Connecting Oscar Controls Vortex Spinner? (4-pin connector on spinner?)

[sofakng]

I'm wondering how exactly I hookup the Oscar Control's Vortex Spinner.  There are four pins sticking out of the spinner PCB that I could probably solder a wire onto, but does Radio Shack (or local hardware stores) sell a connector that I can simply place on top of it?

I've looked on his website but I can't find information on this.  For his trackball interface I see he uses a molex connector but for this spinner I don't see anything.

[OSCAR]

Included with the spinner is a red connector for attaching to the optic board.  A picture and details can be found on the Vortex page under the heading "Connection to encoder interface".

Please email me if you have any more questions.

[sofakng]

Included with the spinner is a red connector for attaching to the optic board.  A picture and details can be found on the Vortex page under the heading "Connection to encoder interface".

Please email me if you have any more questions.

Oh, thats right, I forgot about that piece...

However, I'm connecting it to an Ultimarc Opti-Pac (because I'm also connecting a trackball).  So I don't think I can use the red connector in this case.

So, what would I use instead?

[_Iz-]

Included with the spinner is a red connector for attaching to the optic board.  A picture and details can be found on the Vortex page under the heading "Connection to encoder interface".

Please email me if you have any more questions.

Oh, thats right, I forgot about that piece...

However, I'm connecting it to an Ultimarc Opti-Pac (because I'm also connecting a trackball).  So I don't think I can use the red connector in this case.

So, what would I use instead?

well, I haven't seen the cable Oscar supplies but If I had to guess, one end would have the "red connector" for attachment to the spinner itself, the other end should be bare wires to shove in the right holes on the opti-pac. If the other end doesn't have bare wires then cut off whatever is there and strip the ends of each wire...

[sofakng]

Well, the red connector is just a red plastic piece.  There are no wires attached to it, and I'm not sure how to attach wires to it unless I JAM them inside tiny holes...

I think I have to do something without the red piece... *shrug*

[_Iz-]

Sometimes those connectors have slots to slide the wires down into. On each side of the slot there are "blades" in a V shape. As you push the wire down into the V the blades sever the outer wire sheath and make contact with the actual conductor in the wire. You probably have to push the wires down into the slots with a small, thin straight blade screwdriver. Once you get all 4 wires connected to the red connector then you then strip the other end of each wire to connect to the optipac holes. You can now plug the red connector onto the spinner and connect the wire ends to the optipac.

[NoOne=NBA=]

Look at the pictures on Oscar's site.
The plastic piece comes apart, and you put the wires in between the blades on the connector and push down (like an Ethernet jack, or punch-down phone jack), then put the cap back on.

[sofakng]

Look at the pictures on Oscar's site.
The plastic piece comes apart, and you put the wires in between the blades on the connector and push down (like an Ethernet jack, or punch-down phone jack), then put the cap back on.

Ohhhh!!  The red piece COMES APART?!  I'm at work right now but when I get home I'll take a look at that.  If thats all that is needed....  I feel so... stupid....  

[Apollo]

You need a very small flat head screwdriver, the one I used was about 1mm wide blade. Push the wires down in to the holes. There is a white plastic "cap" that then fits over the top of the red plastic plug. This will clamp down on the wires and hold them in place. The Vortex also has a cable tie hold on the side ( a small hole in the board ). Use this to secure your 4 wires further. It is tricky and it is probably the one area that could use improvement on the Vortex. That said I am totally happy with the product and Tempest and Arkanoid now rock.

[Zakk]

Yes, getting the wires into the slots can be a bit tricky.  For Kelsey it is a snap to do, but I still sruggle with them sometimes ( no patience)

Just hold one end of the wire in place with a screwdriver, and pull like crazy on the other end, that should seat the wire into the "v" and slice into the insulation enough to make contact.  I'd also suggest testing continuity on your wires with a multimeter, but it's not totally necessary.

Funny thing is, I've been selling the Oscar optic boards for a while now, and never thought of using that extra screw hole for a cable tie!  Excellent idea!