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DIY Project

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 8:36 am
by 5quirrel
Hi guys, could someone help me with a DIY project and the TrackClip Pro?

I used the Proclip for quite a while before I got tired of pausing it to hit click spots more accurately. I then bought myself a wireless headset, which is awesome, and have had to throw my TrackIR in a draw to gather dust.

I was wondering if anyone had any tech specs on the Proclip that I could use to cut the cable and effectively have a wireless Proclip with the LED's working, that I could then mount on my wireless headset. I don't know if this would work or if the Pro needs USB connection to operate. I was hoping to re-connect my TrackIR and make my Proclip wireless.

Comments welcome.

Regards, Stephen

Re: DIY Project

Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 12:04 pm
by nagua
Hi Stephen:
Came across your post looks like no response yet. What a great idea if it could be done. I have used a Sennheiser wireless HS HDR 130 for some time sure would be nice to get rid of the USB wire. Hopefully you will get a positive answer.

Re: DIY Project

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 4:08 pm
by Klisoura
I'm pretty sure the TrackClip Pro just draws power off the USB port, which means if you just cut the wire you'd need to find a way to get 5V to the TCP. A pair of coin cells with an appropriate resistor would do it, though I have to assume this would void the warranty.

That being said, all the camera really cares about is seeing the points of light. You can pick up three 880nm LEDs for peanuts, though I use 940nm LEDs because the local store had them in stock (in my case, I mounted the LEDs on the hat clip, not a TrackClip Pro) and they work fine.

Your real problem is going to be power. I eventually wound up tapping a USB port for power myself, because I was using a CR2032 but 3 LEDs were drawing 150 mA, which gets you maybe two hours out of a coin cell. You could extend that with an AAA or something, but that starts to add weight.

All the same, if you didn't want to destroy your TrackClip and you like DIY projects, you could use 3 LEDs and a 1.5V power source (like an AAA battery) and chenille strips or something to create an ersatz wireless TrackClip. It would be like 20 minutes worth of work.

Re: DIY Project

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 5:20 pm
by NaturalPoint - Mike
In theory, something like this could be used if you just wanted to be farther from the computer without voiding your warranty by cutting cables. Coupled with rechargable batteries you could get a good life out of it. The TrackClip Pro does not do anything with data except pass it through to the plug on the other end, so any avid DIY'er may want to look at the standard USB pinout and power specifications. Again, modifying the clip in any way does void the warranty.

Re: DIY Project

Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:20 am
by brigstock
I tried a Duracell version of the USB charger. Mounted to my wireless headset. It worked well but added weight. After a few weeks the weight became an issue, luckily the clip mounts also broke at the same time. This meant buying a new clip. It also meant I could play with the broken one.

I pulled my head set apart and wired the clip directly to the battery in my headset. Knowing the clip used USB 5v and the battery would be of a lower voltage I also removed the resistor. Not the most scientific approach but it works. I get around 9 hours between recharges.

The only issue is even with the resistor removed the voltage is still a little week. This does not affect me as I sit, at most, 4 feet from my screen. If I sat further than that I think the led would be too weak to work.

2 very poor camera phone photos
Power from the left can is routed through the head band to the right can where the clip is mounted
Image Image

*I do not recommend my approach unless you have the cash to replace your kit. I took a gamble and it paid off.

Re: DIY Project

Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:37 pm
by MaddHatter
i haven't worked on the details, this just came to me from reading other posts but.....

if you were to take a female USB connector, some batteries (AAA, AA, coin..whatever suits you), and work out you 5v combination; you could parallel as many 5v cells as you wanted (to provide greater aH), and clip them onto a belt, pants, your chair. then you could just run your TCP cable into the now powered female connector, and next best thing to wireless.....

i might have to give this a try

Re: DIY Project

Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 10:48 am
by brigstock
or use one of these
http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Battery- ... B003MA7436
(also linked by Mike)

or one of these
http://www.amazon.com/Duracell-Instant- ... ol_title_2
That one has a Lithium battery you can recharge.

Re: DIY Project

Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 8:23 pm
by MaddHatter
yea those would work. nice thing about DIYing it is that you can increase your amp/hr by paralleling additional cells.

Re: DIY Project

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 5:56 am
by brigstock
I dont think you'll improve on the Lithium cell with normal batterys.
It'll work out to be quite bulky.

Re: DIY Project

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 5:57 am
by brigstock
I dont think you'll improve on the Lithium cell with normal batterys.
It'll work out to be quite bulky.