My main question thread and project log (pn64)

[monkeymetroid]

First of all: sorry for cluttering up the question section with several threads in a row. (my bad)
2nd: I'm a noob, a pretty big one compared to probably most of you guys (16 yrs.) , so feel free to face palm. I probably deserve many face palms.
3rd: I am making a portable n64 so all my questions will regard to that....
4th: I will be updating this often so yeah just thought I'd tell you that

Alright now that we got that out of the way......question time

1. Okay my long confusion on wires is over but one involving it still remains: interpreting. Okay when I want to organize my wires with color coding (red positive, black negative ect.), how can I tell what kind of connection it will be on the motherboard? Does it say on the motherboard?

2.I want to set a battery up to the n64 but the voltage is too high.....I sort of know about resistors, well I know the use for them anyways (sorta). Each diagram I see of the battery I see the battery hooked up to I think a little circuit. What is this?

3.If I hook this battery up to the ps1 screen and n64.....how do I regulate the amount of voltage flowing to ps1 screen and the voltage to the n64? Also, will this lower the mah?

4. What is a ground connection? I asked some guy about installing a micro fan and he said use a ground connection absorbing the correct voltage needed for the fan. How can you tell where on the mother board how much power its drawing? I sorta understand what kurt told me I thought....now Im lost.


Sorry if these questions are worded poorly or just don't make sense. Again, I will be updating this. THANK YOU!!!!!!!

[snowpenguin]

1. You will find pinouts for your components, and just solder there.

2. What is the voltage of the battery, and mAh? The n64 needs a 3.3v line and a 7.2v+ line, so you will need to get some sort of voltage regulator for the 3.3 like a PTH08000 free sample from TI, and the 7.2+, commonly referred to as the 12v line should be able to run on pretty much any voltage battery feasible for something like this.

3. For the psone screen, if your battery is above 9v, get a 7808 linear voltage regulator. No, the battery's mAh rating will always be the same.

4. Ground is not the 'correct' term, but it is what is most commonly used in DC as the negative. The battery will have two poles, the negative and the positive. Ground is the negative. 'Ground' in a literal sense in houses and buildings is the third prong on power plugs, it connects directly to a pipe stuck into the ground.

What is the fan's voltage rating? Just solder the red wire from the fan to the positive of the battery and the black to the negative, but first let us know the voltage of the fan and battery.

[monkeymetroid]

snowpenguin:
1.I did some research and I'm assuming the pinouts on the component itself decides the type of connection. I thought somewhere on the motherboard or wherever you were going to solder to does.
2.sorry I have not decided on a battery yet but lets say its 12v and mmm...4200 mAh. Should I connect the positive and negative side to this ti regulator and one I do, do I connect it to the power supply solder points outlined by 3.3v? (pts 2 and 3) and for the 12v. connection I only see 1 solder point (6) outlined by the 12v mark...is this right?
3.Alright I understand that part. So no matter how many things are connected to a battery its mAh and voltage will stay the same? should I just use 2 seperate batteries for the n64 and the screen and just connect them to one switch so I can turn them on at the same time?
4.Alright I see. I will have the info on the fan soon (sorry).
THANKS

[snowpenguin]

If you haven't gotten the battery, get something at 7.4v or 7.2v, it will be smaller. One battery.

[Kurt_]

Adding my two cents:

1. - Some boards have the pinouts silk-screened on to the board. Some do not. It's not required by any means. To get pinouts, either find them yourself, or search online. For some of the more standard connections, try pinouts.ru: http://pinouts.ru/pin_Game.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

2. - Standard voltages for batteries are 3.3, 7.2, and 9.6. You shouldn't need to use higher than this. I'm not sure, but I think with a little work, the N64 can run on 7.2 volts easily.

3. - You shouldn't need to regulate the voltage too much. The N64 needs a precise 3.3 volts, but if you put anywhere from 7 to 9 volts (9 AT THE ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM OTHERWISE YOU WILL DESTROY THE SCREEN FOREVER) in to your screen, it won't make a difference. Most systems have a 7805 or equivalent linear regulator on the board. What this means is that it takes an input voltage, lowers it to a regulated 5 volts, and burns the rest off as heat. Using a switching regulator or DC/DC converter will increase efficiency dramatically, but for you first project I would just live with the heat.

