Just got my new TRACKBALL - Have Questions

[MilitiaMan]

OK ... just got my new High Lip Trackball from Happ Controls (with the oft-discussed red optic boards) last night.

I connected it to my pc to test it using the USB interface I purchased from Oscar Controls a while back and it works perfectly.

So here are my questions ...

1. I want to connect 2 buttons to utilize just like a left and right mouse button. Is there a way I can connect these buttons to the trackball harness or the USB interface? I am sure I can as I have seen so many people with dedicated mouse buttons on their CP's ... just not sure how it is accomplished.

2. There are two green wires connected to the base of the TB that are connected together with a round connector at the end. It appears to be a ground of some sort, but I am not sure. Can someone clue me in as to what these green wires are for. I hooked the trackball up and it worked without connecting those green wires to anything ?!?!?

Here is a photo that contains the green wires I was talking about:



I did copy this pic from a fellow BYOAC'ers website ... I hope you don't mind. If you do, PM me, and I will remove it. If you don't mind, then thank you.

Anyone that can help, I sure would appreciate it!

MM

[Frostillicus]

The green wires are indeed ground wires.  Meant to connect to the cabinet's ground strap.  Usually they are left unhooked on a mame cab, for whatever reason.  In my case - laziness  

[MilitiaMan]

The green wires are indeed ground wires.  Meant to connect to the cabinet's ground strap.  Usually they are left unhooked on a mame cab, for whatever reason.  In my case - laziness  

Sweet ... any point in connecting them that anyone is aware of ... my last TB didn't even have any ground wires.

MM

[rampy]

The green wires are indeed ground wires.  Meant to connect to the cabinet's ground strap.  Usually they are left unhooked on a mame cab, for whatever reason.  In my case - laziness  

Sweet ... any point in connecting them that anyone is aware of ... my last TB didn't even have any ground wires.

MM

The point has to do with static buildup... the friction between the balls and the rods n' stuff...  especially in the dry summer... you could hypothetically build up quite the charge and potentially fry your optics ...  

but i leave mine disconnected, and don't really worry, but ymmv...

rampy

[DZuroff]

Is it possible to connect the trackball ground wires to the same ground loop that all the other joy and button controls are using?

[Rocky]

If you hook up the green wire, do NOT hook it to the "common" ground loop that goes to your keyboard encoder!  

If you hook it up, hook it to the third prong of your AC power cord (earth ground).


Rocky

[OSCAR]

Is it possible to connect the trackball ground wires to the same ground loop that all the other joy and button controls are using?

I wouldn't do this.  The intent of the trackball ground wire is to dissipate a possible charge build-up created by the trackball, and I just wouldn't feel right connecting this to a circuit board ground although technically they should be the same.  I would opt for an earth ground not associated with the controls, such as the monitor frame or power supply housing.

[u_rebelscum]

1. I want to connect 2 buttons to utilize just like a left and right mouse button. Is there a way I can connect these buttons to the trackball harness or the USB interface? I am sure I can as I have seen so many people with dedicated mouse buttons on their CP's ... just not sure how it is accomplished.

You'd have to do it through the interface if it has any.  I thought oscar's USB interface does, but I'm not sure.

The trackball itself doesn't do buttons.

[MilitiaMan]

1. I want to connect 2 buttons to utilize just like a left and right mouse button. Is there a way I can connect these buttons to the trackball harness or the USB interface? I am sure I can as I have seen so many people with dedicated mouse buttons on their CP's ... just not sure how it is accomplished.

You'd have to do it through the interface if it has any.  I thought oscar's USB interface does, but I'm not sure.

The trackball itself doesn't do buttons.

Oscar ... any light you can shed on this button situation? Does the USB trackball interface support dedicated mouse buttons or what?

Thanks everyone for the responses on the ground wires ... I will NOT be connecting them to anything.  

MM

[OSCAR]

Oscar ... any light you can shed on this button situation? Does the USB trackball interface support dedicated mouse buttons or what?

The USB mouse does support the L/R mouse buttons, but the standard mini m'switches are still on the PCB.  If you are handy with a soldering iron, you can connect wires directly to the PCB for your pushbuttons.

Thanks for the reminder on this, I was supposed to add this to my website last week!  
Due to the requests for this configuration, I now offer a USB mouse interface with pin headers in the mouse button locations and it is supplied with a button wire harness complete with .187" female disconnects for connecting to standard arcade pushbuttons for an extra $3.50.  This has been added to the website now and can be ordered as a complete unit.

[destroid]

Ack   - I just ordered the standard mouse interface from OSCAR last week with the intention of hacking it to use the mouse buttons myself.  The mouse interface works great with the Model 3 spinner by the way.

OSCAR: Thanks for the great tutorial on connecting a trackball and spinner to the mouse interface via a switch.  http://www.oscarcontrols.com/DPDTswitch.shtml  I will be wiring this up and my mouse buttons soon.

The trackball tutorial also gave me an idea for my control panel.  I will be wiring MOUSE 1 & 2 and Player1 B1 & B2 to the same physical buttons and switching between them with another DPDT switch.