Efficiency

WhatULive4 · Post by **WhatULive4** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:17 pm

Hey there. I was wondering how to make your portable as efficient as possible. I plan on using the genuine NES mobo in my project and from what I have read, it sucks a lot of juice. I also read on another forum that the 7805 is responsible for a lot of heat and wasted energy. Others had suggested using a switching regulator instead.

Basically, I want a portable that can at least last a couple of hours, so instead of forking out loads of money for the best battery you can find, I am trying to make my project as efficient as possible.

Does anyone have some suggestions?

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:57 pm

Get hold of a switching regulator from Ti. I personally like the PTH08000W for stepping down and the PTN04050C for stepping up. They are around 90% efficient which is about the best you can get

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:58 pm

Heres the switching 7805 replacement. If you're using a PSone screen or any screen with a 7805 regulator on it, you could replace them, too. You could probably replace all the 7805s with one of those switching regulators to save money (depending on how much power they draw).

WhatULive4 · Post by **WhatULive4** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 2:03 pm

Thanks! That's exactly what I was looking for. Does anyone else have any other suggestions for making the NES more efficient?

GoldenfrankO · Post by **GoldenfrankO** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 2:37 pm

Maybe for Energy conservation you could use the battery pak from the Superjoy III?

WhatULive4 · Post by **WhatULive4** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:05 pm

GoldenfrankO wrote:Maybe for Energy conservation you could use the battery pak from the Superjoy III?

I don't think that would be able to power a screen very well. Even with the switching regulators, and an led mod it would probably drain the battery pretty quick. Besides, I am using original hardware.

GoldenfrankO · Post by **GoldenfrankO** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 4:53 pm

true. I do have a good Idea for it though. Instead of just making it out of plastic use some kind of wood as well. It'd make it look cooler and stronger.

WhatULive4 · Post by **WhatULive4** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 5:16 pm

Its already been done. Click on Longhorn engineers sig to see his array of amazing wood portables.

Maybe I should make a steam punk inspired portable... that would catch some attention.

ghosstt · Post by **ghosstt** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:08 pm

Make a solar powered NESp, or at least make a DC-DC with one end having a solar array so you can charge on the go, anywhere with sun.

Tibia · Post by **Tibia** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:54 pm

WhatULive4 wrote:Maybe I should make a steam punk inspired portable... that would catch some attention.

Dang. I thought I had something unique going.

WhatULive4 · Post by **WhatULive4** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 12:01 am

ghosstt wrote: Make a solar powered NESp, or at least make a DC-DC with one end having a solar array so you can charge on the go, anywhere with sun.

I'd have to do quite a bit of research to get this working, but I'll definitely look into it.

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 12:41 pm

If you want to go for MAX efficiency then replace all the Electrolytic capacitors with modern "low leak" models.

WhatULive4 · Post by **WhatULive4** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 1:31 pm

Rekarp wrote:If you want to go for MAX efficiency then replace all the Electrolytic capacitors with modern "low leak" models.

How much can actually be gained by replacing the caps?

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 1:44 pm

WhatULive4 wrote:
Rekarp wrote:If you want to go for MAX efficiency then replace all the Electrolytic capacitors with modern "low leak" models.
How much can actually be gained by replacing the caps?

dunno