ToddyHD
Guest
I made a thread a little while ago in the noob section asking for some help and got so much great advice from everyone. Thus, I have finally have mustered up the courage to try and make my first Wii portable. Although I would have loved to have frankencased my own design, I decided to simply use the G-Wii designed by Gman to learn a little more about the internals, the Wii itself and the electronics for my first project. The case design will be based on the CAD files supplied by Gman himself for his G-Wii portable and a lot of the parts are quite similar with a couple of tiny differences. Keep in mind that I am still yet to pick up a soldering iron to solder any wires at all, which makes me feel like I am being too ambitious trying to build a Wii portable for my first ever electronics project instead of something like a simple LED circuit but hey, might as well give it a go, right?
The Wii will contain no WiFi, but as I really want to have the functionality to play Wii and VC games, I am going to attempt to wire the Bluetooth and MX chips respectively. Realistically, I would like to have this done in 4 months time before I move to Tokyo to have something to play on my commutes, but I feel like I may be trying to push my luck.
Anyway, here is a quick overview on the internals I plan on using:
4 x 18650 Panasonic Lithium Ion Batteries
I plan on using a 2s2p configuration in conjunction with the red CMB below. Should provide about 4 hours battery life according to Gman. Can I use 22 gauge wire for creating my battery pack?
Red Charging Module Board
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/soberton-inc/SP
I plan on using this CMB here as it is the most simple and handles voltage regulation for charging/discharging, as well as allowing for single port charge and play. I am assuming that for charging, I can use a regular 2-3 amp 12V power brick to charge rather than using a smart charger, since the board already regulates smart charging itself. Correct me if I am blatantly wrong, though.
Speakers
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/soberton-inc/SP-1511S-3/433-1127-ND/6099101
USB Flash Drive (128GB)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017DH3O5A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_8?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1
PTH08080 Custom Regs - of course, until Aurellio's WiiHUD Power Mii is released!
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/PTH08080WAZT/296-26311-1-ND/2254959
Amplifier (PAM8803 AMP)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/181406329936?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Again, I am not sure which amplifier I should use. As I want my portable to be able to output audio from the speakers and also headphones, I assume I would require either two amplifiers or an integrated amplifier IC that can switch when headphones are inputted into the audio jack. Does anyone have any suggestions they have used in their portables? I noticed that Gman used a custom PCB for his audio amp, though.
Screen
I would love to use Aurellio's recent VGA patches, although I am a little bit nervous since I have never soldered before at all and soldering to the AVE pins looks rather fidgety. Planning on using 38AWG magnet wire here (is this too thin?) If I cannot manage this I will probably attempt to wire composite video as it is just one wire and less troubleshooting, but I'd love to have high quality VGA.
Planning on getting any old regular 5' VGA compatible screen from the BoM. Is VGA possible for a beginner with little to no soldering experience or should I stick with regular composite for less troubleshooting?
Heatsink
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/532-371824B32G?r=532-371824B32G
Quite a simple heatsink and fan setup (as below)
Fan
https://www.ebay.com/itm/5V-35mm-x-...712900?hash=item3cb4a46ec4:g:Tj8AAOSwPCtbYm5e
GameCube Controller Buttons (A, B, X, Y)
I am not exactly sure where to buy these, but my first guess was eBay. Do people usually buy there buttons separately or simply hack open an old gamecube controller?
GC+
This is not currently in the BOM. I tried to access the store to purchase but it was down for maintenance. If anyone is selling a GC+ I would love to purchase one for my portable.
USB Port
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12700
Same one Gman used for his G-Wii, simple . Was hoping for other peripherals but this will have to do. Plan on wiring this up with some 34 gauge magnet wire. Comes with convenient soldering pads and is a little bit easier to wire up for a beginner.
Headphone Jack
Not really sure which to buy. Some range anywhere between $0.50 and $30+. Do I need to buy one that is compatible with the amplifier or will any old thing do?
Power Port (12V)
Also had a look on Digikey and was bombarded with about a billion choices. Something like this?
https://www.digikey.com.au/product-detail/en/cui-inc/PJ-030DH-SMT-TR/CP-030DHPJ-TR-ND/3587642
Wire
I am a little bit inexperienced when it comes to choosing the right wire for the right components. My main understanding is that thicker wires should be used for the power lines, and thin wire for data lines. Here is the complete list of wire I plan on purchasing from Digikey.
Shielded Wire (for both audio and video - what gauge is good here?)
Enamelled Magnet Wire (28 or 30 AWG)
Stranded Wire (22 AWG)
Memory Card Slot
One final thing I will need to add which is also in the original G-Wii is one memory card slot. I do not really see a personal use for this (although Gman had included it for his buyer) and am not too familiar with where to purchase the card edge connector for the memory card. Ideally I'd leave this out if the relocation is too difficult.
