Worklog The Nintendo Swiitch - BocuD's first Wii portable

[BocuD]

Hey everyone, here i will be posting all of my shitty work on my duct taped together Wii Portable.

 

[BocuD]

This is going to be a really long post so here is a short version:
I want to build a Wii Portable using a L7009 screen and I want it to be like the switch, with a dock and MAYBE wireless controllers. (probably just wiimotes wired up to an analog stick and buttons inside) I have almost everything except for the screen and want to 3D print a case. I hope to finish this build in time for the contest.
I already finished relocating the bluetooth module and will probably trim my wii tomorrow.

Long version:

Okay so after REALLY long I'm finally updating this thread with my actual project. The current plan is to make the nintendo Swiitch, like the idea I posted in the GC+ contest thread. The portable will have an L7009 480p component screen and a dock to charge and use external video. Maybe I can also add detachable wireless controllers (wiimotes with button connectors on the side of them internally wired to the GC+ in the portable), but that is the last priority. I really want to finish this portable in time. Also, if it is available on time I want to use a WiiHUD audio amp from @Aurelio, but I'm not sure since this project will be expensive af (if I count how many Wii's I've already destroyed, and the L7009) I've just finished the bluetooth relocation and already have my GC+, PTH08080's and controls. I will probably use Wii classic controller buttons and sticks. I also have an idea on how to implement the dock connector. I will post pictures later, natively hosted on BitBuilt, of course photobucket ftw. I'm not sure if the U10 is easy or not, but the bluetooth was way easier then I expected and only took me ~25 mins. I will perform the OMGWTF trim and use flat cell batteries, because I currently have a stack of 6 3500mah batteries from a powergorilla with a broken boost circuit. The cells are really small and quite thin for their capacity so it will be perfect for this build. I want to 3D print a case, and then sand and paint it the best I can but I'm not sure how it will turn out. I can always try to frankencase a ZN-45 if I really need to, though this would kinda kill the idea of a thin and light portable.

Pictures coming later

Also, can a mod please move this thread to contest submissions?

 

[cheese]

Moved, can't wait to see it!

 

[Stitches]

This sounds very interesting. Remember to post noods at every opportunity!

 

[BocuD]

I'm not very far at all yet, but the bluetooth relocation is working (i cut the traces but can still turn on my wii with a wiimote) so heres a picture of it

It would be really cool to embed the disc drive inside of a dock; would this be possible, though? Can i attach the disc drive to a trimmed wii?

 

[cheese]

The trim in the guide has you slice right through the dd traces in like 6 different spots, and half of the traces don't even have vias to solder to, but if you're dedicated enough you _could_ put one in... I'd just put some kind of usb drive loader in the dock instead

 

[Stitches]

I'm not very far at all yet, but the bluetooth relocation is working (i cut the traces but can still turn on my wii with a wiimote) so heres a picture of it

It would be really cool to embed te disc drive inside of a dock; would this be possible, though? Can i attach the disc drive to a trimmed wii?

Is the bt still plugged into the slot?

 

[cheese]

Is the bt still plugged into the slot?

(i cut the traces but can still turn on my wii with a wiimote)

Turning the Wii on is actually done with another pin, but if you can connect your remote after then the relocation worked fine.

 

[BocuD]

Turning the Wii on is actually done with another pin, but if you can connect your remote after then the relocation worked fine.

Yeah i can connect the remote so i'm happy
Btw heres a picture of the battery (still half assembled but wathever). Each pack of 2 cells measures around 4.4v. Is that still alive, or should i buy new ones? Wiimote for scale

Edit: added picture

 

[Stitches]

4.4v is a tad above the normal 4.2v a protection circuit should allow.

 

[BocuD]

That is not what i meant, there are 2 batteries in series, connected to each other and that is measuring 4.2 volts. That would mean 2.1 volts per cell. Is this acceptable?

 

[cheese]

Measure each cell individually, I'd say toss it if any of the cells are below 3.0v. That's basically the minimum I would suggest, and if they're below that, that cell is almost certainly damaged.

 

[mahjarratian]

That looks like a 3S2P pack ((11.1v nominal) for a total of 6 cells) which would mean each section would be 2 batteries in parallel, keeping the voltage as if it were 1 battery, but doubling the mAh. That said it's hard to gauge the pack with the angle given.

If a paralleled pack reads 4.2v it's fine.

 

[BocuD]

I'll try to desolder the cells and measure them individually then, because these are some nice cells (if they aren't damaged). 4 cells would be ~51 wh if not damaged, so I really want to use them.

 

[BocuD]

Heres an update:
I started assembling the regulators and just finished with the 1v and 1.15v regs. The 3.3v regulator however... i think i killed it. I shall now bid to the bitbuilt gods and hope they will be able to help me fix it.. this is a picture of the dead reg:

Heres all four of them:

I used a resistor in combination with a potentiometer to be able to adjust the voltage later on. Thought it might come in handy. Also, i will just use a 7805 for the 5 v regulator. It is way cheaper then a pth08080wah.
I think my iron is just too big and that i knocked off some surface mount resistors, but im not sure.
Iron for scale:

Now that i notice how big the iron is, im asking myself how the heck i was able to relocate bluetooth. Whatever, it works.
Also, i remeasured my cells, and they are all 4.3v, so they must be fine then.

 

[GingerOfOz]

 

[BocuD]

Well shit... do you have any idea of how to fix it?

 

[GingerOfOz]

Desolder it and resolder it so that your wire and the solder are only touching the pad. If your solder spreads and makes a connection with other shiny components on the PTH, then it will cause a short.

 

[BocuD]

Okay... I just noticed something else. I have your short in blue, but it looks like I also removed some surface mount resistors... Thats gonna be a new regulator, I guess.

 

[GingerOfOz]

Ouch. I'd still try to fix the short and see if that revives it. You should probably get a better iron tip if that's what knocked them off. You should probably get one anyways, as a narrow tip will make soldering to the little things a LOT easier.