Sanwa arcade buttons are widely used in arcade controls because they have a short, light action and are available in several mounting styles. For a DIY cabinet, start with the button body: it has to suit the hole size and the thickness of the finished control panel. Colour and brand come after that.

Common Sanwa 30 mm button types

The OBSF-30 is a 30 mm snap-in pushbutton. Flexible tabs on the button body retain it in a suitable panel opening.

The OBSN series uses a screw-in body and retaining nut. It suits panels where the retaining tabs on a snap-in button cannot engage properly.

Sanwa has also produced metallic-finish button ranges such as the OBSJ family. Availability and individual product codes change, so check the current Sanwa specification when buying replacements or matching an older control set.

Snap-in versus screw-in

Snap-in buttons are quick to fit when the panel thickness and opening are suitable. The retaining tabs need room to engage properly.

A screw-in button is retained by a threaded nut underneath the panel and therefore has different clearance requirements.

This matters if you add the optional clear acrylic cover over a Knockout Arcades control panel. Where a product page says snap-in buttons cannot be used with that cover, do not assume an OBSF-style snap-in button will still lock in place. Choose a compatible button arrangement or ask us about the intended control setup before ordering.

Hole size and button positions

Many full-size player buttons use a nominal 30 mm mounting hole, but not every arcade button does. Smaller admin buttons and specialist controls can use different diameters.

Check the exact button specification against the pre-drilled layout on the cabinet product page. A control panel described as compatible with common 30 mm buttons is not a promise that every button body, connector orientation or accessory will fit in every position.

Wiring

A conventional arcade pushbutton contains a switch with two electrical connections for the button input. The connection method varies with the switch and harness being used.

If your build uses a USB encoder, follow the encoder manufacturer's wiring layout. If it uses a JAMMA harness, connect the button inputs according to the board and harness documentation.

Power the system down before changing control wiring.

Choosing a complete control set

It is usually easier to choose joysticks and buttons together once the cabinet and control-panel layout are known. That lets you check:

  • player-button count;
  • admin-button count;
  • button diameter;
  • available clearance beneath the panel;
  • joystick mounting;
  • whether a clear acrylic control-panel cover will be fitted.

See the Sanwa joystick guide for the other half of the control-panel decision, or browse the cabinet kits to check the standard control layouts for each product.