Trackball mouse hack

[Smeghead]

So I've been reading lots and lots about doing a Trackball mouse hack and have a few questions, mainly focused around my pathetic inability to solder anything.
The best writeup i've found is this:
http://www.willcoxonline.com/mame/controlpanel/controlpanel.htm

They all say 'remove the receivers' but do you have to? It would be so much easier for a solder-challenged idiot like me to solder wires onto the legs of the receivers still on the PCB. Would that cause power problems?

Also if you dont tap into the power on the mousePCB you would have to supply power to the trackball some other way right? Either from a usb cable or direct from the computers PSU?

If you DO tap into the mousePCBs power supply, it has to be USB right? PS2 or 9pin serial wouldnt do it?

[bkenobi]

Perhaps I'm missing something, but all you are doing is using the mouse to interface the trackball to the PC.  The mouse (an old ball mouse, not a new laser or LED unit) has a similar mechanism to the trackball.  All you are doing is removing the mouse hardware (encoder wheel and transmitter/receiver) and swapping it to the trackball hardware (encoder wheel and transmitter/receiver).  A trackball is essentially just a ball mouse that's been turned upside down, so if you connect the trackball to the mouse, it will work just fine.

As far as disconnecting the old transmitter/receiver...it might work if you leave it.  BUT, if you don't disconnect the power, it might have issues.  If you get a desoldering tool from Radio Shack (or wherever), you can simply suck the solder off the pins and remove the transmitter/receiver units from the mouse.  Once it's gone, just stick the wires through and solder away.

Here's the tool that I use:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062731

[BobA]

You do not have to have USB, a PS/2 mouse will work just fine.  It has the same 5V as a USB mouse. Desoldering is easy with a suction tool or desoldering wick.

[Smeghead]

my thinking is its easier to solder the new wires onto the legs of the old transmitter than to open holes  

I'd still need to connect power to the trackball somehow tho right

[BobA]

You do not need to connect extra power to the trackball. Your PS/2 mouse can provide power to the trackball thru the regular trackball connector.

You do not even have to desolder the 3 pin receiver.   Just cut it off with side cutters and use the solder pads that are left. I is probable that the receiver will interfere with your trackball signals if left in place.

[bkenobi]

If the question is about soldering to pins vs an open hole, then I'd DEFINITELY choose the open hole!  If you do that, then you just put the tinned wire through the hole, apply heat to it and the pad, and flow some solder onto the two such that it is mechanically strong.  Soldering to pins works just fine so I guess it's just preference.

And yeah, I would be concerned about interference with the original transmitters installed.  Good call on just clipping them if you don't think you'll ever need them again!  I always keep that type of stuff for some reason knowing that I'll likely never find anything to do with it.   

[Smeghead]

Thanks for the help.
I've got my hands on a good PS2 mouse, but I need to use a PS2-USB connector as my PC doesnt have PS2
Does that alter things any?
Im still not getting the power part. I need to tap the ground and power wire from the trackball into the wires on the long mouse cable to get power?
Or the trackball will draw power from the main circuit board when I attack the x/y wires where the receiver chips used  to be?

[bkenobi]

I haven't done a trackball hack and have never worked with an arcade trackball beyond looking at Happs.  What I can say is that on my Atari encoder boards that fit my steering wheels, there are 5 wires on the mouse (2 for transmitter, 3 for receiver) for each axis that connected to 4 wires for each wheel (1 axis).

The mouse wires are +5v, ground (for transmitter), +5v, ground (for receiver) and signal.  I think one of the wires on the Atari board is not connected, so that means you need 3 wires for one axis or 4 wires for 2 axis.

[BobA]

Link to mouse/trackball hack info.

LINK

[EwJ]

Also see link to pdf at bottom of page here.

[Smeghead]

 

Great links, thanks

[severdhed]

hacking a mouse really isn't too bad once you take a look at it, i have done several of them.  be aware though that you can buy a ready to go mouse encoder for under $20.  the first two trackballs i used i hacked ps2 mice, for my 3rd, i bought an optiwiz from groovygamegear.

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_85&products_id=260

it gets a little more expensive if you buy the wire harnesses for it, but if you have an old PC case lying around, you can use the wires from the front panel connectors (power LED, reset switch, power switch, etc)

it is a very good product, if you dont feel good about soldering, i would highly recommend it