I tried to research as much as I could on the forums before posting this worklog. I have a lot of my parts in transit as we speak, so I plan to start this project as soon as possible. I feel like I have stolen Gman's Wii here so all credit where it is due, but I really wanted to refrain from fiddling around with the case and since I don't have much time, I wanted to get started as quickly as possible. I hope my questions don't sound too nooby but I have tried to do as much research as possible before making this thread.
I am absolutely sure I will have more questions but in closing, I wanted to say one thing about the BitBuilt forums...
The Wii will contain no WiFi, but as I really want to have the functionality to play Wii and VC games, I am going to attempt to wire the Bluetooth and MX chips respectively. Realistically, I would like to have this done in 4 months time before I move to Tokyo to have something to play on my commutes, but I feel like I may be trying to push my luck.
Anyway, here is a quick overview on the internals I plan on using:
4 x 18650 Panasonic Lithium Ion Batteries
I plan on using a 2s2p configuration in conjunction with the red CMB below. Should provide about 4 hours battery life according to Gman. Can I use 22 gauge wire for creating my battery pack?
Red Charging Module Board
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/soberton-inc/SP
I plan on using this CMB here as it is the most simple and handles voltage regulation for charging/discharging, as well as allowing for single port charge and play. I am assuming that for charging, I can use a regular 2-3 amp 12V power brick to charge rather than using a smart charger, since the board already regulates smart charging itself. Correct me if I am blatantly wrong, though.
Speakers
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/soberton-inc/SP-1511S-3/433-1127-ND/6099101
USB Flash Drive (128GB)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017DH3O5A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_8?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1
PTH08080 Custom Regs - of course, until Aurellio's WiiHUD Power Mii is released!
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/PTH08080WAZT/296-26311-1-ND/2254959
Amplifier (PAM8803 AMP)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/181406329936?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Again, I am not sure which amplifier I should use. As I want my portable to be able to output audio from the speakers and also headphones, I assume I would require either two amplifiers or an integrated amplifier IC that can switch when headphones are inputted into the audio jack. Does anyone have any suggestions they have used in their portables? I noticed that Gman used a custom PCB for his audio amp, though.
Screen
I would love to use Aurellio's recent VGA patches, although I am a little bit nervous since I have never soldered before at all and soldering to the AVE pins looks rather fidgety. Planning on using 38AWG magnet wire here (is this too thin?) If I cannot manage this I will probably attempt to wire composite video as it is just one wire and less troubleshooting, but I'd love to have high quality VGA.
Planning on getting any old regular 5' VGA compatible screen from the BoM. Is VGA possible for a beginner with little to no soldering experience or should I stick with regular composite for less troubleshooting?
Heatsink
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/532-371824B32G?r=532-371824B32G
Quite a simple heatsink and fan setup (as below)
Fan
https://www.ebay.com/itm/5V-35mm-x-...712900?hash=item3cb4a46ec4:g:Tj8AAOSwPCtbYm5e
GameCube Controller Buttons (A, B, X, Y)
I am not exactly sure where to buy these, but my first guess was eBay. Do people usually buy there buttons separately or simply hack open an old gamecube controller?
GC+
This is not currently in the BOM. I tried to access the store to purchase but it was down for maintenance. If anyone is selling a GC+ I would love to purchase one for my portable.
USB Port
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12700
Same one Gman used for his G-Wii, simple . Was hoping for other peripherals but this will have to do. Plan on wiring this up with some 34 gauge magnet wire. Comes with convenient soldering pads and is a little bit easier to wire up for a beginner.
Headphone Jack
Not really sure which to buy. Some range anywhere between $0.50 and $30+. Do I need to buy one that is compatible with the amplifier or will any old thing do?
Power Port (12V)
Also had a look on Digikey and was bombarded with about a billion choices. Something like this?
https://www.digikey.com.au/product-detail/en/cui-inc/PJ-030DH-SMT-TR/CP-030DHPJ-TR-ND/3587642
Wire
I am a little bit inexperienced when it comes to choosing the right wire for the right components. My main understanding is that thicker wires should be used for the power lines, and thin wire for data lines. Here is the complete list of wire I plan on purchasing from Digikey.
Shielded Wire (for both audio and video - what gauge is good here?)
Enamelled Magnet Wire (28 or 30 AWG)
Stranded Wire (22 AWG)
Memory Card Slot
One final thing I will need to add which is also in the original G-Wii is one memory card slot. I do not really see a personal use for this (although Gman had included it for his buyer) and am not too familiar with where to purchase the card edge connector for the memory card. Ideally I'd leave this out if the relocation is too difficult.
I tried to research as much as I could on the forums before posting this worklog. I have a lot of my parts in transit as we speak, so I plan to start this project as soon as possible. I feel like I have stolen Gman's Wii here so all credit where it is due, but I really wanted to refrain from fiddling around with the case and since I don't have much time, I wanted to get started as quickly as possible. I hope my questions don't sound too nooby but I have tried to do as much research as possible before making this thread.
I am absolutely sure I will have more questions but in closing, I wanted to say one thing about the BitBuilt forums...
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