Few questions about Happ Trackball with USB & PS/2 interface

[Thurman]

Since this is pricy purchase, I just wanted to make sure I understood what I was getting myself into.   

-- The illuminated ball requires an external 12V power source.  Should I tap into my PC for that?  What's the easiest way?

-- It looks like the illuminated balls only come in blue and red.  Does Happ have any other replacement colors like purple?

-- I need to purchase a mounting kit separately? http://www.happcontrols.com/trackballs/55110100.htm  I'm then planning to route out an area on top of the cp for the mounting kit and still have a flush mount of the trackball.

-- I can plug the trackball into the PS/2 port and it's immediately recognized as a mouse.  No other software/hardware required?  The reason I'm asking is because I already have 2 GP-Wiz49s in my USB ports and would prefer to just use the PS/2 port instead of a USB hub.

Thanks for your help guys!

[divemaster127]

I would run the 12 volt off of the computer power supply, you do need the mounting kit & it does look nice, also you can get a yellow or green trans ball but these only come in the highball & harness version you would have to purchase these colors seperate, I do not know about a purple you could prob. search other areas for these, I have the trackballs & mounts on special & in stock if you need.
thanks
dm

[Kaytrim]

Since this is pricy purchase, I just wanted to make sure I understood what I was getting myself into.   

-- The illuminated ball requires an external 12V power source.  Should I tap into my PC for that?  What's the easiest way?

-- It looks like the illuminated balls only come in blue and red.  Does Happ have any other replacement colors like purple?

-- I need to purchase a mounting kit separately? http://www.happcontrols.com/trackballs/55110100.htm  I'm then planning to route out an area on top of the cp for the mounting kit and still have a flush mount of the trackball.

divemaster answered these above questions rather well and I would purchase from him because Happ over prices their stuff for single items and hit you hard on shipping.  His thread is over in the Vendor Stores forum, here is a link.  Go page 19 of the thread reply #726.  He has the 3" harness version with mount for $71.99.

-- I can plug the trackball into the PS/2 port and it's immediately recognized as a mouse.  No other software/hardware required?  The reason I'm asking is because I already have 2 GP-Wiz49s in my USB ports and would prefer to just use the PS/2 port instead of a USB hub.

Thanks for your help guys!

As long as the trackball is already plugged into the PC prior to turning it on.  PS2 ports are not hot swappable like the USB ports.  Yes the trackball would be seen as a mouse.  Just connect buttons to the supplied connections from the trackball and they would act as mouse buttons.

One option for the trackball color is to get a conversion kit from Groovy Game Gear.  They sell a trackball ball and light kit that will give you the option of having a full rainbow of colors to choose from all in one ball.  You would need their LEDWiz board to get the full spectrum though.

[moriartyds]

-- I need to purchase a mounting kit separately? http://www.happcontrols.com/trackballs/55110100.htm  I'm then planning to route out an area on top of the cp for the mounting kit and still have a flush mount of the trackball.

I just bought one from Tornado Terry's and it came with the mounting plate free (much cheaper than Happscontrols.com as well).  Very fast service - I ordered it on Sunday and it arrived on Monday.  Rather scary actually.

[Huskerfan]

I would run the 12 volt off of the computer power supply, you do need the mounting kit & it does look nice, also you can get a yellow or green trans ball but these only come in the highball & harness version you would have to purchase these colors seperate, I do not know about a purple you could prob. search other areas for these, I have the trackballs & mounts on special & in stock if you need.
thanks
dm

I have the illuminated ball also so thanks for the tip.  I'm planning on hooking a separate button to power on/off the computer.  I assume I could just splice into this line for the trackball?

[QuixoteQuest]

I just have my light kit powered by two wires hooked into a Molex connector so it could plug right into one of the available plugs inside the PC. Makes it easy to remove were I to add the trackball/LED-wiz additon later from GroovyGamegear, which I am considering.

I spliced into the motherboard-to-power-button wire in order to be able to turn my cab on and off from a button I added outside of my cab. But I like my trackball lighting kit being easier to disconnect. You definitely could splice right into one of your power feeds instead in order to light your trackball.

[fjl]

Would it be better to buy the USB trackball instead of the normal Trackball and an opti-pac? And why is the trackball mount so much pricier for the non usb mount? Also what about the high ball trackball assembly? What benefit is there to buying that one? I assume its so the ball sticks out more on the panel but do I really need that? my CP will be made out of 3/4" plywood plus perhaps 1/4" plexi. Will I need the high ball trackball? And do they sell the high ball in USB?

[ahofle]

what about the high ball trackball assembly? What benefit is there to buying that one? I assume its so the ball sticks out more on the panel but do I really need that? my CP will be made out of 3/4" plywood plus perhaps 1/4" plexi. Will I need the high ball trackball? And do they sell the high ball in USB?

I have a highball trackball, and I'll never get any other kind.  I feel like I have twice the control of a normal trackball with it because I can keep more of my hand in contact with it.  Kind of hard to explain, but believe me it's worth it.  If you ever happen to see one of those multi-Centipede/Millipede cabinets, I believe it has a high ball trackball in it.

