Optiwiz (vs) Mike's Arcade trackball adapter

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Currently I have a hacked CompUSA mouse which I fitted to a 2-1/4" Happ trackball ball and cover plate and I am using this as the trackball.  I also have two pushbuttons which are connected to this mouse hack to allow the right/left mouse clicks to function for the PC.

Well, w hile back my son got angry at a game he was playing and smashed down the top of the trackball ball which bent a couple things underneath in my mouse hack enclosure.  Anyway, the trackball functions but not as good as it use to.  Anyway, I finally got a new trackball from Happ (2-1/4" trackball) and I would like to attach it to my PC and use the existing pushbuttons as right/left mouse click buttons again.

Does the "Optiwiz" or "Mike's Arcade USB trackball adapter" provide a way to connect my Happ trackball to my PC as well allowing me to connect my existing two pushbuttons to be used as right/left mouse clicks?

I looked at the Optiwz but I could not tell how I would connect two pushbuttons to act like right/left mouse click buttons.

I looked at Mike's Arcade USB trackball adapter and saw it came with a harness to allow for pushbuttons but I do not know how it should all connect.

Any help for would be helpful .... thanks

[kegger]

I personally have never hooked up the green bonding wire to any of my cabs as I believe its meant to be used when mounting to a metal control panel and then needs to be bonded. I would not hook it up in the manner you mention for the mouse hack as that is a different type of ground and is part of the circuit going back to the PC's motherboard probably via USB or PS2 depending.  This is just an opinion, Good Luck

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kegger
Thanks for the advice, but about 2 minutes ago a few wires just popped out of my mouse hack, so I think I am just going to buy an Optiwiz or Mike's Arcade USB trackball adapter instead.   See the first post ..... I rewrote it with new questions.

[taylormadelv]

Mike's trackball adaptor has connections for three mouse buttons. Your trackball just plugs into the two molex connectors and then you hook up your mouse buttons. I am not familiar with the optiwiz, but the optiPAC has connections for a left and a right button.

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On the Optiwiz I now see there is a four pin connection to allow me to connect my right,middle,left,ground connectors for my mouse pushbuttons.    There is also a 10 pin connector to allow me to connect my trackball.


taylormadelv
If I decide to buy a Turbo Twist 2 spinner from GGG, then can I connect this to Mike's Arcade USB trackball adapter as well.  Would it be as easy as splicing in the wires from the spinner into the wiring harness?

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It seems like Mike's Arcade USB trackball adapter somes with the USB cable to fit into my PC ... correct?

Does the Optiwiz come with the proper USB cable required to connect to the PC, or does the interface board come without the USB cable?

[EDIT] I just realized I could scroll down on the Optiwiz page and read more about it.  It says it comes with the USB cable ....

[BobA]

You found it as I was posting.

Edit:  Removed

[taylormadelv]

taylormadelv
If I decide to buy a Turbo Twist 2 spinner from GGG, then can I connect this to Mike's Arcade USB trackball adapter as well.  Would it be as easy as splicing in the wires from the spinner into the wiring harness?
[/quote]
Yes. You could hack one set of wires from one axis and connect your TT2. You will then have an extra set. This is exactly what I did with my cocktail mame. I hacked two Tempest spinners to the trackball adaptor, one on the X and one on the Y and now I can play PONG and 2 player (cocktail flipping) Tempest.

[unclet]

Awesome ..... thanks