...the best way to get 3.3 volts?

c_mon · Post by **c_mon** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:36 am

Well, I have Sony Walkman car power adapter. It outputs 3V at 1000mAh. Is it a good idea to use it N64p, if I use 7.2 volts as the main power source? Will it be alright for the system's power and current requirements?

Furthermore; what's the
*best,
*cheapest, and
*easiest way to get 3.3V for N64p?

Anyone experienced with this 3.3 volts issue, please share your opinions.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 12:28 pm

Yes, works perfectly fine, it's what I used in my project if you recall.

Only downsides: make your power cables as short as you can or your system might keep rebooting (the car adapter is only just ok after all), use proper electrical wires (same reason as before) and you can only use the Jumper Pak as the Expansion Pack will not get enough power to run the N64.

Buy yes, it works, I did it.

c_mon · Post by **c_mon** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 1:19 pm

bacteria wrote:Yes, works perfectly fine, it's what I used in my project if you recall.

Only downsides: make your power cables as short as you can or your system might keep rebooting (the car adapter is only just ok after all), use proper electrical wires (same reason as before) and you can only use the Jumper Pak as the Expansion Pack will not get enough power to run the N64.

Buy yes, it works, I did it.

As far as I remember, you didn't use battery pack as power source. So, if I decide to use 7.2 volts battery pack as the main power source, will it run the car power adapter without any problem. Sorry if I seem fool(I'm not a guy who's familiar with N64), what are those Jumper and Expansion Packs for and do I really need to use them in a portable N64?

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:49 pm

If you are going to use batteries, then no, the car adapter is not suitable, the batteries won't be able to provide enough juice. Use the TI card or similar. The car adapter will only run if you are running the system off mains power.

Jumper Pak - default - without it in the N64 will not run. Expansion Pack - optional extra 4mb RAM to replace the Jumper Pak (you don't use both). The Expansion Pack will run some games in higher resolution and also run some games that the Jumper Pack won't (if they need the extra RAM). Yes, you need one of them in your portable.

tyromaniac · Post by **tyromaniac** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 5:55 pm

bacteria wrote:Jumper Pak - default - without it in the N64 will not run. Expansion Pack - optional extra 4mb RAM to replace the Jumper Pak (you don't use both). The Expansion Pack will run some games in higher resolution and also run some games that the Jumper Pack won't (if they need the extra RAM). Yes, you need one of them in your portable.

sorry to bring this dead topic back, but if I decided that I wanted to use the expansion pack, what would be necessary to ensure it receives enough power from my 7.2 volt battery? does it require an actual connection from the battery to the expansion port? Seeing as you have experience, I thought it would be better I bring it up here than a separate topic.

JAY · Post by **JAY** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:52 pm

The expansion pak requires more current than the jumper pak to operate, I think about 1.5A at 3.3V. Due to the limits of the power adapter that he is using to get 3V, it won't allow enough current draw to power the expansion pak. If you want to use the expansion pak, you would need to find a regulator that will allow more current to be drawn.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 2:05 am

Indeed, hence why people use the TI card.

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:03 am

JAY wrote:I think about 1.5A at 3.3V.

Just to clarify, that number is for the whole system w/ expansion, not just the expansion pack

Post by **Skyone** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:04 am

timmeh87 wrote:
JAY wrote:I think about 1.5A at 3.3V.
Just to clarify, that number is for the whole system w/ expansion, not just the expansion pack

Yeah, I was about to say.

SZF2001 · Post by **SZF2001** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:33 am

dude you should like plug it into the wall

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:38 pm

SZF2001 wrote:dude you should like plug it into the wall

The transformer on the official unmodded N64 is very heavy, so it is best to use the PSone PSU to run the N64 (larger voltage) and screen, and a TI card to run the lower voltage to the N64: or a 7.2v - 8.4v battery pack doing the same job (or dual powered system). Proven.

tyromaniac · Post by **tyromaniac** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:01 pm

timmeh87 wrote:
JAY wrote:I think about 1.5A at 3.3V.
Just to clarify, that number is for the whole system w/ expansion, not just the expansion pack

:O

Oh.....
That helps

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 6:04 pm

That's why the car adapter doesn't run the Expansion Pack installed in the N64 but will run the N64 with a Jumper Pack. I used the same car adapter in my Nintendo 64 Advance project, so I know it can't run the Expansion Pack!