[fjl]

I think I recall on Centipede arcades, you could pull out the trackball. Is this also so with the high track ball? The regular trackball? And what do any of you think of the 2 1/4" trackball?

[ahofle]

I'm not able to pull it out.
I prefer the 3" highball over the 2 1/4" purely for performance reasons.  If you are after Centipede authenticity, then the 2 1/4" would be your best choice.

[u_rebelscum]

I have a highball trackball, and I'll never get any other kind.  I feel like I have twice the control of a normal trackball with it because I can keep more of my hand in contact with it.  Kind of hard to explain, but believe me it's worth it.  If you ever happen to see one of those multi-Centipede/Millipede cabinets, I believe it has a high ball trackball in it.

I prefer normal (& high lip) TBs very much over the high ball TB.  It has to do with how I use TBs.  The high ball sticks so far up that the sides to so vertical, it hurts my hands when I hit it from the side, which I do quite a bit.   Sounds like ahofle "stays on top of" the TB, so doesn't have this problem with it.  Also, on the high ball TB, the ball comes off the rollers a lot more often than normal (& high lip) TBs do, causing skips.  Again, this probably has to do with how I use the TB more "from the sides" than on top.

Another difference: the high ball has a slightly larger mounting plate (the case is the same size).  This forces close buttons farther away (unless you drill the plate, or mount it without the plate).  And makes a surprising difference on fitting it on CPs.

OTOH, if I had a lexan/plexi cover on my CPs and mounted the TB under the cover, a high ball TB might be low enough for me be able to use it. 

Like joysticks, whether the high ball is better for a person depends on how that person uses the TB, how he's mounting it, and the CP (size, spacing, thickness, etc) it's being put on.

... Is this also so with the high track ball? The regular trackball? And what do any of you think of the 2 1/4" trackball?

No, no, and too small except for cocktail CPs.

Would it be better to buy the USB trackball instead of the normal Trackball and an opti-pac?

I'd say it's cheaper to go the USB trackball, except if the USB sensor board goes down, you have to buy a new one (it happened to a post recently), plus looks like happs puts the USB version at a $60 hike, which isn't cheap.  If you went with a normal TB and optipac (or minipac, mousehack, etc), it would be easier with more options and probably cheaper to fix if one part stopped working.

And why is the trackball mount so much pricier for the non usb mount?

   Shouldn't be any difference, unless you're talking about the newer "heavy duty" (aka "golden tee") mount vs the older mounts.  The newest mount is cheaper, probably due to volume of sales, even though it's supposed to be a better mount (I don't have one).

Also what about the high ball trackball assembly? What benefit is there to buying that one? I assume its so the ball sticks out more on the panel but do I really need that? my CP will be made out of 3/4" plywood plus perhaps 1/4" plexi. Will I need the high ball trackball? And do they sell the high ball in USB?

Already mentioned a little above (I don't like the high ball), but with a 1/4" plexi + art over the mounting plate, I might lean toward the high ball.  The high ball lip is 1/8" tall, the mounting plate 1/16"; that would put the top of the lip 3/16" below the top of the plexi, even before the thickness of the art is counted in.  If the plexi was 1/8", I'd get a high lip: sink the 1/16" mounting plate into the CP, the high lip's 3/16" lip would be flush with the top of the plexi.

[ahofle]

Already mentioned a little above (I don't like the high ball), but with a 1/4" plexi + art over the mounting plate, I might lean toward the high ball.  The high ball lip is 1/8" tall, the mounting plate 1/16"; that would put the top of the lip 3/16" below the top of the plexi, even before the thickness of the art is counted in.  If the plexi was 1/8", I'd get a high lip: sink the 1/16" mounting plate into the CP, the high lip's 3/16" lip would be flush with the top of the plexi.

Interesting...I have 1/8" lexan over 5/8" MDF.  The TB lip falls a little below the lexan (if the lip is 1/8" and the plate is 1/16", and you have a 1/8" lexan, the lip will be 1/16" below the lexan).  Also, I'm not sure recessing the plate will make much difference in the height of the lip in relation to the lexan...it will just prevent the lexan from having to rise/bend slightly for the trackball plate (that would look horrible anyway).  Also, I have never experienced the ball coming off the rollers, even when playing frenzied games like Golden Tee.  I also tend to use my fingers in games like Millipede for small, precise movements which may be another reason I find the highball better.  Finally, it's my understanding that the highball trackball just has a spacer in it that can be removed to make it a regular (lowball? ) trackball?  Is that not the case?

[u_rebelscum]

...Also, I'm not sure recessing the plate will make much difference in the height of the lip in relation to the lexan...it will just prevent the lexan from having to rise/bend slightly for the trackball plate (that would look horrible anyway). 

Yes, but I was comparing it to putting the mounting plate on top of the plexi/lexan, or mounting without the plate.

...Finally, it's my understanding that the highball trackball just has a spacer in it that can be removed to make it a regular (lowball? ) trackball?  Is that not the case?

Almost.  The high lip can be used as a normal (old school) TB by adding a spacer. 

Any of the three can be changed to any other by replacing the top half of the case.  Here's the high lip and high ball tops:

And the high lip & normal:

[ahofle]

Awesome, thanks for the explanation!