A little help?

[aperture]

Hey guys,
Quite new here, and I've decided to take the challenge of making a *drumroll* N64 portable!!!!!
however, I don't have...erm....money. Therefore, i have a n64 (bought for $5 without anything with it), was given a dvd without batteries, and a n64 controller and a broken gcube controller (cable broke, but all the controls work).
So! I have $50 (now $45), and i ask this:
The dvd player screen, can this work correctly? here are pics:

portable dvd player...

realimage1.jpg (103.32 KiB) Viewed 5241 times

Other side

realimage2.jpg (236.72 KiB) Viewed 5241 times

now, on the sides are multiple things: A red, white, and yellow video port, on/off switch, an s-video port, a DC 12 V port (for plugging in?), and on the other side there is a headphone 1 and 2 ports, a volume adjuster, a N/P (?), and a Brightness adjuster.
would this be a viable option for using? I don't wanna shell out cash for the PS one....but, will I have to? Also, here is the pics of the inside (haven't touched it further yet)

Insides...

realimage3.jpg (127.11 KiB) Viewed 5241 times

Oh, useless cables were the part which hooked up to the bottom of the portable dvd player, which was broken and my friend threw away .
It does work, so I'm pretty happy at least with that.
For the n64, I have most of it off and all that I have right now is those controller areas, and the video/power plugs (don't know if I really should chop em). Also, the game placement part I have taken off, but haven't yet bought wire.
So, as a modding Noob, with about $50, what should I do?
I've thought about purchasing batteries, but what do you guys recommend? Also, i want a battery life of a nice solid two hours (preferably). If that is too much, I might just go without batteries, but it defeats the purpose about the n64 controller, I do have one, but can I implement it with a gcube controller stick? I'm sure there was a sticky around here....links anybody?
Also, the DC 12 thing is a cable of wire I connect to have the LCD work. Its 12 Volts I'm guessing, so do I need the step-down inducters from the ti website? Just in case, I bought (er, requested samples) some, so they should be coming soon.
Um, that's about it...OH! CASE! yea, I dunno what I'm going to do with that yet, but I know a guy in New york who does vacuum forming (except working with hot-wheels or something like that), so I MIGHT be ok there. oh, and should I buy wires and I do have a soldering gun. I've never done that kinda stuff before though, and its only one n64 Also, I might just buy ribbon cable, it depends, what do you guys think? Also, I need to purchase that n64 expansion pack (remember, the n64 came with NOTHING, other than just the console, for $5)


THANK YOU ALL FOR READING THIS HUGE MESSAGE...any answers to any questions above would be highly appreciated.

[limpport]

Does the yellow video plug video in or out? It will work only if it is video in.

Battery wise, check out http://www.batteryspace.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . They have all sorts of batteries that you could use.

Also, check out the stickies at the top of the N64 page, and read through those. They'll provide you will just about all the information you need to know.

And welcome to the Forums!

[aperture]

Thanks!

In by what you mean by video in or out, I believe its in (as in, to connect my n64, I just plug the cables into the yellow, white, and red). Other than that, I don't know how to absolutely tell.

The battery I saw I might get is called a High Power Polymer Li-Ion battery, with a 10000 maH or something...is it any good? Also, how should I be connecting these? I also checked TONS of the sticky pages with information concerning the gcube, so I'm ok there. As for the monitor, I THINK its ok, but I don't know exactly. Anyways, happy to be a part of the forums!

*side note anybody else use other lcd types BESIDES the ps one? thanks.

