Happ USB Trackball - bad optical encoder - fourth time

[fiscap]

I'm wondering if someone can help shed some insight as to what's happening with my Happ USB Trackball. My optical encoders keep dying on me for no apparent reason. It seems like they only last for about six months, slowly stop responding and then die altogether. It keeps alternating too, between the optic encoder sets on the 'x' and 'y' axes. The thing that really sucks about these things dying is that they're each $20+ w/shipping each time they die.

Is anyone else having this issue? This seems to be an issue of very poor engineering on Happ's behalf. I can understand having to replace idler parts on a regular basis with heavy use, but I'm not using this trackball enough to warrant replacement of solid-state parts.

[2600]

Do you have your trackball grounded?

[AndyWarne]

Unfortunately this is a known problem with the Happ boards. You should not have to pay for replacements though. Happ should be well aware of the problem and send free replacements.
Andy

[2600]

I thought they had fixed that problem.  Do you know what the problem was or which component gets damaged?

[fiscap]

I've got the set of green wires run to chassis ground. I'm assuming these green wires are to dissipate any static charge.

There's really not much to the optics on the USB version of the trackball. In this particular case, the board on the left 'PCB (B) 55-0301-00', which controls movement on the x-axis is no longer working. The only thing on this board is the optic gate and the 4-pin connector that goes to PCB (A), so I assume the optic gate is going bad when these die. Does anyone know where I can get just the 8-pin optic gate fairly cheap? I wouldn't mind stocking up on them at a few bucks a piece and just re-solder the 8 joints each time these fail - would sure beat $20 a pop with Happ.

Andy - do you know the best way to get Happ to replace these at no cost? I went back through my order history with Happ and I replaced PCB (A) on 4/6/06 and 3/26/07, and I replaced PCB (B) on 2/8/06 - this will be the second time replacing PCB (B).

[divemaster127]

The boards you replaced with are all the pre revision 2 boards those came out around late october & early november
dm

[2600]

divemaster,
Do you have pics of the new board so that we could see what changed?

I'm assuming they had a wrong resistor value and had too much current going to it.

[divemaster127]

I can get a pic later today, im at work right now
dm

[fiscap]

I know Happ came out with new 'red' boards for their non-USB/PS2 trackballs, have they done something similar (red or green) with their USB/PS2 model since the summer? I'm leaning towards what 2600 mentioned in that they may have some wrong resistors on these optic gates - allowing too much current and they eventual give out.

[divemaster127]

Happ came out with revision 2 boards for red & green I have sold several sets & so far(knock on wood) no issues
dm

[mrserv0n]

I got my usb happ trackball from dm well over 6 months ago and I literally use it daily for golden tee and horseshoe tourneys and never seen a single issue.. wonder if i have a newer one or just lucky..

[BobbyG66]

My tackball has been down for a few months now.
The Left/Right sensor is not working.
Wher can I get parts for this?
Is it easier to hack in a mouse controller?

My board specs are this:
PCB"A" is part# 55-0301-00 Rev D.
PCB"B" is part# 55-0302-00 Rev B.

Thanks
BG66

[divemaster127]

I have the new boards in stock if you need
dm

[travandalex]

I feel your pain!   

I've gone through a whole bunch of EXPENSIVE Happ trackball encoders.  Exactly the same problem you describe, one or the other axis would fail every few months. 

My setup has my spinner (Tornado USB) on the panel in front of the button for the TV.  By turning on the TV, it seems that the static would travel down my arm, through the spinner and disrupt my USB devices (the old 'be-bunk' XP noise).  This seemed to occasionally fry my trackball.  My solution (and no guarantees) was to run a strip of aluminum foil around the edge of the TV screen (behind black tape - touching the screen) and running to ground.  This GREATLY made a difference in the amount of static, and my trackball has worked since (more than a year ago). 

Good luck!