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Author Topic: Dumb trackball question - connecting to opti-pac  (Read 1784 times)

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ahofle

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Dumb trackball question - connecting to opti-pac
« on: June 12, 2003, 12:23:46 am »
How are you guys connecting your Happ trackballs to your opti-pac?  There is a little 6 conductor plastic female connector at the end, but I wasn't able to find a matching male one at radio shack (they had 4, 9, etc naturally  ::) )  I know the ultimarc site says to just cut it off and splice the wires, but I was hoping for a cleaner solution.  A snap connector would also make detaching the trackball for cleaning easier.

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Re:Dumb trackball question - connecting to opti-pac
« Reply #1 on: June 12, 2003, 12:31:16 am »
I don't know where to get that molex, someone here will reply.  Otherwise get like  db9 connector and make your own connector.

JustMichael

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Re:Dumb trackball question - connecting to opti-pac
« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2003, 01:35:58 am »
I believe Bob Roberts carries Molex connectors.

skirge66

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Re:Dumb trackball question - connecting to opti-pac
« Reply #3 on: June 12, 2003, 01:46:28 am »
well I've never seen an opti-pac myself.

I would imagine that it interfaces pretty much the same as mine does to my ME-4 from hagstrom electronics (via an 8 pin connector on the opti-pac?)

hagstrom sells a trackball adapter that replaces the existing wire harness that comes on the happs balls:

http://www.hagstromelectronics.com/accessories.html

KE-TBH3 (cable I'm refering to)

simply disconnect the 4 pin plugs on the optic boards for the trackball and connect the KE-TBH3  4 pin connectors in their place yellow/green to "y", and purple/blue to "x". the cable is 3' long and ends at an 8 pin connector. the pin size is the same size as what is on oscar's pro spinner. Not sure if this helps or not, but hope it does.

ME-4 (not cheap...about 50 bones)

 the 8 pin at the top of this pic is where the trackball connects, the 5 pin next to it is for a spinner
« Last Edit: June 12, 2003, 02:02:51 am by skirge66 »
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Re:Dumb trackball question - connecting to opti-pac
« Reply #4 on: June 12, 2003, 04:14:21 am »
How are you guys connecting your Happ trackballs to your opti-pac?  There is a little 6 conductor plastic female connector at the end, but I wasn't able to find a matching male one at radio shack (they had 4, 9, etc naturally  ::) )  I know the ultimarc site says to just cut it off and splice the wires, but I was hoping for a cleaner solution.  A snap connector would also make detaching the trackball for cleaning easier.

I went with the 6 conductor male molex ( 0.93 molex connector) your couldn't find.  I like the ease of plugging and unplugging with them; I'm "testing" a few trackballs so it helps me, but you might not need that.

There's a bunch of radio shacks around me, and IIRC only 2 out of 4 had the right ones when I was looking. :-\  Fry's electronics had them.  Try looking at a big radio shack or other eletronics store and you'll find them.
Robin
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