Another N64p Newbie Thread

[TheApothecary]

Hey all! Recently I have scratched out some plans for an N64p design, but I don't have a whole lot going for me; For one, I dont own the Console-Portable Bible featured on this very site.

But I was wondering, 'cause I found fairly good deals if this was a way of creating my own N64p:
I was thinking of Using a "Saka 7' Widescreen TFT Portable TV" for my screen (Found one cheap, may not be a PS1 screen, but should work.. right?)
Standard PAL N64 and Controllers for the base system
Any old 7.4v camcorder batteries to power it all

Is there anything else I am missing for the basis of the project?

PS: How much can you clip the PAL N64's size too?

[64M320N3]

(Found one cheap, may not be a PS1 screen, but should work.. right?)

Yes, as long as it has an AV in. I don't know how many times I've answered that.
Also, the screen that are planning on buying should be PAL too.
Check Sifuf's thread, it can be cut down quite a bit, more than you'd think, actually.
However, I THINK that is an NTSC board, you should be able to cut it to roughly the same size, because the only thing that is different about them is the PIF chip. You should be fine.
Also, you can ask bacteria, as he's trying to cut up a PAL board even smaller than Sifuf's.
All I have to say is good luck, and try to finish it, unlike most people around here.

[TheApothecary]

Oh right, Good Stuff.

Im hoping if I get me an avatar on this forum and stuff, officialise the fact im on a forum and it should push me to get the stones to just buy that TV/Ebay the Ps1 screen.

Got off work early today, and I cant see the TV in person until monday; allthough im pretty sure it has AV, It looks pretty new.

In that case, Ill wait for bacteria to finish his, just out of curiousity, is he using the smaller N64, or the regular NTSC model as a base for the cutting.

Cheers for the help, Im thinking I better gather up some money for this little project of mine

[64M320N3]

In that case, Ill wait for bacteria to finish his, just out of curiousity, is he using the smaller N64, or the regular NTSC model as a base for the cutting.

I really don't know. His cart relocation thing worked, but he got some interference (buzzing noise). You should probably PM him. The only thing I know is that he IS using a PAL board, and all the pinouts should be the same. This is why you can switch the PIF chip to have your NTSC board run PAL games. I think it is universal, honestly, except the fact that the NTSC board has a chip that makes it able to output RGB. It honestly should work, even if you are referring to an NTSC board for the pinouts.
If they are different, though, it isn't that hard to use a multimeter.

[TheApothecary]

Ok good to hear.

Im just going to do a little research into the Saka Screen. But thinking about it, Im not too concerned with the console being too big, as I belive my design can cope (However hard it looks to pull off).

Are there any batteries you can reccomend? As according to my workplace; the screen alone takes 10AA batteries (?!) but has a low power consumption, im hoping for around a 2 hour life of the cell. I think I read earlier about a battery comparison in one of the Stickies/Faq'es.. cant remember the battry name mind.

Anywho I better get this research done, Ill edit my post later or just post another to update the "Saka Progress".

[edit] http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Mod ... &U=strat15 -Thats the basic idea of the screen. PAL/NTSC compatible and everything. However, the one at the shop was different in appearence (Perhaps an earlier model?) and stood at around £45.

Ahh, found the one that looks like the one in the shop here - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SAKA-L90AQ-7%22-T ... dZViewItem your thoughts?[/edit]

[64M320N3]

Have you heard of an LED mod? That should give you much more battery life right there.
Also, I'd recommend using the "open mount" camcorder batteries, as they are inexpensive and can hold a lot of charge. This is a lithium ion battery, it holds great charge. I'd get something around 6 amp hours (it can provide 6 amps for one hour, or inversely, 1 amp for 6 hours, etc.)
If it uses 10 AAs, that means it will require 15 volts! Augh!
I would get a battery that can supply around 7.5 volts (7.2, 7.4) as these batteries are much cheaper than, say 15 volts to run that screen of yours.
I'll do some research on it and see what the system really takes internally (after regulating the power) so I may point you in a better direction. 45 pounds isn't really bad, but if you look hard you may find something cheaper. Then again, there is always the problem with shipping, and you know a store that has it locally. I would say get it.

[eagle5953]

Wait, if it wants 10 AAs but normally plugs into a lighter in a car, can we safely assume it wants 12v? I assume the 15v business is to ensure it keeps running as battery power begins to wane.

[TheApothecary]

Yeah, Local store down the road has it.

So, I think I have a spare camcorder battery upstiars, Ill see what specs it has and report it back.

So, do you think it may be worth having two batteries, one for the screen and another for the console itself? Or would that overcomplicate it moreso.

Also while im at it, would the book run this all past me, I dont want to keep reffering to threads and stickies for info, as much as a freeloader as I am.

[Update] On second thoughts, ill find that battery later, A quick scan of the room suggests its proberbly somewhere in my messy garage/cupboard.

