I think that the switching between the spinners and the trackball could be as simple as a "switch" (read on)


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Posted by EmuMannen on 7, 2000 at 5:23 PM:

In Reply to: Re: Opti-PAC. Can I wire a trackball and a spinner to one optipac? posted by bill connolly on 7, 2000 at 3:22 PM:

I think that the switching between the spinners and the trackball could be as simple as a "switch". Take a look at an original optical arcade controller. Just a simple PCB and what would happen if you break the 5v to that PCB. I think that it will just die. So what would happen if the same switch that just killed PCB number one redirected the power to another PCB number two? I don’t think that the Opti-PAC would notice the difference if PCB1 and PCB2 were connected in parallel. The control would just be transferred from PCB1 to PCB2. Well this is my theory and I will try it as soon as I get my Opti-PAC (I will off course consult Andy first so I don’t fry the circuit).

I only need one spinner for my all time favourite Tempest but I thought it would be nice with two spinners (since the trackball interface supports two-axis anyway), I hope they can serve as a poor-mans-wheel in one of my other favourites, Sprint. The spinner must be great for 360:s in Sprint!

/ EmuMannen

: Thanks for the information. I am not an electronics guru but I have made my share of mic and rca cables over the years and successfully hacked a keyboard for 2 sticks and 7 buttons. It sounds like I might need to build a circuit or something more than just sticking wires from both devices in the OPTI-PAC and screwing them down. When you do yours I would appreciate seeing any pictures, schematics, etc. Great idea with putting 2 spinners on instead of just one.

:
: : You could connect them in parallel and just feed one at a time with power. You won’t be able to use them at the same time but you will be able to use the same interface circuit. This is what I am planning to do. Have one trackball and two spinners (one at the x-axis and one at the y-axis of the interface circuit).

: : / EmuMannen

: : : I want to have a track ball for some games and a spinner for other games. Since I will use these controls independently, can I wire them both to the same OPTI-PAC?

: : : Thanks




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