EDIT: the Polymer Li-ion is this one
High Power Polymer Li-Ion 9059156C cell with a min 7950 mAh and the specs pdf is here
http://www.batteryspace.com/prod-specs/3119.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Now, in batteryspace.com, do they have chargers coming with it, or do I have to buy the $16 smart charger? I also can't seem to find any guides to connecting the battery, but i will check the forums again

[aperture]

This is a pretty good guide. http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=34576" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've seen that guide, and I saw that he showed multiple Li-Ion batteries to hook up...would it be ok with JUST one? Also, I will probably upload pics more on my progress, so far I've disassembled a third-party controller, added in the gcube controller stick (VERY nice), and managed to play around a little more in the motherboard of the n64. On a side note, I'm thinking of just using s-video, instead of composite. Is the s-video able to run without composite yellow cable? I'm a little inept with s-video....
The n64 controller I noticed the board had wires, but they werent....long....how would I go about extending the length of the controller board?

Ah, here are the pics (sorry, batteries ran dead before I could take more )

n64.JPG (172.15 KiB) Viewed 5196 times

closeup.JPG (181.75 KiB) Viewed 5196 times

lcd.JPG (195.37 KiB) Viewed 5196 times

SORRY FOR BLUR!

[andrewdorsey]

Can you show us the video quality of that screen???

[Frozener]

I had that DVD player before. I think it's hit the junkyard by now, but as I recall, it was a pretty expensive and high-end model at the time. Definitely a good screen choice except that it's fairly large. It would probably be best suited to a laptop-type portable IMO.

[aperture]

I'll see what I can do about that quality and showing it to you guys.
Also, I noticed people created the joystick by wiring tact switches to where the buttons where, and it wired back to the original joystick configuration through the small little silver circles by the original tact switches. Where would I be able to find the tact switches?
Thanks, pics later, sorry, gotta head out to wal-mart

[aperture]

You'll most likely have to use two batteries to get up to the 7.4V you need to run the board. To help out, look for a video on the net from "Revision" Episode 80 of Systm. That tells you from start to finish how to do this, the parts you need and where to get them. Study it well!

Thanks, I watched it before, but learned a lot more about it. I also went to batteryspace.com to look at some batteries.
so far I need to buy:
a heatsink (I'm thinking a copper sheet?)
wires (what type is best, thats CHEAP?)
n64 ram expansion (ugh, I'll find it somewhere for cheap)
100 uf capacitor (I saw some cheap ones, but what voltage amount should I get?)
2.2k ohm resistor (I think thats what I need, right?)
Solder (for the solder iron, although I think I have some already, so pay little mind to this)

Now I'm not sure about batteries. They are the tough part.
I've got $45, not counting buying the above items yet. I need two batteries giving me a decent charge, with PCB/PCM or whatever, and a charger cable. The screen for my lcd component said DC 12 Volts...will the two batteries pulling about 7.4 volts work?
If anybody can help me find these batteries that in total with the PCB and the charger for cheap, please POST LINKS!
Thanks guys

[eagle5953]

a heatsink (I'm thinking a copper sheet?) - you can find copper sheets at hobby shops
wires (what type is best, thats CHEAP?) - nothing cheaper than getting it out of the controller you're using for the project!

[aperture]

wires (what type is best, thats CHEAP?) - nothing cheaper than getting it out of the controller you're using for the project!

.......GENIUS!!!
I NEVER thought of that! I was always thinking the wires were a BIT long, but I guess that would be the best use for them!

erm, only question I have is that the three wires, they aren't special right? Like, the spare wire I have left over, I can use the brown wire (I think its 'ground') and it won't trash my batteries, right?

Also, I'm debating between two batteries. I've decided that some places that sell li-ion polymer batteries w/ pcb and a smart charger....know what they are talking about. That is to say, they now what price to charge Therefore, I'm buying a dvd battery from sukers on ebay who do not understand the true potential of them. I am in debate, however, between a Coby TF-DVD7333 model battery pack, or the AMW M270 battery pack. I think I'm going with the Coby

Anyways, I appreciate the reply in getting my some VERY useful wire for cheaper than I thought
Now of course, is there any consquences of say using some red wire to hook up the battery to the lcd and the TI instrument? Or is the wire all the same?

Thanks.

[aperture]

Don't use anything less than 18ga for the power and ground. Makes a bunch of smoke.