[64M320N3]

Good point... AAs run out really quickly. I still think it has a regulator.
Aha! found you little bugger!
http://www.upgradedepot.com/product.asp ... uct=247576
That is a 7.4 volt 6 Ah battery.
Since it doesn't really have a list price, I'd recommend looking elsewhere, but I just found that on the google shopping list. Look for something similar to that.
EDIT: The book doesn't include a guide to an N64 portable. You're as good off right now as you are with the book. It may increase your technical know-how a little bit, but that is all.
Also, having a separate battery for each system doesn't really overcomplicate things, but since they have a different amp draw then one will die before the other. You can, however, wire up two camcorder batteries in parallel, boosting your overall amps/volts, and then wire each system to the newly put together batteries.

[bacteria]

Firstly, nice to see a new member here looking to make a portable, TheApolthecary. Sounds like you are in the UK, there appear to be about half a dozen of us on this forum from the UK.

The NTSC N64 board is similar to the PAL board, although some of the wiring is a little different. I have an NTSC board, but despite changing the PIF chip for a UK one the board didn't work - the previous owner soldered components on the back of the board for RGB, which didn't work, and damaged something on the board in the process. That is why I know the boards are similar - I have both. There was no smaller version.

Sifuf trimmed down the silver grounding on the left and right of the board, trimmed off the bottom parts removing the connections to the controller ports and the LED; and relocated the cart slot section of the board by rewiring it. That made the board smaller, about 94 x 139mm, working from his photo; although in reality, it was more like about 104-110 x 139mm as he relocated the expansion pack on the top of the board.

In comparison, I am keeping most of the cart slot section intact, but trimming the board grounds and cutting the board to about 60% of its size, mine, working, will be 93 x 117mm; although of course thicker as the remainder of the board will be underside. I could make it smaller, maybe to 93 x 93mm by my sliced board and relocating all the cart slot section, but there is no point as the PSone screen is 93 x 117mm so no reason to make the N64 board smaller than that.

If you are using a 7" screen, you won't need to trim the N64 board down as you will probably find the screen is about the same size - the PSone screen in comparison is 5.4".

You might find that the screen doesn't work on 7.4v and needs more, which will mean different batteries of course. I have a 7" screen for a PS2 phat - not a great picture and it needs 12v to run, which is a pain, hence I use it for testing purposes as it is secured to my desk now.

As UK, you only need composite input for your screen as the PAL N64 is composite.

If you need components, or advice; feel free to PM me if you like.

[TheApothecary]

http://www.upgradedepot.com/product.asp ... uct=247576

Ouch, Looks pretty expensive. Thinking about it, the battry im going on about was noticably smaller than that. Still, worth a look.
Reckon theres any household appliances I can salvage a good battery from?

[Update] Ahah, Im not even sure if this little project is going underway as of yet, but I definitely appreciate the advice, and if it goes underway I will take photos for you guys . Also Bacteria, I saw that screen in your "YAN64" Thread (Hope that's yours anywho). So what your saying is I could need two seperate batteries if the screen is too power hungry?

[64M320N3]

Yes, I can't find the one that I got; it was only $30 American! WOW!
Anyway, if it was smaller, then it is safe to say that it has a much smaller Amp hour rating. That's why I recommend the big one.
Also bacteria makes a good point on considering a new screen:

You might find that the screen doesn't work on 7.4v and needs more, which will mean different batteries of course. I have a 7" screen for a PS2 phat - not a great picture and it needs 12v to run, which is a pain, hence I use it for testing purposes as it is secured to my desk now.

Since your screen is that big, it's also safe to say that it has a lot of draw, so I recommend the PSone screen (or ps2/xbox/gamecube zenith screen, as they are all the same, anyway).

[TheApothecary]

Anyway, if it was smaller, then it is safe to say that it has a much smaller Amp hour rating. That's why I recommend the big one.

Looks like that and my lack of money adds up to me possibly opting for the mains power supply

[64M320N3]

Does anybody know the battery I am referring to? It would really help this guy:
it was a open mount camcorder battery, 7.4 volts and 6 amp hours, and it looks kind of like the one I posted above, although I don't think it is the same model. It was only $30. REALLY cheap. I think jjhammerstein posted a link to same one a while ago, and that made me buy it. It's really awesome, but unfortunately, I did not bookmark it.

[TheApothecary]

Does anybody know the battery I am referring to? It would really help this guy:
it was a open mount camcorder battery, 7.4 volts and 6 amp hours, and it looks kind of like the one I posted above, although I don't think it is the same model. It was only $30. REALLY cheap. I think jjhammerstein posted a link to same one a while ago, and that made me buy it. It's really awesome, but unfortunately, I did not bookmark it.

'Fraid I cant help, as you could've guessed .

Skowering my house for batteries though, I made some interesting finds, an old laptop battery and this beast - http://www.screwfix.com/prods/24301/Pow ... Cd-Battery - Worth an honerable mention right?