Safe To Remove Mouse When Amiga Is On?

crazyegg · 12 April 2010, 17:08

Hi All,

I do not own a mouse/joystick switcher.

Is it safe to remove the mouse and replace it with a joystick while the Amiga is curently on?

Regards,
ed...

Calgor · 12 April 2010, 17:20

I wouldn't try it unless you have an original amiga 1000 (which had the joyports protected). It might work most times but eventually it will get you. The ports have a +5V pin. My phoenix board mouse port went with a huge spark (only minor damage though) because I was unaware that it was dangerous having previously had the original A1000 motherboard which had no such problem. I imagine a mouse with no metal surrounding the plug would be safer.

I don't know why they removed the protection for later models. Cost perhaps.

Mad-Matt · 12 April 2010, 17:37

while it may not be safe, im sure its one of the bad habits most of us have since the 9 pin port existed on any machine

Not (knowingly) damaged any console/computer yet with hotswapping joystick/mice/trackers ect ...

killergorilla · 12 April 2010, 17:47

If the mouse is still alive, I'd probably turn off the Amiga then try and lure him out with some dark chocolate, as they are very fond of that.

If it is dead, I'd probably switch off the power first anyway so that you can remove any leads, then give it a good shake until the mouse falls out.

Or, if you have a very small cat, you could send him in through the trapdoor and see what he can do.

deicidal · 12 April 2010, 18:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by killergorilla

Or, if you have a very small cat, you could send him in through the trapdoor and see what he can do.

I think a Ferret would be better suited to that job :P

Bronko · 12 April 2010, 18:17

Wait, you can actually damage you Amiga with that? My A500 survived this practice for decades!

Melonfish · 12 April 2010, 18:25

I was going to say my A600 had stuff yanked out and plugged in for years without any issues.
didn't even know it was an issue?

deicidal · 12 April 2010, 18:26

Have to agree it never bothered my a500 as I groped round the back trying to plug the other joystic in

hipoonios · 12 April 2010, 19:53

Same here... I switched gamepads, joysticks and mice between ports constantly for years.... never any trouble.... but I think I remember as a kid hearing about something could happen if it wasn't turned off when switching stuff..... but like I said, had it on and switched constantly... never any problems. This was on a 500.

Predseda · 12 April 2010, 20:11

I think there is no way how to damage your ami with un- and re-plugging mice and joys. Switcher only increases the comfort of it.

hipoonios · 12 April 2010, 23:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Predseda

I think there is no way how to damage your ami with un- and re-plugging mice and joys. Switcher only increases the comfort of it.

If this is true, then where is the rumors comming from?

crazyegg · 12 April 2010, 23:57

Hi All,

Thanks for all the replys.

I am not a techie but the pinouts do show a 5V pin and that is my concern.

As long as one doesn't move the mouse during the removal, I am hoping that everything should be fine?

Regards,
ed...

FOL · 13 April 2010, 00:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyegg

Hi All,

Thanks for all the replys.

I am not a techie but the pinouts do show a 5V pin and that is my concern.

As long as one doesn't move the mouse during the removal, I am hoping that everything should be fine?

Regards,
ed...

Seriously, you would have to be rather silly to break your miggy in this way.

If you were messing with the 23Pin RGB, then yes, you could short something out. In my experience, even shorting the miggy out, does nothing, as you can turn it off and wait 1 min. Turn it back on and it keeps working, got to love the 25 year tech,

.

stefcep2 · 13 April 2010, 08:40

back in the day, it was widely accepted that pulling out a mouse or joystick with a powered Amiga increased the risk of blowing a CIA chip. Hard to fix with surface mounted chips on an A1200 or A4000. Better to be safe than sorry and just switch off-its not like it takes long to reboot anyway..

chiark · 13 April 2010, 09:35

You can indeed damage this, particularly with mice that have metal "surrounds" for the d-plug however the damage is normally an unexpected reset.

It can't be doing things any good, but I must admit I do plug/unplug with the power on, but carefully...

Cammy · 13 April 2010, 10:38

I've ran into many problems after people have unplugged mice and joysticks while the Amigas were turned on. It's best not to risk it!

seuden · 13 April 2010, 10:45

I'm sure there are 2 players games where you have to control with mouse at menu then change it over to a joystick/pad to actually play?

Predseda · 13 April 2010, 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by seuden

I'm sure there are 2 players games where you have to control with mouse at menu then change it over to a joystick/pad to actually play?

Of course. I think damaging (electrical, I am not talking about broken pins etc) of the port is a faery tale.

Toni Wilen · 13 April 2010, 11:38

There has been few posts about non-working (stuck directions etc..) joystick port and cause has usually been damaged U15 (joystick/mouse port multiplexer TTL IC).

Switching joysticks or mice can cause damage but it seems to be really rare (perhaps only due to static discharge and touching pins accidentally?)

