What is the Happ trackball connector

[andrewonawall]

I haven't purchased my trackball yet, but I will be getting one made by Happ.  I order everything that I need from one vender in one order to save on the shipping cost, and Happ is the last on my list.  
Right now, I am placing an order with therealbobroberts and wanted to pick up a connector for the trackball.  I want to have the wiring set up so that I can just unplug the trackball from the wiring harness if it needs to be serviced or replaced.  What specific kind and size connector do I need for this??? Happ lists 'standard AMOA harness included' on their sight.  Is this the connector that is used???

[drunkatuw]

I think the answer depends on how you're connecting your trackball to your computer.

First I used a mini-pac which does not need any connectors...just plug the mini-pac into the trackball and you're set.

Then I switched to OSCAR's mouse hack and purchased a trackball harness for I think $9 from OSCAR.  It works great!

[andrewonawall]

I am going to use an opti-PAC from Ultimarc.  I could just chop of the Happ connector and wire it straight to the opti-PAC, but then I can't easily pull out the track-ball without disturbing the wiring harness.  I think that it would be easier to buy the coresponding connector to the one that comes with the Happ track-ball for a couple of bucks.

[Sasquatch!]

Typically, the Happ trackball wire harness has two 4-position .156" molex receptacles (although MTA receptacles would work too) - one for each optic board (X and Y) on the trackball.  Those two join together to a single a 6-position .093" molex plug (the two +5V and GND wires come to a single pin).  

So if you want to make an interface to an Opti-PAC, use this style connector on the trackball, and then make a separate one which has a 6-position .093" molex receptacle, and then have those wires go to the Opti-PAC.  That way, to disconnect the whole thing, you just unplug it where the 6-position .093" molex plug and receptacle meet.

[andrewonawall]

So if you want to make an interface to an Opti-PAC, use this style connector on the trackball, and then make a separate one which has a 6-position .093" molex receptacle, and then have those wires go to the Opti-PAC.  That way, to disconnect the whole thing, you just unplug it where the 6-position .093" molex plug and receptacle meet.

Thanks, that is exactly what I want to do.  

[Stormy151]

I don't know if it's the same connector (I suspect it is) but I got the 6-position Molex that fits my Betson/Imperial TB at Radio Shack.

[Ken Layton]

I don't know if it's the same connector (I suspect it is) but I got the 6-position Molex that fits my Betson/Imperial TB at Radio Shack.

Here's the Radio Shack numbers for the 6 pin Molex trackball connectors:

274-226 Male .093" Molex 6 pin housing and male terminals $2.99

274-236 Female .093" Molex 6 pin housing and female terminals $2.99

[PL1]

Congrats, Ken.

I think you're the winner in the necro-bump competition -- 9 years, 2 weeks.   


Scott

[Ken Layton]

Congrats, Ken.

I think you're the winner in the necro-bump competition -- 9 years, 2 weeks.   


Scott

The amazing thing is that after all these years, Radio Shack still sells these connectors!

Since this thread started, Happ has jacked the price of trackball assemblies way up:

http://na.suzohapp.com/amusement_products/trackballs/56-5500-12T