4. - Ground in electronics refers to the negative end. In portable electronics, it's the negative pole of the battery. However, this does not mean you need to solder everything to the battery. In nearly all electronics you'll deal with right now, there is what's called "shielding". You can see it near the screw holes. It's the shiny metallic stuff. Shielding prevents electrically interference by drawing stray waves to the battery. So when we say "ground", we mean anything that is hooked up directly to the negative pole of the battery, and the shielding is usually the easiest and most common route of getting there.

[snowpenguin]

Adding my two cents:

1. - Some boards have the pinouts silk-screened on to the board. Some do not. It's not required by any means. To get pinouts, either find them yourself, or search online. For some of the more standard connections, try pinouts.ru: http://pinouts.ru/pin_Game.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

2. - Standard voltages for batteries are 3.3, 7.2, and 9.6. You shouldn't need to use higher than this. I'm not sure, but I think with a little work, the N64 can run on 7.2 volts easily.

3. - You shouldn't need to regulate the voltage too much. The N64 needs a precise 3.3 volts, but if you put anywhere from 7 to 9 volts (9 AT THE ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM OTHERWISE YOU WILL DESTROY THE SCREEN FOREVER) in to your screen, it won't make a difference. Most systems have a 7805 or equivalent linear regulator on the board. What this means is that it takes an input voltage, lowers it to a regulated 5 volts, and burns the rest off as heat. Using a switching regulator or DC/DC converter will increase efficiency dramatically, but for you first project I would just live with the heat.

4. - Ground in electronics refers to the negative end. In portable electronics, it's the negative pole of the battery. However, this does not mean you need to solder everything to the battery. In nearly all electronics you'll deal with right now, there is what's called "shielding". You can see it near the screw holes. It's the shiny metallic stuff. Shielding prevents electrically interference by drawing stray waves to the battery. So when we say "ground", we mean anything that is hooked up directly to the negative pole of the battery, and the shielding is usually the easiest and most common route of getting there.

1. Both the n64 and the psone screen have labels for video, audio, and the n64 has power but I don't think the screen does.

2. Batteries come in voltages such as 3.6v, 3.7v, 9.6v, etc. This is how you get batteries at 7.2v and 7.4v, etc. The n64 will run off of 7.2v with absolutely no problems, no modding needed.

3. The TI cards are so easy to set up, literally like 4 more solders than the 78xx series and a whole lot better. For the 3.3v line, go with a PTH08080 or PTH08000, for the 12v, just plug it into your battery directly. For the PSone screen, if your battery is 7.2v or 7.4v you should be able easily to just plug it straight into the battery. That's how it is on mine.

[monkeymetroid]

Ohh alright thanks guys I actually am starting to understand a lot more. I'll get back when I come to more questions. It'll usually be updated at night because of school then work so I will look into the info you guys are giving me. I appreciate it a lot. Thank You

[monkeymetroid]

Alright back from work! Kurt that link is amazing thanks.

[monkeymetroid]

Well shoot my soldering iron broke.....would this one be acceptable for this job?:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Pencil-Tip-Elec ... 2799wt_888" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[snowpenguin]

No. 60 W is far too high, go for something lower, like a 30 W. Go to a Radio Shack, or at least buy a name brand, like Weller.

[monkeymetroid]

No. 60 W is far too high, go for something lower, like a 30 W. Go to a Radio Shack, or at least buy a name brand, like Weller.

alright I'll pop a link and let me know

[snowpenguin]

How much do you have to spend on an iron? If you have about $50 and would like a nice soldering station with variable temperature, I have heard very good things about the Weller WES51. It can be found on eBay for $50 used, but if you want something cheaper, Weller is a good brand, anything they sell should be fine at the right wattage.

[monkeymetroid]

How much do you have to spend on an iron? If you have about $50 and would like a nice soldering station with variable temperature, I have heard very good things about the Weller WES51. It can be found on eBay for $50 used, but if you want something cheaper, Weller is a good brand, anything they sell should be fine at the right wattage.

Yeah I sorta just got my restricted license and Im saving on gas and insurance. What about this one?
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... howReviews" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I read the reviews and most of the bad ones are dumb.
I might keep searching

[snowpenguin]

I'd stay away from that one. Just go to your Radio Shack, there will be irons there, choose one at around 30 W, or get that $30 station that switches from 30 to 40.

EDIT: THIS should do well for you. I've heard Rado Shack iron quality is somewhat meh, but it's what Ben himself uses I believe, as many others do, so ought to be dandy for you.

[monkeymetroid]

Alright! thank you very much once again!