Looking to jump into a portable Gamecube project.

crystalklear64 · Post by **crystalklear64** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:03 pm

Hey everyone. I bought a psone screen a number of years ago when they were on sale at TRU thinking that some day I'd be able to use it for something. Well, now that I have a Wii, that day is here.

I've been using the screen via a camera cable with some female to female couplers on the end.

Now I'm looking to integrate it into the gamecube itself.

I'm not looking to build an actual handheld device, I just want to somehow attach the screen to the gamecube and add a battery pack or whatever is needed to power the cube+screen without needing it to be powered by plugging it in.

The cube is already portable enough, and this would just be something to put in the car as a gift to my brother for his kids to have something to entertain them on longer trips. There is a center console perfect to set a potential cube/monitor creation on and strap down while still being easy enough to remove.

So, where would I even begin a project like this? My only electronics experience is with building computers and guitar wiring.

Two main goals are:
Find a way to attach the screen to the gamecube.
Add a rechargeable power supply.

Thanks.

ShockSlayer · Post by **ShockSlayer** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:10 pm

Buy yourself a 12v battery pack from batteryspace.com

Get a 12v to ~7v regulator(a car adapter from radioshack should work)

Wire the regulator to the screen, along w/video from GC

Put a switch on the battery's positive line in between the shared 12v line from the GC and regulator, and connect gnd.

WIN.

SS

Kyo · Post by **Kyo** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:11 pm

firstly, you will need to learn how to solder. Basic electronic knowledge is helpful, but mostly optional.
I'd say most of your worries are going to be casing everything

As for finding a starting point, check the stickies, read some threads, maybe GCp buildlogs.

Oh and here are a couple of sites that might help you:
www.portablesofdoom.org

www.wocares.com/modding

www.modded-by-bacteria.com

evilteddy · Post by **evilteddy** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:22 pm

What you do depends on how hard you want to make this project.

I have seen a prject where a person used bondo to integrate the psone screen in the side of the case but I think in the case of the gamecube you might just want to attach to psone screen like on the original psone. So that it is screwed into the back and folds down on top of the gamecube disc drive cover. clamshell. A very tall clamshell.

It should be very easy to connect the video. Just check the stickies and Kasars guide further down the page.

As for a battery, something like a 13.8V lithium type battery? Shockslayer said that the 12V line can take down to 5V. If that means you can use a 7.2V battery then use and directly power the screen from the battery. If you need to use a 12V or above battery then you will need a regulator for the screen. I'm sure someone else will clear up the confusion that I'm sure this last paragraph is.

crystalklear64 · Post by **crystalklear64** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:27 pm

Well, the clamshell thing is probably what I'll go for.

I found a youtube vid that shows something similar to what I had in mind, unfortunately, no tutorials.

Here is the vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMc6pNemats

Skip to 2:20 ish to see the completed thing.

That + battery pack would be perfect. I wouldn't need to do the square screen thing either.

And thanks for all the advice so far everyone.

Heading to my family's for Christmas this weekend where my screen and cube are stashed, so I'm trying to learn as much as a can before then.

crystalklear64 · Post by **crystalklear64** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:38 pm

Don't know if anyone remembers me, but I'm getting ready to leave parent's home soon. Got my gamecube in tow, so I'll be getting started on this within a week. Fair warning that I'll be having a lot of questions

jjhammerstein · Post by **jjhammerstein** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:40 pm

If it's staying in the car, you should power it with a lead-acid Golf Cart battery because it's cheap.

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:51 pm

jjhammerstein wrote:If it's staying in the car, you should power it with a lead-acid Golf Cart battery because it's cheap.

Cigarette lighter. No need to charge, just don't play too long when the car is off.

To keep the Gamecube and screen safe from surges, I'd use a power inverter and plug the wall adapters into it. A 200w inverter would be plenty for a GC and screen.

grossaffe · Post by **grossaffe** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:58 am

vskid wrote:
jjhammerstein wrote:If it's staying in the car, you should power it with a lead-acid Golf Cart battery because it's cheap.
Cigarette lighter. No need to charge, just don't play too long when the car is off.
To keep the Gamecube and screen safe from surges, I'd use a power inverter and plug the wall adapters into it. A 200w inverter would be plenty for a GC and screen.

yeah, that's a simple and effective way to do it. I use a power inverter (which I got for free; it just needed a new fuse) for my laptop when going on long trips. No need for a battery if its not gonna actually leave the car.