# Y-connector for PS/2 plugs--will it work? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 30, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/y-connector-for-ps-2-plugs-will-it-work/204736 "2003-09-30T18:07:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/y-connector-for-ps-2-plugs-will-it-work/204736/1 "2003-09-30T18:07:27Z")
I want to connect two different pointing devices (mouse & touchpad) to my PC at the same time and switch between them at my whim. Assuming I have a PC that is new enough to use PS/2 connectors (yes, I’m old enough to remember before that was standard), and allows hot disconnect/reconnect, will a Y-connector allow me to do this? I have seen Y-connectors advertised to connect a keyboard and a mouse to a laptop at the same time, but not two pointing devices at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/y-connector-for-ps-2-plugs-will-it-work/204736/2 "2003-09-30T20:15:21Z")
The pins for PS2 are: 1 Mouse-Data Mouse data packets or keyboard scan codes are sent from the mouse or keyboard to the computer on this single wire serially. 2 – Not Connected (Reserved) 3 GND Ground for voltage 4 VCC +5 voltage (max. 500mAmp) 5 Mouse-Clock This signal is sent from the mouse or keyboard to synchronize the data signal. So Pins 1 and 5 are mouse (keyboard) outputs and I do not see how you can connect two devices in parallel unless you have some interface. Now, If the interface allows two devices I cannot see why they could not be two mices devices. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/y-connector-for-ps-2-plugs-will-it-work/204736/3 "2003-09-30T22:13:26Z")
No, per sailor’s example it is unlikely they will cooperate. You can get a serial mouse and put the touchpad on the PS2 or get a USB mouse and touch pad (which probably will cooperate) if your PC has USB. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/y-connector-for-ps-2-plugs-will-it-work/204736/4 "2003-09-30T22:19:18Z")
Don’t know about that… I _do_ you can connect both a PS2 and USB pointing device to the same machine and have them both be functional. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/y-connector-for-ps-2-plugs-will-it-work/204736/5 "2003-10-01T00:31:22Z")
Yes, **Nanoda** , but I was hoping to put two PS/2 devices on the same port with a Y-connector. I assumed that they sent a signal only when they are moving. If a pointing device sends a clock signal even when it’s not sending movement interrupts, then I assume this won’t work. My mouse, however, is a wireless mouse with a USB interface that I have plugged into the PS/2 port with an adapter. I forgot about that. But I’ll have to get a USB hub since I only have two USB ports and they’re both busy. Hey **sailor** , where in the world do you find time to rack up 8 or 9 posts a day?