Finally going to start N64p

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 1:21 pm

I have decided that since I will be going on a trip this summer that is 12hrs one way, I will finally make an N64p. Here is my VERY basic design, courtesy of ms paint.

The thing that looks like a PSone screen is a, you guessed it, PSone screen
The gray square underneath is the N64 itself with the controller on top

The plan is to have the N64 upside-down with the cart slot relocated to accept games like a GBC. The mobo will be offset for the joystick to fit, with the joystick and z button's wires lengthend to reach and the rest of the controller directly under the other buttons (d-pad and l will be left out). The PSone screen will be hard wired to the N64 and will be able to fold closed. I'm going to cheat for the power, using a cigarette lighter or 12v power supply. The 12v will go to a 7.2v psu for the screen and N64's 12v line, and will go to a 3.3v psu for the 3.3v line. I may make a battery pack later

I have figured out most of it in my head, but I still haven't figured out exactly what to do to reduce the voltage, I was thinking 3.3v and 7.2v car adapters, but I would like your input. As soon as power is figured out I will start on construction (hopefully).

Post by **marshallh** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 2:57 pm

Why are you using a 12v power source? The N64 only needs 3.3v and 7.2v, not 12v.
Then you can run the PSone lcd directly in parallel with the N64 and its respective power circuitry.

daguuy · Post by **daguuy** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 3:28 pm

to power the screen from a 12v source, get a 7808 or this adjustable regulator. 3.3v will be easy, just get a free c-dc convertor (see sticky)

SpearMan74 · Post by **SpearMan74** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 5:06 pm

For the adjustable regulator get a 330 ohm resistor for R1, and either 180- 220 ohm resistor for R2. Just saying.

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 5:06 pm

I'm going to have it powered by cigarette lighter so it can be used in a car without needing batteries.

daguuy · Post by **daguuy** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:52 pm

in that case, just replace the adjustable regulator with a 7.5v car adapter

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:36 pm

Thats what I was thinking of doing, just wanted to make sure it was a good idea. So couldn't I use a 3.3 v car adapter instead of the free dc-dc thing? Or could I find something at radioshack that would do the same thing? I don't want to waste time getting the free thing unless it is better than what I could buy for a reasonable price.

daguuy · Post by **daguuy** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:38 pm

get a 7.5v car adapter and connect a free dc-dc convertor to the 12v end of it (it would work on the 7.5 but do 12v just to be safe). the free dc-dc convertors are just about the best things you can get

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:43 pm

So it would be easiest to just use the free one? Is there anything else I could use if I can't/don't want to get the free one?

daguuy · Post by **daguuy** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 8:19 pm

the adjustable regulator would work

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 5:55 pm

That adjustable regulator make may brain turn into mush. Could you explain how to make it or tell me if this will work.

I found this at Triton's site and I guess Sparkfist drew it

daguuy · Post by **daguuy** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:57 pm

that might work but is very unstable and inefficient. one of the ways to get 3.3v from the adjustable one is this:
R1 = 625 ohms
R2 = 1 kiliohm

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:43 pm

Unstable as in frying my n64? Efficiency doesn't matter since it will use external power and I already have two 7805's(what do these numbers mean anyways?) and could scronge the rest, I would change to something better if I ever add batteries. Also, will floppy drive ribbon cable wires be good enough for the wiring? I have plenty of ribbons. what would be everything that I would need for the adjustable regulator and what would it cost?

daguuy · Post by **daguuy** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:48 pm

floppy ribbon cable is good. what i mean by unstable is that the voltage it makes varies depending on how much current the N64 is drawing

Turbo Tax 1.0 · Post by **Turbo Tax 1.0** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:48 pm

plus the pins are backwards on it the resistors and battery should be on the opposite pins i think