| When you own a metal DDR pad you will have to perform some routine maintenance from time to time. This goes without saying because of the amount of strain the pad will undergo having someone jump and trounce around on it. These necessary adjustments will usually present themselves as problems during the game play and you will need to take the time to correct them. You can even make these adjustments while the game and console are still powered on and the procedure will only take a couple of minutes to perform once you get used to it.
Loose Screws
One of the most common issues will be the four screws around the central tiles will become loose. These screws hold the arrows in place. What I advise is to keep a small flathead or Phillips head screw driver near your console for when this occurs. All you have to do is simply tighten the screws back down as they become loose. Depending on how much you use your DDR Pad you might find yourself doing this once every two to three weeks.
Dirty Contact Plates
Another common duty that you will have to perform is to keep the contact plates clean underneath the arrow tiles. I guess you could do this every month or so, but I prefer to wait until game play is affected by an arrow sticking or being non-responsive. As a general rule this will happen less frequently than the screws becoming loose and you will find yourself having to clean the contact plates every month or two.
The contact plates are easy to clean. First you must remove the screws holding the arrow in place. Usually there are two of these and they will be located near the center of the pad. Once the screws and washers are removed you will be able to life up one side of the arrow. As you gently remove the arrow from it place you will need to pull it to the center in order to clear the lip of the outer metal frame. If your arrow has led lights attached to it take extra care not to place too much stress on the wires.
Once the arrow has been moved from it compartment you will be able to see the metal contact plates. Take a rag with some isopropyl alcohol on it and wipe away the debris from the contact plates. You might need to utilize the surface area of a flat head screw driver to gently remove any stubborn metal fragments that have accumulated between the tracks of the contact plates. Next use the rag to wipe off the underside of the arrow tile.
Now that the tile and contact plates have been cleaned place the arrow back into its compartment by sliding the tile under the lip of the metal pad frame and letting the rest of the arrow fall into place. Re-attach the washers and screws being careful not to over tighten or strip the screws themselves.
Final Thoughts
Even though these metal DDR pads require a small amount of routine maintenance and are considerably more costly than their foam pad alternatives they are indeed the best choice for serious players. These will outlast the foams pads and are more resistant to sliding around on the floor. If a part on the pad goes back you can simply buy and exchange that part verses buying a whole new pad. I strongly recommend purchasing a couple extra arrow tiles when you buy your DDR pad because these will begin to wear after a year if you play it continuously. |
