trackball lighting options for a basic happ 3" with ICE T BALL

[northerngames]

 My Happ tracball bearings and such have seen there day so I got new bearings and rollers for it and a new ICE T ball to go with it.

I would like to lite it up but dont see anything that happ offers for trackball use.

I figured I may be better off just doing something custom and had a few idea's but not sure they would work until I try it unless somebody already has.

first I was wondering if a pc 80mm or 120mm cold cathode ring from pc fans would sit inside the case at the bottom wich would lite it better then any led I would think as long as it would fit,

my next idea was to use a flexable tube type cold cathode but I have never used or seen one in person so I dont know how good they light or how flexable they actually are.

last resort was to take the head out of a led flashlight and put my own leds in and hot glue it to the bottom of the trackball case where the hole is at 

any other idea's or comments would help thanks.

[ahofle]

Simple and cheap:
http://www.nicemite.com/LightmiteTB/LightmiteTB.htm

[Level42]

No need for all that fancy stuff. Get a "Nova-LED" from GGG while you're ordering the ICE ball there already.

Simply mount this single LED into the hole on the bottom of the Trackball and you get this:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=76162.msg799012#msg799012

Absolutely great !

[albrigsr]

nm

[northerngames]

I already have the ICE Ball and don't see a Nova-Led For sale buy itself if there is a link could you post it for me here?

so far I like the litemite and probably will go with it looks nifty 

thanks for the info guys.

if they all use leds the CC light ring would be brighter but I am not after a blinding trackball I am more after a eerie glow look.

[northerngames]

on the LiteMite I did not see the top pictures of it mounted and after seeing that I dont particully care for the mounting and how it's layout is.

I could make something better out of the parts I have laying around a regular 7 led mini flashlight head already has a pcb hooked to the leds so all I would need to do it solder a 3.3V power source and ground wire and hot glue it in the hole.

it would be brighter becuase it has 3 more leds and also it would mount right in the hole instead of being a inch or 2 away on the outside wich would lose alot of its brightness becuase of it.

I would like to see the groovy game gear one and see if it is any better but if it has regular leds that mount on the outside away from the hole like the litemite I will just make my own custom one to get the results I am after.

I am thinking the CC light laying in the bootm of the case would be my best bet so far becuase I could lay it in there and have the wire ran through the trackball case hole on the bottom and then the power molex would plug right into any of the pc's power molex's and there would be no soldering or head sratchin.

[Level42]

Sounds like you've got it all solved. Good luck with it and show us your results.

[northerngames]

Will do.

 I am first going to start off and try with the 80mm CCFL seen here.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160248765258&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm37%26satitle%3D160248765258%26fvi%3D1

 Cost was less then $7.00 shipped and comes with everything needed to run it plug and play.

 More then likely I will have to cut out the skull in order for the ball to clear without toaching but if it does clear and the skull could be seen partially in the trackball that would be pretty nifty also but a long shot and doubtfull.

 I will leave the 4 mounts and use them to mount it but if they have to come off I will cut them off also with the dremel an hot glue it in place if needed.

the reason I am going this route is:

LEDS: are 3.3V and around 5,000-8,000 MCD give or take a few thousand
CCFL: are 12V and around 37,000 MCD give or take a few thousand.

 I have one of these in my translucent xbox under a laser cut clear bio-hazard jewel made from 3/4" plexi and when the lights are off the whole room glows blue so I am pretty sure it will do the trackball.

 I am worried of it being to bright and possibly messing with the optic sensors but I could incase them in poster board or somthing if needed I guess 

[Level42]

Still a lot more expensive than a $0,49 LED that has more than enough light for the goal. I hope your solution won't be blinding you while playing....

No worries about the opto-boards, they work with infra-red light so visible light won't interfere.

[northerngames]

80mm CCFL was a no go it was to big to even fit but a 60mm would fit if the case is cut with a dremel tool on the bottom.

none the less I stuck the ball itself directly on the CCFL ring and it did not even lite it up really.

so then I figured I would try the lightmite so I ordered it and when I went to stick the ICE-T ball in I noticed it felt cheap and was half the weight of the stock happ trackball.

I stuck it in there and it was a terrible feel compared to the old used happ.

so I am scrapping the project becuase the ball is junk and not worth the bother now.

[ahofle]

Doesn't Happ sell translucent balls? ( )  My 3" Happ TB has a translucent green ball and looks great with the Lightmite.

[northerngames]

I will check into it I got the ball from havoc.

I was needing a new ball and seen his post and figured I would grab it if it would fit.

it did fit but it feels and works nothing like the old used ball did and it was new but was way to light and had a hollow feel to it or something I just did not like it all and would rather use the old used ball instead.

I will check happ to see what they have though, I did order a litemite already a few days back