Erm, the 18ga, I'm afraid I'm not quite sure what your....talking about...

I think your talking about the wire, but I'm not quite sure. The wire that the n64 has is three wires, but I don't know if they are 18ga wires... and also, for the wires there is wires, they are all just...wires, right? I mean, I know they serve the purpose of one constructing the ground connection and all that, but regardless they can serve other purposes....right? So confused....

I went with the all-in-one route. I don't have the link handy, but look up 7.4v batteries on Batteryspace and that won should come up. It's a 4.7Ma, and basically has everything all wired into itself. Not a bad way to go.

I saw some that was on the site with PCB and all, but it came out to like $40, which I don't have the money to spend on just that. I did however, find batteries that are nice and cheap and it gives me 3500 maH....about how long a charge is that?

Shouldn't we have some sort of thread showing all of the MaH levels with the time lasting for the n64 Just an idea

[aperture]

Alright, maybe its about time to start the savings for the good packages

what do you recommend? I thought I was going good with the 3500, but maybe I'm wrong....any idea what the best maH level is?

The wire on the n64 controller, i'm going to go ahead and give a try. Anybody who has succedded in using this on the cartrige slot and the battery connection, please post your results!

Also, I had this great idea...you see, i'm going to have a little wedge of space on my console through the back, so my friend had a great idea...why not put the charger IN the case? that way, you just pop out the back, pull out the wire in the compartment, then go on ahead and charge the console? My only question is that it has these weird aligator prongs...where am I putting those to charge the battery?

Thanks.

EDIT: Here are the links to what I plan to buy for batteries and the smart charger I plan to buy. will they work correctly together? Thanks,
http://www.batteryspace.com/smartcharge ... isted.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.batterymart.com/p-dvd-50li.h ... onShopping" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[hailrazer]

Just use my guide

http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=34576" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheaper than what you are doing and they are more powerful and smaller.

[aperture]

Ok, HUGE reply time!

Just use my guide

http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=34576" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheaper than what you are doing and they are more powerful and smaller.

Yours will total about $50 from the battery, the pcb (cheap), and the smart charger.
While the website I gave had it listed as $71, I'm buying it for $10 --> then buying the smart charger on your forum topic page.

Like I said, do not use the same size wire for the power as you do for the cartridge relocation, you'll start a fire! 18ga or lower for the power, 28 to 30ga for the cart slot. (and in the wire ga world, the lower the number the thicker the wire)

Got it, gonna go buy some 17 ga wire soon...

Anybody know where I can buy 2.2k ohm resistors and a 100 uf capacitor (NOT online?)
I tried wall mart but the associates couldn't find them either.

As for crappy camera pics, here is what I have (got new batteries for camera, but the quality is still....shotty.)

FIRST PIC:
This is how I plan to have it look (I will have it on the back on the n64 board)

1.jpg (70.83 KiB) Viewed 5073 times

Note that the video port board goes right under the lcd, there is a nice little pocket for it to fit in.

SECOND PIC:

2.jpg (72.07 KiB) Viewed 5073 times

This was used for selecting screen modes, So I'm debating on if I should keep it or not (i might, it depends on how active I feel)

THIRD PIC:

3.jpg (66.45 KiB) Viewed 5073 times

This is just showing how speakers will be along the bottom, side by side. Note that I can fit it nicely so that the speakers and the headphone/sound board can fit to be about the size of the lcd. ^_^

I'll add some more regarding the video board and the controller board...

[hailrazer]

Ok, HUGE reply time!

Just use my guide

http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=34576" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheaper than what you are doing and they are more powerful and smaller.

Yours will total about $50 from the battery, the pcb (cheap), and the smart charger.
While the website I gave had it listed as $71, I'm buying it for $10 --> then buying the smart charger on your forum topic page.

So you are spending around $32 + shipping. The batteryspace ones are $55 + shipping.

The batteryspace ones will be a lot smaller / lighter / and more power. Hmmm I would spend the extra $22