Calculator gameboy.

[_Ivan_]

Since I'm pretty much an unskilled newb when it comes to electronics, I decided that I should do some fairly simple projects to familiarize myself with modding. This kid in my physics class says that he's going to put a gameboy in a TI-8X(probably 84), so I told him I'd 1-up him and do it before he does(I don't think he has the skills to do the project anyway, but that's irrelevant). My friend overheard this conversation and told me that he has both a "broken" TI-84(or 83) and a gameboy that he would be willing to let me mod. Even though he wants to keep the end result, I would still like to do it for the practice--and I'll try to get some money out of him for it.

I just finished googling "calculator gameboy" and found that some guy had already done the project and he posted a tutorial of sorts too. Even though this mod is completely possible--and rather simple--I'm left wondering if the four AAA batteries that power the TI-80-somethings would suffice in powering this calculator/gameboy. I would assume that the two boards might require more power than just one. I dunno.

So basically, the question on my mind is, "Do I need to do any battery-related modding, or is this just a simple (re-)wiring/case mod?"

Thanks.

P.S. Anyone interested in the page I found can go here.

[eurddrue]

you aren't going to be able to fit both the game boy and the calculator inside the case with out seriously modding it and then it won't look like a calculator at all.

[_Ivan_]

Yeah, I realize that I'd have to modify the case some. I don't really care if it will be playable in class without inquiries from the teacher or not: I just want to make it functional. I'm not one to mull over aesthetics too much anyway.

[vskid]

You're going to have to have two screens if you want it to have both, you can't hook both up to one of the screens. You could have the game boy screen on the back, but that would look suspicious. Is your friend's calculator really broken? If not, I'd find a broken one and put just the game boy in it. No reason to kill a perfectly fine calculator.

[_Ivan_]

You're going to have to have two screens if you want it to have both, you can't hook both up to one of the screens. You could have the game boy screen on the back, but that would look suspicious. Is your friend's calculator really broken? If not, I'd find a broken one and put just the game boy in it. No reason to kill a perfectly fine calculator.

I guess I wasn't clear enough in my opening post. The idea is to have the device only function as a gameboy, but with the calculators buttons. Check the link; it's better at explaining it than I.
As for the calculator's functionality, I really have no idea. I haven't had the chance to discuss the project with him at length yet. He's supposed to bring both the calculator and the gameboy to school tomorrow, so I'll be able to see how broken it really is.

[vskid]

Oh, I gotcha now. For batteries, you only need two for the game boy. If you use 4 as the calculator has them set up, theres a good chance they'd fry the game boy (they're in series, so 4x1.5v=6v).

[eurddrue]

Oh, I gotcha now. For batteries, you only need two for the game boy. If you use 4 as the calculator has them set up, theres a good chance they'd fry the game boy (they're in series, so 4x1.5v=6v).

unless you use a regulator


you could have an uber 1337 gameboy color that has a rechargeable battery that charges through the link cable port, you would just have to mod that a little

[jjhammerstein]

Oh, I gotcha now. For batteries, you only need two for the game boy. If you use 4 as the calculator has them set up, theres a good chance they'd fry the game boy (they're in series, so 4x1.5v=6v).

Rewire the batteries in a parallel, so they last twice as long.

[vskid]

Oh, I gotcha now. For batteries, you only need two for the game boy. If you use 4 as the calculator has them set up, theres a good chance they'd fry the game boy (they're in series, so 4x1.5v=6v).

Rewire the batteries in a parallel, so they last twice as long.

True.
I'd personally make it use 2 AA batteries, then it would last longer with just two batteries.

[_Ivan_]

Oh, I gotcha now. For batteries, you only need two for the game boy. If you use 4 as the calculator has them set up, theres a good chance they'd fry the game boy (they're in series, so 4x1.5v=6v).

So from what I understand, the only things used from the calc's board are the button contacts(that's the term, right?). Are you saying that the gameboy's batteries would suffice to power the whole thing? I think that would make sense because it would just be redirecting the current(?) from the buttons. I think. Sorry, but I'm just not quite getting it.

@ eurddrue: I wouldn't want to spend money on parts for a charity mod.

[jjhammerstein]

Oh, I gotcha now. For batteries, you only need two for the game boy. If you use 4 as the calculator has them set up, theres a good chance they'd fry the game boy (they're in series, so 4x1.5v=6v).

Rewire the batteries in a parallel, so they last twice as long.

True.
I'd personally make it use 2 AA batteries, then it would last longer with just two batteries.

Will 2 AAs last longer than 4 AAAs?

Oh, I gotcha now. For batteries, you only need two for the game boy. If you use 4 as the calculator has them set up, theres a good chance they'd fry the game boy (they're in series, so 4x1.5v=6v).

So from what I understand, the only things used from the calc's board are the button contacts(that's the term, right?). Are you saying that the gameboy's batteries would suffice to power the whole thing? I think that would make sense because it would just be redirecting the current(?) from the buttons. I think. Sorry, but I'm just not quite getting it.

@ eurddrue: I wouldn't want to spend money on parts for a charity mod.

The power take is the same as a normal gameboy.

Different buttons don't use more electricity.

Actually, they don't really use any power at all.

[eurddrue]

Will 2 AAs last longer than 4 AAAs?

hmm, I wonder...

actually now that I think about it maybe just 2 batteries then when your changing batteries? instead of 4 AAA's at a time 2 AA's?

[vskid]

Oh, I gotcha now. For batteries, you only need two for the game boy. If you use 4 as the calculator has them set up, theres a good chance they'd fry the game boy (they're in series, so 4x1.5v=6v).

Rewire the batteries in a parallel, so they last twice as long.

True.
I'd personally make it use 2 AA batteries, then it would last longer with just two batteries.

Will 2 AAs last longer than 4 AAAs?

According to Wikipedia, alkaline AAAs are 1250mAh, and AAs are 2850mAh, so 2 AA>4 AAA (2500mAh@3v for 4 AAA, 2850mAh@3v for 2 AA). I'm pretty sure the NiMH batteries are ~900mAh for AAA, and ~2500mAh for AA, so AA still wins.
2 batteries in series are easier to charge than 4 in 2x2, since one of the series pairs could have a slightly different charge, causing one pair to over or under charge.

[jjhammerstein]

The calculator already has a spot for 4 AAAs, I think you should just stick with that, and switch them out to put on the charger when you need to.

It's simpler that way.

[Ben Cebhrem]

The calculator already has a spot for 4 AAAs, I think you should just stick with that, and switch them out to put on the charger when you need to.

It's simpler that way.

I agree. And while 2 AA batteries would last longer, 4 AAA batteries (parallel series of 2 batteries each) would still last quite some time; using rechargeables, if you so choose, should allow you to play for many many hours before needing a recharge.