Looking forward to building a PSone portable

[Spark8e]

Hi ya guys, I am looking forward in building a Psone portable Will be building up a photo diary as soon as I have all the parts needed.

One question is it best to use the traditional circuit board from the controller or the newer film curuit board? (Which I have).
I will be searching high and low for a Psone screen and not the Logic 3 one I have talked about in another thread I have talked about. I do have most of the tools needed, apart from a Dremel. Have seen a good one. will be buying very soon.

Then I need to do is figure out what to build the case out of. Then the colour.

Will keep you guys up to date...

[64M320N3]

Either board should be fine, but I bet the newer one is smaller, making a smaller portable (correct me if I am wrong on that one, guys). Each one will have different pinouts, though, so you'll have to do some research.
Dremels are great and are probably the most essential tool to making a good case (apart from bondo, of course.)

[eurddrue]

Either board should be fine, but I bet the newer one is smaller, making a smaller portable (correct me if I am wrong on that one, guys). Each one will have different pinouts, though, so you'll have to do some research.
Dremels are great and are probably the most essential tool to making a good case (apart from bondo, of course.)

hot glue can take the place of bondo if you have none (kinda! I used super glue), and yes, smaller board=smaller portable.

[64M320N3]

No, I just had no idea if the newer board was actually smaller or if it just had different tech on it. Forgive me for my ignorance, and not wording my sentance correctly to make it sound like I didn't understand that smaller parts = smaller possible case.
Also, Bondo is a far better case builder, hot glue is the greatest adhesive. It's like comparing apples to oranges. They are both great (except hot glue is far cheaper ).

[Spark8e]

Ok guys I was just checking. I have already started ripping apart the controller. will get some pics up soon. The only thing I need to think of is the design for the case. Or if I really get stuck I could get hold of Bacteria. To by a case from him.

I really prefer to design my own.

[bacteria]

Always fun to make your own case of course, definitely; if that is what you want to do then get all the electronics wired up and then work out the shape, size and thickness of your system. Case making is fun but also one of the hardest parts of making a system as that is what you see, not the internals. The other way of personalizing of course is the paint job; which can make a big difference between ending up with a nice looking system and a superb looking system.

BTW - have you got pics of the "newer film board" you referred to?

Also BTW - if you have Ben's book and using it for the PSone side, I suggest you ignore the section about wiring the controller to your system; I PM'ed Ben a while back as the connections were different to the book, turns out Sony must have changed the wiring inside the official controllers a while back, which of course affects what wire connects to what. Have a look on my guide for what I mean, and compare. I don't use Ben's book for my projects but did look at this section in the book for reference.

[64M320N3]

BTW - have you got pics of the "newer film board" you referred to?

Never seen one either. It might be smaller, but honestly I doubt it, just because all of the official controllers are the same size.

[Spark8e]

Ok a little update, I have started takeing apart the controller. Desoldered the rumble packs, taken the wires out. Here is a few pics.






I have got Bens book, that is how I found out about this site. I will not tell people how much it cost me. Got it in a charity shop. Lucky find I think.

Bacteria, thanks for the mail, will deffo keep you in mind. But I will like to see what I can come up with. Was thinking on the lines of perspex for the case.

[Spark8e]

I will be working on my soldering skills, as their is a fair amount to be done. And don't want to mess it up. Or at least the Psone and screen.

Also do you guys know if the wires that are in the controller can be used for the portable. Otherwise a trip to the local hardware store is needed, maybe even pick up a soldering kit to work on.

[64M320N3]

The controller board looks the same to me, but the board with the leads looks really funky. I like . It looks kind of clear-ish, it's awesome.
So, I believe all of the pinouts should work from ben's book, but as bacteria pointed out, there are a couple of different combonations, because Sony decided to make a lot of revisions for no apparent reason.

Also, you're going to need to go the the local hardware store anyway, jsut because you are going to need more wire than that, and some will need to be longer.

[bacteria]

Should be plenty of wire in the controller lead for what is needed, however, use some old electrical house cable for the power.

Yet another variation to the controller board, interesting. At least, as with the other revisions, the top board (with the d-pad contacts, etc) is redundant, work out which wire connects to the smaller board and wire directly to that, as I did. You will need to use a multimeter of course.

[Spark8e]

Ok guys a little update.

Have brought a few bits got two BP-911 (Li-ion, 7.40V, 4400mAh). And a charger for them. And some pager motors.

Was just beaten at the last second in getting a Psone screen

A quick question, when the batterys arrive, and then I fully charge them. Is there a way to test the claimed mAh? Apart from running the Psone of them. Maybe using a multi-meter.

[64M320N3]

Ya, a multimeter would work.

[bacteria]

If I am successful with my version 2 major upgrade to the Multi-Platform system, I will have some spare PAL PSone screens potentially available.

How much do you want to spend Spark8e? Make me an offer I can't refuse!