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Grounding a USB trackball necessary?

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2600:
A PC trackball doesn't use metal rollers.

Ninten-doh:

--- Quote from: 2600 on June 08, 2006, 08:40:09 am ---A PC trackball doesn't use metal rollers.

--- End quote ---

Ahhhhhhh.  Thanks! 

RandyT:

I was going to post this a while back, but never did for some reason.

The green ground wire for the track ball being used as a means of protecting the electronic circuitry inside is a somewhat silly notion.  The boards are grounded and a good distance away from any metal parts that might be able to send any juice to sensitive parts.  The amount of static energy required to jump those distances would be huge, and not likely to be generated by spinning a plastic ball against a steel roller.

The ground wire is indeed there to prevent static energy build-up in the ball, but not to keep you from getting a shock either (although this is probably a side benefit).

A trackballs biggest nemesis is dirt and debris.  It causes them not to operate smoothly, causes premature wear on the rollers and too much of it floating around inside the case can even mess with the optics over time.  Nothing attracts dust and debris like a piece of plastic with a static charge.  Debris sticks to it like it's a crud magnet. 

So the real answer is: No, you do not need to hook up the wire, but it is a good idea to do so if you want the unit to stay cleaner, perform better and prolong the life of your rollers.

Can we finally put this one to bed now? :)

RandyT


Timoe:

--- Quote from: RandyT on July 17, 2006, 11:21:05 pm ---Can we finally put this one to bed now? :)

--- End quote ---

I dunno, can you prove any of this?


 :o

RandyT:

--- Quote from: Timoe on July 18, 2006, 07:17:17 am ---
--- Quote from: RandyT on July 17, 2006, 11:21:05 pm ---Can we finally put this one to bed now? :)

--- End quote ---

I dunno, can you prove any of this?

--- End quote ---

I can prove that small amounts of static likely to be generated by a plastic ball rubbing against a steel rod can't jump the one inch distance to the electronics.  You can put on your best static generating clothes and roll around in shag carpet on a hot day in New Mexico and still you need to come within a tiny fraction of an inch of ground before you discharge.

I can prove that the stock trackball collects dust and debris like crazy even fresh out of the bag.  I disassemble and handle many a week. 

I can prove that a static charged trackball with crud and/or hair stuck to it will not work as well a clean one.

I can prove that a cruddy / hair entwined roller as a result of the transfer of the aforementioned crud and/or hair from the static charged trackball will impair performance.

I can prove that dirt / moisture causes chrome to rust and pit and that something that is abrasive can scratch it.  So the longevity of the rollers can be affected, depending on the nature of the crud the thousands of people, who will run their hands across a trackball in an average commercial installation, leave behind.

What other proof would you like?  ;)

RandyT

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