Anemos · 13 April 2010, 13:25

best way is .. DONT turn power ON your Amiga ever! unplug it and keep it on the cabinet!
use WINUAE ..

12 April 2010, 17:08	#1
crazyegg Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 122	Safe To Remove Mouse When Amiga Is On? Hi All, I do not own a mouse/joystick switcher. Is it safe to remove the mouse and replace it with a joystick while the Amiga is curently on? Regards, ed...

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12 April 2010, 17:20	#2
Calgor (Amigas && Amigos)++ Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Anrea Posts: 999	I wouldn't try it unless you have an original amiga 1000 (which had the joyports protected). It might work most times but eventually it will get you. The ports have a +5V pin. My phoenix board mouse port went with a huge spark (only minor damage though) because I was unaware that it was dangerous having previously had the original A1000 motherboard which had no such problem. I imagine a mouse with no metal surrounding the plug would be safer. I don't know why they removed the protection for later models. Cost perhaps.

12 April 2010, 17:37	#3
Mad-Matt Longplayer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lincoln / UK Age: 44 Posts: 1,846	while it may not be safe, im sure its one of the bad habits most of us have since the 9 pin port existed on any machine Not (knowingly) damaged any console/computer yet with hotswapping joystick/mice/trackers ect ...

12 April 2010, 17:47	#4
killergorilla Lesser Talent Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UK Age: 42 Posts: 7,957	If the mouse is still alive, I'd probably turn off the Amiga then try and lure him out with some dark chocolate, as they are very fond of that. If it is dead, I'd probably switch off the power first anyway so that you can remove any leads, then give it a good shake until the mouse falls out. Or, if you have a very small cat, you could send him in through the trapdoor and see what he can do.

12 April 2010, 18:17	#6
Bronko Remember: Shoot or die! Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Hamburg / Germany Posts: 89	Wait, you can actually damage you Amiga with that? My A500 survived this practice for decades!

12 April 2010, 18:25	#7
Melonfish I killed Jools on purpose Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Warrington, UK Age: 44 Posts: 53	I was going to say my A600 had stuff yanked out and plugged in for years without any issues. didn't even know it was an issue?

12 April 2010, 18:26	#8
deicidal Registered Insane Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ununited Kingdom Posts: 792	Have to agree it never bothered my a500 as I groped round the back trying to plug the other joystic in

12 April 2010, 19:53	#9
hipoonios Amiga Hardcore Gamer Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sweden Age: 46 Posts: 1,207	Same here... I switched gamepads, joysticks and mice between ports constantly for years.... never any trouble.... but I think I remember as a kid hearing about something could happen if it wasn't turned off when switching stuff..... but like I said, had it on and switched constantly... never any problems. This was on a 500.

12 April 2010, 20:11	#10
Predseda Puttymoon inhabitant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tromaville Age: 46 Posts: 7,539	I think there is no way how to damage your ami with un- and re-plugging mice and joys. Switcher only increases the comfort of it.

12 April 2010, 23:57	#12
crazyegg Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 122	Hi All, Thanks for all the replys. I am not a techie but the pinouts do show a 5V pin and that is my concern. As long as one doesn't move the mouse during the removal, I am hoping that everything should be fine? Regards, ed...

13 April 2010, 08:40	#14
stefcep2 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Melbourne/Australia Posts: 226	back in the day, it was widely accepted that pulling out a mouse or joystick with a powered Amiga increased the risk of blowing a CIA chip. Hard to fix with surface mounted chips on an A1200 or A4000. Better to be safe than sorry and just switch off-its not like it takes long to reboot anyway..

13 April 2010, 09:35	#15
chiark Needs a life Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: England Posts: 1,707	You can indeed damage this, particularly with mice that have metal "surrounds" for the d-plug however the damage is normally an unexpected reset. It can't be doing things any good, but I must admit I do plug/unplug with the power on, but carefully...

13 April 2010, 10:38	#16
Cammy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tasmania, Australia Age: 39 Posts: 1,189	I've ran into many problems after people have unplugged mice and joysticks while the Amigas were turned on. It's best not to risk it!

13 April 2010, 10:45	#17
seuden uber cool demi god Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent/England Posts: 2,073	I'm sure there are 2 players games where you have to control with mouse at menu then change it over to a joystick/pad to actually play?

13 April 2010, 11:38	#19
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,504	There has been few posts about non-working (stuck directions etc..) joystick port and cause has usually been damaged U15 (joystick/mouse port multiplexer TTL IC). Switching joysticks or mice can cause damage but it seems to be really rare (perhaps only due to static discharge and touching pins accidentally?)

13 April 2010, 13:25	#20
Anemos 70X7 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ἑλλάς Posts: 1,078	best way is .. DONT turn power ON your Amiga ever! unplug it and keep it on the cabinet! use WINUAE ..

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