easiest way to light a trackball ?

[rlemmon]

What's the easiest way to light a trackball ? I'm a bit nervous about screwing up the wiring in my PC.

[fatfingers]

What's the easiest way to light a trackball ? I'm a bit nervous about screwing up the wiring in my PC.

Then I should think you would need one of these (for power) and these (for lighting).

[ahofle]

What's the easiest way to light a trackball ? I'm a bit nervous about screwing up the wiring in my PC.

Then I should think you would need one of these (for power) and these (for lighting).

You really don't even need the powermite.  Just connect a couple wires to a spare 5V molex from your motherboard and then run them to the litemite.  They are usually the red and black wires on the 4 port connector.   Use a volt meter just to be sure though.  I just got my lightmite installed last night.  It rocks.

[TOK]

I got 12v automotive LED's at Pep Boys and wired them directly to a spare 12v harness on my PC power supply. I also had a spare female end so I cut the leads and made it easy to just unplug.

No dicking with resistors or adapters. I used 3 and they've been burning bright for over a year. Total cost was under $10.

[fatfingers]

What's the easiest way to light a trackball ? I'm a bit nervous about screwing up the wiring in my PC.

Then I should think you would need one of these (for power) and these (for lighting).

You really don't even need the powermite.  Just connect a couple wires to a spare 5V molex from your motherboard and then run them to the litemite.  They are usually the red and black wires on the 4 port connector.   Use a volt meter just to be sure though.  I just got my lightmite installed last night.  It rocks.

I agree he doesn't NEED the powermite, but since he seemed nervous about power issues, this seemed like the easiest way.

[rlemmon]

Thanks for the info guys. How does the Lightmite connect to the computer ?

[fatfingers]

Thanks for the info guys. How does the Lightmite connect to the computer ?

You can get either a 5v or 12v lightmite.  Your computer's power supply has both voltages and if you use the powermite it has both voltages as well.  The only thing you need to hook up on the lightmite is the wiring for the 5v or 12v (and ground).  Hooking it up is as easy as splicing into the power supply of your computer or running two wires from the powermite.  There is no reason to connect it to your computer in any other way.

Hope this helps.

[TOK]

I'm not familiar with the Litemite, and I'm trying to grasp why exactly anyone would use it? Why would anyone not just hook 12v LEDs up to the 12v (yellow) lead? It looks like it does nothing but reroute the power to screw terminals?
What am I missing here?

[Fozzy The Bear]

I'm trying to grasp why exactly anyone would use it?

Just buy a trackball lighting kit from GroovyGamegear...... It fits all Trackballs, It's RGB and you can set it to any colour light that you want. That's the way I went with it.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[whammoed]

I'm not familiar with the Litemite, and I'm trying to grasp why exactly anyone would use it? Why would anyone not just hook 12v LEDs up to the 12v (yellow) lead? It looks like it does nothing but reroute the power to screw terminals?
What am I missing here?

1. lights the trackball more evenly
2. allows adjustment if the light is too bright (it has a dimmer built in)
3. Easily mounts to the trackball
4. Looks cool    (I may be a bit biased here)

Its not a necessity, just a "plug and play" solution.  Kinda like you can build your own spinner or buy one...I have lit trackballs using automotive bulbs as well, and this is better.

[fatfingers]

What's the easiest way to light a trackball?

Let's remember here that he didn't ask what the best way is, he asked what the easiest way is.  That's why I recommended the lightmite tb.  (of course, in my opinion it's also the best way).

[rlemmon]

julian are you talking about the Electric ICE™ RGB Trackball Lighting Upgrade Kit ?  Do you just slice it to the 12 v line on your power supply ?



fatfingers.  Were do you put the ground wire ?

Thanks guys

[fatfingers]

fatfingers.  Were do you put the ground wire ?

There are two "screw connectors" on the lightmite TB.  One is for either 5v or 12v (which ever you choose to buy) and the other is for the ground.

[Fozzy The Bear]

julian are you talking about the Electric ICE™ RGB Trackball Lighting Upgrade Kit ?  Do you just slice it to the 12 v line on your power supply ?

Yes that's the beastie!!....and Nope, You splice it to the 5V Line and the other connections on it to ground. It has the correct resistors built in.

It has 4 leads...
1) +5V (attach to PC 5V Line)
2) Red Ground (attaches to pc ground- black lead on PC Supply)
3) Green Ground  (attaches to pc ground)
4) Blue Ground  (attaches to pc ground)

If you attach each ground via a 100 Ohm trim pot, then you can dial in any colour or light intensity that you want. Easy Peasy!!

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)  

[TOK]

1. lights the trackball more evenly
2. allows adjustment if the light is too bright (it has a dimmer built in)
3. Easily mounts to the trackball
4. Looks cool    (I may be a bit biased here)

Its not a necessity, just a "plug and play" solution.  Kinda like you can build your own spinner or buy one...I have lit trackballs using automotive bulbs as well, and this is better.

Thanks for the info, I had somehow missed the Litemite all this time and just wasn't sure.