NES controller to TI-83

[Super Cameraman]

I have a TI-83 calculator, and I want to wire an NES controller to it. I've never worked with those circuit board "buttons" before, so before continuing, I need to know if I have this right. I need to follow the traces from each side of the "button" and solder my new button to the two leads that I find. Right? I started making a diagram.



Has this ever been done? Is soldering to those points really really hard? Or do I just stick the wire through the hole, and use a tiny bit of solder?

-Super

[sgtpepper]

OMG I was gonna do this, but I never got around to it... If you want my two cents, use a PS2 controller extension cable (has nine leads inside). Cut it in half, wire one end to the mobo of the calculator, and the other end to the NES controller buttons. This way, it would be detachable!

[Super Cameraman]

Yeah, I was thinking about making it detachable. And come to think of it... I have a PS2 controller and no PS2! Perfect!

-Super

EDIT: Wow, I just opened up the NES controller. Where do I solder? Help please!

EDIT: Okay, got it mostly figured out, but I found two grounds... which one do I use?

[lifeisbetterwithketchup]

EDIT: Okay, got it mostly figured out, but I found two grounds... which one do I use?

You can use either. Ground is ground.

[Super Cameraman]

Okay great.

What do I use for a connector if I want to make in detachable? It needs at least 8 pins.

-Super

[sgtpepper]

That's the reason I said to use an extension cable, it has a male and a female connector.

[Super Cameraman]

I need 8 pins.

[Harshboy]

You can still use a 9 pin connector, even if you only use 8 of those pins on it.

[Super Cameraman]

I didn't know he was talking about a PS2 extension cable. I thought he just said the cable. Isn't the plastic plug at the end sort of big? I was hoping to make the female side flush with the calculator.

-Super

[bicostp]

Why not just use regular pin headers? (If you're worried about strength you could make a couple larger bars out of a plastic rod or a nail that go into anchors...)

[Super Cameraman]

Well, I'm not doing this because, first of all, it won't work. The holes are way to small, and solder doesn't stick to them. And the ones I need are blocked from behind by a chip. Also, my parents don't want me taking this apart.

Anything else I can wire the NES controller to? I already tried a little handheld Tetris game I have, but the screen fell off. That's right, fell off. I don't even know how it was connected, there were no screws or glue, and I can't even see the pins to reconnect it.

-Super

[Super Cameraman]

Bump?

I think I might just buy another Tetris. It was a good handheld, and with an NES controller it would be awesome. I even found a really cheap one of the same model for really cheap on eBay. eBay Link

-Super

[CaptainWeasel]

I don't mean to be rude or anything, but for what purpose would you do that for? I'm not all into electronics just yet, but how is this useful?

[Skyone]

I don't mean to be rude or anything, but for what purpose would you do that for? I'm not all into electronics just yet, but how is this useful?

I suppose it'd be cool to have an external controller, for looks and feel. Otherwise, it's just for the experience!

[CaptainWeasel]

Well, I can see the practicality if you programmed a game specifically for the NES controller. But it's just one of those "Just to say I did it" type things. That's cool.