Happs normal vs highlip vs highball TB first takes

[u_rebelscum]

I just received a happs normal TB case top and a happs highball case top.  I already own a highlip (green opti board).  This is a just a quick review of them on the first night, not much playing yet.

Right off the bat, these tops are inter-changable.  Remove the 6 screws, pop of the current top, put on another (line up the optiboard to slot!), replace the screws.  Opti boards, ball, rollers, everything fits.  Great if you want to upgrade/change your trackball.

Mounted on the happs normal TB mounting plate, I can't tell the difference between the highlip and the normal top.  The highball needs a different mounting plate that I forget to buy.  (D'oh! )  So I haven't seen the highball mounted.

One thing I noticed, the normal and highlip tops were cleaned up much better than the highball top.  I had to sand down some ridges, wings, and bumps left over from the casting of the highball to get a good fit to the bottom half of the case, but not the other two.  Not much a hassle, but I wonder if they're made at different places, or at least by different casting methods.

Lets see, what else, the normal top has a 1/16" inch high lip, the highlip has a 3/16" lip, the highball has a 1/8" lip.  (The normal lip is drawn as having ~1/8" lip on the happs exploded view.)

I also bought the new red opti boards, but haven't tested them yet.  3x the number of resistors and capacitors of the old green boards, different chip.  Might be a newer model opti sensor, but same shape and "make".  I never had problems with the old green boards, but wanted to see if there was a difference.

I'll see if I can review all this stuff over the next couple weeks, and post the results.

[caykroyd]

that's good information.  Looks like you need that added lip if you use lexan top.  I'm interested in your evaluation of the red boards vs. the green boards.

[Homebrew]

Hey u_rebelscum do you happen to have a part# for the Highlip case top half?  Also, do you have the older highlip or the newer highlip?  I know you have the greenboards, but i'm unsure as to whether the new highlip TB's originally came with greenboards or not.  Or maybe i'm completely full of it.  The highlip TB's happ sells now are different from the ones from say 6 months ago aren't they?  I mean other than the boards. Any info is greatly appreciated.  

-Kevin

[u_rebelscum]

Hey u_rebelscum do you happen to have a part# for the Highlip case top half?  Also, do you have the older highlip or the newer highlip?  I know you have the greenboards, but i'm unsure as to whether the new highlip TB's originally came with greenboards or not.  Or maybe i'm completely full of it.  The highlip TB's happ sells now are different from the ones from say 6 months ago aren't they?  I mean other than the boards. Any info is greatly appreciated.  

-Kevin

I got my high-lip TB a while ago during the last sale (what, end of summer last year?)

AFAIK, the only difference with the newest high lip and the one I have are the red boards, and it's the red boards that make the new model different from the "original" high lip design.  IIRC, the red boards & "new" high lip came out begining of April.
Was there an older high lip than mine, or was there a revision within the last 10 months, or something else I missed?  

Hmm, the part number cast in the high lip case top I have is: 95-1604-00 rev E, but the discription listed almost sounds like it might be a different part.  It says, "...1/8 inch short for high-lip..." while the lip on my piece is 3/16" tall (1/8" taller than the 1/16" normal, though).  The problem is the happs on-line "high lip exploded view" is just the normal TB exploded view, so I can't compare mine with the current one.

Sorry, nothing definite; but hope it helps a little.

[u_rebelscum]

I'm interested in your evaluation of the red boards vs. the green boards.

Me too.  I'll try testing the boards probably this weekend.

[Homebrew]

yeah i seen happ recycled the schematics for the regular trackball.  I might give that part# a try on my next order, its only a $6.xx part.  What about the additional spacer, do you have a part# for that?  I may just buy the high lip TB, i'm planning to buy the redboards anyway and it would only be a little bit more money to get the TB while its on sale anyway.  Thanx for the info.

-Kevin

[u_rebelscum]

yeah i seen happ recycled the schematics for the regular trackball.  I might give that part# a try on my next order, its only a $6.xx part.  What about the additional spacer, do you have a part# for that?

Spacer part number 95-1828-00  ($1.05)

I noticed the drawing for the Normal and/or Highlip model has a .12" high lip (approx 1/8"); this is the average of the normal 1/16" lip and the highlip 3/16" lip.  
Maybe happs' drawing is actually designed for both, rather that just a re-used one.  

I may just buy the high lip TB, i'm planning to buy the redboards anyway and it would only be a little bit more money to get the TB while its on sale anyway.  Thanx for the info.

-Kevin

Sounds like you're debating between upgrading a normal happs TB and buying a new high lip one, right?  Well, if you get a new TB, and have/buy a USB optipac, and have winME/98, then you'd have two trackballs that you could play two player marble madness, cabal, etc with analog+.  *shrug*

So far (only one night testing), I can't tell the difference between the red and the green boards with neither a USB optipac nor a happs USB TB interface.  Only tried shuffle shot so far, with no problems.

[Chris]

So far (only one night testing), I can't tell the difference between the red and the green boards with neither a USB optipac nor a happs USB TB interface.  Only tried shuffle shot so far, with no problems.

I think only a recent Golden Tee, or possibly World Class Bowling, is going to show the difference between the red and green boards.. in Shuffleshot, the trackball speeds just don't get high enough.

--Chris