Replacing a Happ Trackball lamp with an LED?

[Jdurg]

I was just wondering if anybody had any instructions for how to replace the standard incandescent lamp in the 3" Translucent Happ Trackball with an LED?  I got a white and a blue LED from GroovyGameGear and would like to use one to replace the standard lamp in the trackball.  The lamp is a bulb with VCH/161 and 710 stamped on the bulb. 

The LED includes a resistor for use in a 5-volt power source and I was hoping to somehow break the bulb that came with the trackball and use the wedge base it has so I don't have to modify the mount that it has.  Still, if I had to make a new mount I wouldn't have a problem.  I just want to know how I can go about making this replacement.

[BobA]

You can buy replacement bulbs with the LED already built in from Happs.

LED Lamps

Building your own would mean breaking the bulb while keeping the contacts intact and soldering the led to the contacts in the correct polarity.  The resistor could be mounted on the bulb if you have room or external to the holder if you cannot fit it on the bulb.   Sizing of the resistor is dependant on your LED voltage drop and the supply voltage that you want to use.   If you have an LED with a resistor it is probably sized for 5V. 

[divemaster127]

Thats what I use is the ones from happ you just plug them into the existing socket & you are ready to go
dm

[Jdurg]

I would go that route, but since I've already got the LEDs there's no reason for me to spend two bucks on replacement bulbs, then 10 bucks on shipping.  That's what i'm trying to avoid here.   

[Level42]

Why not remove the old mounting? I think you can glue the led to the base of the trackball. Do not fully insert it though, as it will touch the ball.
You will never have to replace the LED anyway, so glueing it is fine.

Here's how I experimented so far with it on my Centipede trackball:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=63654.msg776121#msg776121

Not definitely fixed there yet, but I guess I will simply use the glue gun.....


I took the +5V from the encoder board.

[Jdurg]

Now that's something that can work!  I have a bunch of spare scrap wood that I can use to create a little "block" to put the LED on, and a bunch of stuff I can use to secure it.  I think that's what I'm going to do.

Thanks!!!