Minipac Harness question

[loremtr]

OK, this is my first build and Im wiring up to finally finish the cabinet...but Ive run across a problem.

The Harness I requested is a Happs trackball...

the Trackball I bought is a Happs trackball....

the Harness has two 2x 4 slotted plugs..

The trackball has one plug with 6 prongs in it....   

Can someone let me know which piece I have that is not what I think it is so I can fix this situation....

[markrvp]

As you found out that harness doesn't work directly with the Happ trackball.  If it were me, I would send it back to Andy and get the correct harness.

But. . .

You may not want to wait 3 weeks to get everything going in which case you can cut off the appropriate connectors and hook up a new connector from Radio Shack.

If you want to modify your harness I would be happy to talk you though it tonight when I get off work.  In the meantime, you can take your trackball to Radio Shack and get the correct matching 6 pin molex connector so you're ready to go.  I will require soldering unless you have the proper crimper to use with the molex pins.

I'm happy to help.

[loremtr]

Ill be leaving on a 2 day track trip....  Ill PM you when I get back.  I appreciate the help.  Andy looks like hes out of town for a few days....  Guess Ill be learning to solder.

[dema]

You are in luck. I was able to get the answer to this question a couple weeks ago after going through the same head scratching you did. The answer is surprisingly simple, and requires no cutting, crimping, soldering or anything. Just unplug and plug.

You do not need the wires that come attached to the Happs trackball. I originally thought you needed them in order to wire up to the Minipac, but they're for a different type of interface -- probably a more arcade-authentic one. You can unplug this harness that came with the unit and put the wiring away in case a need for it ever arises at a future time. The wiring harness supplied by Andy for the Minipac has four molex connectors, I believe. Two of them are the same size and look and will attach to the pins on the circuit board of the trackball (use the diagram to determine which goes to the x axis and which goes to the y axis); another molex is a beige one that would connect to the circuit board of a spinner, and the remaining black molex needs to attach to the Minipac.

That's all it takes. If you have any questions with the Minipac and wiring it up feel free to ask.

[markrvp]

That's better than my solution.  I wonder why Andy doesn't just put a 6-pin molex connector at the end of the harness to plug right into the Happ AND Wico trackballs?

[dema]

It had me scratching my head for about a half hour before I realized the Happs harness could be removed and replaced with the wiring harness from Ultimarc.

[loremtr]

OK....I managed to get that done today just before I walked out the door for a trip...I dont have time to trouble shoot... but now when I roll the mouse up it bring the cursor down?  BUt left is left and right is right.....how do I fix this?

[dema]

You'll need to swap a couple of wires in the harness. I got mine a long time ago and Andy had the wires in the harness running to the opposite pins. You'll need to swap pins 35 and 36 in the wiring diagram. Get a small tool to push up on the black tab on the side of the harness above wire #35 and then pull the wire out. Then do the same with #36 and then swap the two wires back into the harness.