Laser 'Cannon' for Trackball

[Zakk]

Installed a laser cannon today on a trackball.  It is a great easy way to light the ball.  Don't know if this has been mentioned here before, probably has, but for those that don't know about them, they plug into the 12V power from your PC with a regular molex connector, and they are damn bright (superbright)!  I didn't think that one would work well on a 3" translucent, but it sure did the trick!  Installation was easy since it's on a little swivel base with double sided foam tape, and it's set up like a microphone clip, so you can remove it easily if you had to move the pc, or wanted to remove it or replace it, etc...anyway, I'm not selling the things, just wanted to plug a good product.  Hell I don't even know where I got it, since it was an E-bay snag, but it was el cheapo. Hope it helps someone...

  www.mameworld.net/massive/Cabinet/Zeldamame/install.JPG

Shoot forgot about the no linking of pics thing, cut 'n paste the link to make it work.  Ztnet, what can I say?  

[SpamMe]

[JustMichael]

How about a pic from the other side when it is on?

[Zakk]

How about a pic from the other side when it is on?

I -knew- someone would want that.      I had to pop open my tower and disconnect a hard drive to get a free plug, and I was just so damned pleased with how it looked, I forgot to grab the camera... ah well, I'll just cast my laziness aside and do it again.  Wish I kept a spare running comp around here for these occasions!  
I'll do it tonight after work.  Then maybe I should hang a few of these on my Christmas tree and blind the kiddies!

[Zakk]

Okay, here are a couple of pics.  Both are no flash, as-is.  One looking straight at the ball, and the other showing the light pulled out of the little clip.  This is a good solution for the Happ, no question!

[Zakk]

Pic 2

[RetroBorg]

It almost looks like it maybe too bright, is that right, or is it just the photo? Where does somebody purchase one of these and what colours are available?

[rockhopper]

Retro,
I think i've seen these at Dick Smith's (you're in Aus right?) they sell them as a pack of 3, and you can hook them up to some sound activated thing to make them pulse with the sounds coming from your speakers etc.

Different colours too like red, green, white, blue I think.

[Zakk]

I can't say as though I find them too bright, as I was using a 12V auto bulb before, and it made it look 'muddy', plus it heated the ball on one side.  Much easier to make somthing less bright, than more bright  

I got them off ebay, they were something like $3 apiece, which really is nothing when you think about it, considering it comes with the plug wire light and clip.  Eh, I dunno, to each his own, but this this is going to be a standard install on future cabs for me

[b3atmania]

Isn't this dangerous? In the Netherlands laser pointer pens have been banned because they can cause serious damage to the human eye. Directing a laser into a sphere will scatter the light and will likely hit your eyes, no? In any case I would not risk it.

[Minwah]

Isn't this dangerous? In the Netherlands laser pointer pens have been banned because they can cause serious damage to the human eye. Directing a laser into a sphere will scatter the light and will likely hit your eyes, no? In any case I would not risk it.

I don't know for sure, but the 'Laser Cannon' doesn't look like a real laser to me, more like a very bright LED.  If I am right, then this shouldn't cause anyone any harm

[Byzar]

Even if it is a laser and not a LED, the light coming out of the trackball isn't focussed on one spot so that wouldn't be dangerous. You might wanna be carefull with the bare device though to be sure.

[RetroBorg]

Retro,
I think i've seen these at Dick Smith's (you're in Aus right?) they sell them as a pack of 3, and you can hook them up to some sound activated thing to make them pulse with the sounds coming from your speakers etc.

Different colours too like red, green, white, blue I think.

Thanks rockhopper, I'll definately be checking out Dicky Smiths.

[Zakk]

Isn't this dangerous? In the Netherlands laser pointer pens have been banned because they can cause serious damage to the human eye. Directing a laser into a sphere will scatter the light and will likely hit your eyes, no? In any case I would not risk it.

I guess I should mention that this is just a superbright LED.  It's called a "LAZER CANON LED".  I think your eyes are pretty safe

[grafixmonkey]

I am not aware of any blue laser pens existing at all...   I remember looking once.  They have green, but not blue.  (unless they've come out with 'em since then.)

[u_rebelscum]

Blue is new.

[Wienerdog]

I am not aware of any blue laser pens existing at all...

I remember seeing one once... once.

[EggZilla]

I can actually clarify this a bit.

this light is actually indeed not a laser at all, but an "LED cannon", so called for its narrow beam. It won't harm your eyes any more than staring at a regular light bulb, although I still wouldn't recommend gazing into it for any amount of time.

I actually used a blue one just like this to light my ball as well. It isn't too bright; in fact, I found it made the ball look deeper blue and less turquoise. I did find it a bit tough to get it aimed properly, so that the light was shining dead center into the ball, but that could be my lack of overall motor skills. The light hooked right into a small-sized molex connector on my PC power supply (I used an extension cable).

If you're interested, they can be found for a whopping $1.79 by going here

http://www.heatsinkstore.com/1laledcaco.html

I like mine.

[grafixmonkey]

I can actually clarify this a bit.

this light is actually indeed not a laser at all, but an "LED cannon", so called for its narrow beam.

Yeah we got it...  I just meant even if you had no idea what a laser beam was supposed to look like, it couldn't be one because I don't think they exist.  But maybe they do according to weinerdog.

Note to those curious about color, I tried both a bright white LED and a blue LED flashlight very similar to that LED Cannon thing, and I could not tell a difference in color.  The incandescent lamp, however, made it look decidedly greenish (turquoise, sea-foam green, whatever).  The blue LED and white LED both gave it a very nice deep blue color.  I imagine it's the heavy yellow component in the incandescent light.

[JustMichael]

I want a black laser...  

[SirPeale]

Isn't this dangerous? In the Netherlands laser pointer pens have been banned because they can cause serious damage to the human eye. Directing a laser into a sphere will scatter the light and will likely hit your eyes, no? In any case I would not risk it.

To clarify:

A laser is a tightly focused beam of light.  They will harm your retina if the beam is focused on it.  However, if the light is diffused, say thru a trackball, it is no longer focused.  

[DeaZ]

Yeah- this will not harm your eyes. and still thoes lasers they sell at a store are class 1 so it takes atleast a few minute to get the damage going.... look into a class 4 laser ^^ then your going to have brain problems.

But as for this - no LEDs are just bright lightballs. They will not do perament dmg. I use them when I go camping... so small and SO bright.