5-pin to 4.8mm converter cable

The 5-pin to 4.8mm converter cable is the essential adapter for anyone needing to install an American-style joystick on an arcade machine equipped with a Japanese wiring harness. With no modifications to the original wiring, this cable bridges both standards cleanly and reliably.

How does it work?

The cable features a 5-pin female connector at one end — the standard used by Japanese joysticks such as Sanwa or Seimitsu — which plugs directly into the harness connector of your arcade PCB. From the other end come five individual 4.8mm female connectors, the format used by American joysticks like Happ or IL, ready to connect terminal by terminal in a simple and secure way.

Technical specifications

• Input connector: 5-pin female (Japanese standard)
• Output connectors: 4.8mm female (American standard / Happ / IL)
• Type: joystick interface converter / adapter cable
• No modification to original harness or PCB required

When do you need this cable?

This converter is essential in the following scenarios:

• Installing an American joystick (Happ, IL…) in a cabinet with a Japanese 5-pin harness
• Arcade cabinet conversion or restoration projects
• Control panels with a mix of components from different standards
• Builds where the PCB uses a 5-pin connector and the joystick uses 4.8mm terminals

A simple, affordable and straightforward solution to make the two main arcade joystick connection standards compatible.