lighting a transluscent trackball

[papaschtroumpf]

I bought a cheapo transluscent trackball (it was a MAC product but works fine on a PC since it's USB). Not the greatest but I'm cheap and it's not the control I plan on using the most.

The plastic material of the case adn ball has a greenish cast to it and I'd like to liven it up a little by adding back lighting.

What's the best way to do this? Is there a way of amking the lighting dynamic? I'd love to have a "pulse" glow rather than solid on. An alternative (but I'm not sure I'm willing to spend the money) would be to put one of those sound activated PC light kits at the bottom of the CP so the ball would glow in sync with the sound.
I'd prefer blue/purple/pink type of color scheme rather than gree.red but I'm open to all suggestions.

Any ideas? what have you guys done?  I'm not willing to spend much $ on this (clsoe to free solution would be ideal).

[grafixmonkey]

The pulse glow might take time, but you could probably find some other product that pulses an LED in the way you want, and use that to pulse your own lights.  

If I understand right, you have a solid opaque ball, but a translucent case around it?  If that's what you have, I think the easiest way to get it glowing would be to buy cold cathode lights.  You can find them at most online computer case shops, especially those that sell really cool looking cases and/or cater to "case mod" types.  They're nice and bright, don't heat up much, and are designed to run off the power supply in a PC.

If not that, you can get super-bright LEDs from a variety of places, including http://www.theledlight.com/, though it would be harder to wire up than cold cathode lights, and would give more of a spotlight effect than a smooth glow.

Or just chuck a 40-watt light bulb underneath the thing in your panel...

[papaschtroumpf]

actually both the case and the ball are transluscent, but the case contains the electronics. What I'm trying to do is light the ball from behind (under)

While I can use any kind of light buld or bright LED, I was hoping to find something more dynamic.

Here are some options I found: sound activated cold cathode $30 compUSA), or color changing "wands" at target in the automotive gizmos section (about $13).
I'm thinking about designing my own "fade" circuit with a few LEDs, so the ball would fade from green to red and back.

[SpamMe]

Way over my head, but here's this:
http://www.bit-tech.net/article/92/

[miniyoda]

I'm planning to use a 4.5 volt (three battery) flashlight.  I've taken the bulb/chrome cup out of the flashlight, and will glue the item to the bottom of the track ball housing.  Three batteries is about the same voltage as the 5 volts that come off the USB connection, so I shouldn't fry anything.

In a perfect world, I'd be able to get a signal from MAME to tell me who's turn it is, and glow the track ball one color for player one, a different color when it's player 2's turn, etc.

yoda

[papaschtroumpf]

Way over my head, but here's this:
http://www.bit-tech.net/article/92/

Thanks, this looks great!

[grafixmonkey]

how bright are those RGB leds?  Never seen one operate in person.

I'm going to be using bright white LEDs in a large bank under the trackball, and having them all flicker at different rates, to make the trackball shimmer like water.  (it's transparent blue  )

[papaschtroumpf]

I like that idea too. got a circuit you'de like to share?

[mnapuran]

Does anyone have a good source for finding transluscent 2.25" trackballs?!  I am looking for a green one.

Mike

[Howard_Casto]

The translucent arcade balls were only made in 3 inch sizes as far as I know.  There might be some pc tbs though.  

regarding lighting the ball in sequence.  They have these led pens that pluse form one color to the next.  If you unscrew them you'll notice it's 3 ultra bright leds doing the work. So you can use that if you find one, they generally run around 10 bucks.

[grafixmonkey]

I like that idea too. got a circuit you'de like to share?

Just to warn you it uses logic chips and stuff, but you should be able to get everything you need between Happ and Radio Shack.  The circuit isn't complicated, but it's a decent amount of wiring and soldering.  (it's three or four copies of the same thing)

I'll post the circuit when I have it working in my simulator, and am sure it will have the effect I want it to.