The Nitro 64 (geno whirl's N64 portable worklog)

[geno whirl]

So I was at a garage sale today looking for snes games, but someone beat me to them. However, I did buy an N64 for $25 ($35 including a $10 game). It was probably a bit expensive but I wanted it, and I have had an idea of building a snes portable for a while now. Seeing my recent purchase, it is gonna be an N64 portable. I already took it apart (Bic pens actually worked) and am ready to get this thing started! I got Ben's book for my birthday and it helped a lot, but I will still have some questions along the way so any help will be appreciated. My supplies list is:

N64: $25
Batteries: I feel pretty clueless in this category. I am open to suggestions. Maybe something simple like Ni-MH for my first portable
Screen: Thinking about getting http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/s ... r.87419775" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; that one. Now that it is going to be an N64 it might be too small. What would you guys suggest?
Case: I have this wooden cigar box that looks big enough and I would like to use it. Any precautions that I need to take to make sure the thing doesn't catch on fire?
Buttons: Gonna get some of those big red and black tact switches from radio shack. I like the look of them.

Nothing fancy for my first one. no cart slot relocation. Gonna leave out the d-pad and L button. Pretty basic stuff. Hoping it will look something like this:

[joeyjoe9876]

don't get that 2.5" screen from DX.
http://cgi.ebay.com/3-5-TFT-LCD-Monitor ... 27b0174f63" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

its cheaper and bigger. but is a risk for using with an N64 because sometimes they are screwy when wiring video to it. hailrazer has tested all the 3.5" screens that we usually use and he got them all to work so you should be safe.

[geno whirl]

The only thing about that one is that it doesn't have a built in speaker, so that is an additional cost. What would you suggest for the audio?

[joeyjoe9876]

http://forums.modretro.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1875" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

shouldn't be too hard to follow.

[geno whirl]

Okay, just got the tact switches from radio shack and some 22-gauge wire, so now I am $23.19 more in the hole

[geno whirl]

Well, This sucks. The majority of tact switches that I got are not the right kind and I got solid wire instead of stranded. Looks like I will be making another trip to radio shack (Luckily, I only opened some of the stuff). I have also decided to completely change my original design. I am now gonna use a ZN-45 case (how original!) and a PS1 screen. I am gonna cut up the casing of the controller and cut holes for it in the case. Hopefully I will be able to make it at flush as possible with the case. Same thing with the PS1 screen.

[nachoz12341]

can i make a suggestion for the batteries these are great theyre cheap and great capacity but you also will need one of these if your screen cant handle 9v
batteries
http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/In ... u=12015968" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
7808 regulater

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-10-x-L7808-LM78 ... 335a9a56a3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[geno whirl]

Thanks for the battery suggestion nachoz12341. Sadly, while in my basement checking the voltages on the lines, the lead on my multimeter touched both the 12V and 3v lines on my N64. The thing won't turn on now and I think it it fried. This does not look good. If it is fried, I might have to cancel the project. Does anyone have any info about this? I read the troubleshooting your N64 thread where the problem got addressed but there wasn't really a definite answer.

[nachoz12341]

does the led light up do you at least hear anything if not leave it alone for a good 3 days then try again sometimes you just have to take out the jumper/expansion pak
and put it back in if its still fried i would be glad to sell you an n64 for $10 - 15

[geno whirl]

Thanks for the offer. That makes me feel better knowing that there might be hope. I'll leave it alone for a while. I'm on vacation for the next few days anyway.

EDIT: I just went down and took out the jumper pak, then turned it on, then put the jumper pak back in and IT WORKS!

[nachoz12341]

yay
wierd it works after that but yay

[geno whirl]

Nintendo never ceases to amaze me

[nachoz12341]

lol me 2

[geno whirl]

Hmmm, I remember seeing a thread that had a list of most consoles/screens and their input voltage. I can't seem to find it now (should have bookmarked it ). Could anyone point me in the right direction if you know what I am talking about?

[vskid]

Hmmm, I remember seeing a thread that had a list of most consoles/screens and their input voltage. I can't seem to find it now (should have bookmarked it ). Could anyone point me in the right direction if you know what I am talking about?

http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=25867