i have a battery question

sglider2 · Post by **sglider2** » Thu May 31, 2007 10:08 pm

alright..I'm building a portable N64 and I want to know what kind of battery would suit me best (due to the fact that I can't decide)..

I'm pretty sure you all know what the voltage and such is for an N64, so what about my screen? My screen is a madcatz 7 inch tft active matrix lcd..12V and 1.2A ...what do you all recommend?

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:03 pm

Well, battery type really depends on how comfortable you are with your hardware modding skills, as well as your budget. Personally, I'd say use a battery with a minimum of 3 amps. I recommend a pack (or packs, if you have the dough) of 7.2v Ni-MH batteries. Check out www.batteryspace.com for deals on this stuff, they've got just about everything you need for pretty low prices.

Screen is more personal preference than anything. If you like the 7" and can wire it up fine, then use it!

I think it'd be easier to use a screen that uses a lower voltage, like the fan favorite around here, the PSOne screen. That way, you don't have to go through the hassle of using a 12v battery and then having to use a 7808 or have a separate power supply for the N64 itself. Your call, though. Good luck!

CTFan

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:04 pm

get a better screen

seriously, thats like the power draw of an entire n64 portable (14.4W, equivalent to a 7.2v portable drawing 2A). your battery life will be less than impressive.

however, if you are just reading the numbers off the power supply, you might be getting tricked. the current rating on those is usually a lot higher than what you need, and a lot of 12v parts can run off of 7.2v (like the 64 itself)

in answer to your question, something in a NiMh, probably 6-cell 'C' sized pack will do you (thats what most people are using). dont mess with lithium unless you actually know the risks

heres a video of the risks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCFUGDcS ... ed&search=

edit: i replied at the same time as chrono, but one thing: the n64 will run off 12v fine, you dont need a 7808. I think he was thinking of the psone screen running off 12v.

sglider2 · Post by **sglider2** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:39 am

k this is what i found...a 9.6V 1250mah NiMH rechargeable batt pack...i think i'll stick with it

Limewater · Post by **Limewater** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:12 am

sglider2 wrote:k this is what i found...a 9.6V 1250mah NiMH rechargeable batt pack...i think i'll stick with it

That might work if you want your portable to last about twenty minutes on a charge.

You need a much higher mAh rating, especially if your screen is sucking as much juice as you said it does.

sglider2 · Post by **sglider2** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:15 am

ill try it and see what happens..what would you recommend?

Limewater · Post by **Limewater** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:31 am

sglider2 wrote:ill try it and see what happens..what would you recommend?

I recommend getting all of the electronics working together off a single power supply (either 12V or 9.6V) before worrying about the battery at all.

After that, use an ammeter to measure the current draw while you play a couple of different games.

Use that to judge your power requirements.

If the 9.6V pack works, you could always put multiple packs in parallel.

In general, you want as high a mAh rating as you can afford/fit in your portable.

sglider2 · Post by **sglider2** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:36 am

I've run them all off a 12v supply before without any problems...I'm gonna try the 9.6v sometime soon..thanks for the advice

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:35 am

Get a 7.2v 3300mAh battery pack from Radioshack, its cheap and will power N64p's pretty good, and you just get another if you want more play time.

sglider2 · Post by **sglider2** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 1:06 pm

i took a look around ebay and found some dvd player batteries for $12.50...used...their the same ones marshall used on his l64...do any of you guys kno where to find a used psone screen?? ive looked just about everywhere...their mostly just sold out..thanks **edit**nvm..i found one on ebay

Gamerdude · Post by **Gamerdude** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:42 pm

You definatly need a bigger battery pack and maybe a different screen (I don't know the specs on yours but I would just reccomend a PS1 screen, try yours and get a new one if yours isn't satisfactory)

sglider2 · Post by **sglider2** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:56 pm

thats what i did. I bought a psone screen and I found some rechargeable dvd player batteries on ebay...forgot what the mah was, but it was up there...with them I can power my portable for a little over two hours before recharging. And even while its charging I can still play the n64

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:41 pm

arent dvd player batteries usually lithium?....

Gamerdude · Post by **Gamerdude** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:50 pm

Most are but the large "extended" type batteries that plug into the DVD player and set outside of it can be Ni-MH.

sglider2 · Post by **sglider2** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:56 pm

these are..unfortunately...but with all the lithium batteries ive previously worked with i haven't had any problems...one thing though is that i need to be extra precautionary with them..regardless of my past experiences..