I've had an idea for sometime, but never really thought it was possible until I came across this site and saw all the cool projects people have done.
Well here is my motive to start this project. For me, making the N64 portable doesn't mean it needs to be a handheld console, or even lightweight, or space saving. All I really want is a battery pack. I figure that I already have a portable DVD player with a screen and an AV in jack, that has its own battery to power the screen- So that's one major obstacle side stepped. Also I wouldn't mind throwing the whole console in a backpack, so long as I had a solution to keep it from overheating, which shouldn't be to hard to devise. Unlike a lot of people I've seen here, I actually like the original controllers just fine, and I do use all the buttons, so I'm totally cool with using the original controller. I also don't want to spend that much, I think if I don't fry anything this could be under a hundred dollars.
So here's what needs to be done:
1. Devise a rechargeable battery pack that can plug directly into the back of the console. (if this is possible; I don't see why I should need to take the console a part at all for this project).
The obstacles I have with this are:
What battery to chose. I'd like it to have about the same life as my DVD battery does (powering the screen), which is probably 3-4 hours.
I don't know how to split the power from the battery into the 2 different voltages required. I assume a few resistors and diodes is all that's needed?
Design a Casing to put the battery in that looks neat and stays cool.
2. Convert the Nintendo AV out to be compatible with my DVD AV in. May require disassembling the DVD... May not work
3. Finding a sturdy, neat looking, space saving way to mount the console inside the backpack, with adequate cooling, that also allows for easy removal, and will allow me to throw other stuff in the backpack without problems.
Other Ideas:
-Rerout the power switch to be accessible from outside the backpack (this of course would require cracking her open). -Position the console so that the cartridge can be changed from outside the backpack... or better yet by unzipping the front pouch ^^. Meaning not rerouting/wiring the cartridge slot, just positioning of the console to keep things simple. I've seen how many wires and solder points that are involved in repositioning the cartridge slot
-Putting an LED on the controller to signal battery life (like on a Gameboy). --don't know how to do it, but just thinking about it, use something to monitor the current level, maybe disassemble a multimeter, and just have an LED come on when the current drops below a certain level?
-Integrate for LOB64
.
