyone is having a similar issue and has found this thread, the solution (at least for me and this MiSTer setup I have) was:

5v 5a power supply cable (the one sold on Mister addons website) AND a splitter cable WITHOUT power switch. Now it is working as intended