Xenii
.
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2024
- Messages
- 116
- Likes
- 408
- Location
- Switzerland
- Portables
- Xii-Boy Original, Xii-Boy Pocket, Xii-Boy Ultra
Hey all!
It's time for a new release: the USB-GC2!
A Xenii and Supertazon collaboration 2024-2025.
The USB-GC2 is a next-gen GameCube Power Board that makes the console compatible with USB-C Power Delivery charger.
This revision 2 is now open source and supports both 12V and 15V Chargers, making it compatible with the majority of chargers.
This means, the USB-GC2 is also compatible with Nintendo Switch charger!
The beginnings of the USB-GC project
Everything started last year, in December 2024, when @supertazon told me he wanted to make a USB-C mod for the GameCube.
At that time, I didn't know, but there were no fully compatible all in one 15V gboard, which was what he wanted, considering the Nintendo Switch charger is 15V only.
So, we decided to collaborate on that project and make USB-GC during the waiting times of Xii-Boy Ultra.
@supertazon was charged of finding the components and the ideas, and I was charged to make the PCB.
We decided to use a CH224K for communicating with the charger about the desire tension.
At this time, we had to manually change a resistance, which wasn't optimal.
A few days later, it was done. When I ordered the Xii-Boy Ultra PCBs, I also ordered this USB-GC prototype.
When received, I was impatient to assemble it.
However, things didn't go well...
I struggled to solder that step down converter, which is mainly used for the 15V to 12V conversion.
Due to the bad conception of the board, it was a pain to assemble and troubleshoot.
After frying all my step-down converter due to bad solder or shorts, @supertazon was really kind and sent me some new one in my way!
By using another soldering technique, it worked!
But at the moment when I turned the GameCube off and back on, nothing... The console didn't turn on anymore...
It was really frustrating, but I think I knew the issue: due to the length of the USB-C charger, it created a pretty big inductance, making a big voltage spike when we turned the module on.
After speaking with @YveltalGriffin, he told me that the circuit could be protected with a simple electrolytic capacitor in parallel with a TVS diode.
The next week, I borrowed the components and an oscilloscope from my school to test everything, and we were right! There was a huge voltage spike that destroyed the step-down converter.
Great! It was time to install the components and see if it works, and it did!
It was time for a second revision. Due to the old mistake, @supertazon and I decided to not open source that first revision.
USB-GC2
@supertazon was really happy with the results! I decided to completely remake the USB-GC from scratch in my side, by keeping the original ideas,
and constantly asking his opinion.
After a few days, I ended up with a really satisfying result of having everything on the same face, except the USB-C port.
I quickly ordered it at the same time as the Xii-Boy Ultra shells. And I ordered the new components on Digikey.
This time, we decided to add a switch to easily configure the input tension.
After assembling, it was working! YAY!!!
I tested a lot of things, but I didn't fry!
I also tested temperature which was really stable, around 40C in 12V mode and 53C in 15 to 12V mode.
Now that everything has been tested, it's time for the release!
Here are the SPECS of that USB-GC2!:
- Next-gen GameCube Power board
- Compatible with both 12 and 15V charger
- Protected against voltage spikes
- Same layout, connectors and switch as the original board
- Good passive thermal dissipation (~40 - 52C)
- Easy swap, plug and play module
- BOM around $15
- Open source!
You'll find the GitHub repository here: USB-GC2 GitHub Repository
Special thanks to:
- @supertazon for the collab / help
- @YveltalGriffin for the troubleshooting and board reviewing
- @Bryceshaw06 and @SimplyStevii for their constant support
- Everyone else for the support and motivation given!
Thanks for your support! I'm really grateful!
Have a nice day and see you next time!
Have fun!
It's time for a new release: the USB-GC2!
A Xenii and Supertazon collaboration 2024-2025.
The USB-GC2 is a next-gen GameCube Power Board that makes the console compatible with USB-C Power Delivery charger.
This revision 2 is now open source and supports both 12V and 15V Chargers, making it compatible with the majority of chargers.
This means, the USB-GC2 is also compatible with Nintendo Switch charger!
The beginnings of the USB-GC project
Everything started last year, in December 2024, when @supertazon told me he wanted to make a USB-C mod for the GameCube.
At that time, I didn't know, but there were no fully compatible all in one 15V gboard, which was what he wanted, considering the Nintendo Switch charger is 15V only.
So, we decided to collaborate on that project and make USB-GC during the waiting times of Xii-Boy Ultra.
@supertazon was charged of finding the components and the ideas, and I was charged to make the PCB.
We decided to use a CH224K for communicating with the charger about the desire tension.
At this time, we had to manually change a resistance, which wasn't optimal.
A few days later, it was done. When I ordered the Xii-Boy Ultra PCBs, I also ordered this USB-GC prototype.
When received, I was impatient to assemble it.
However, things didn't go well...
I struggled to solder that step down converter, which is mainly used for the 15V to 12V conversion.
Due to the bad conception of the board, it was a pain to assemble and troubleshoot.
After frying all my step-down converter due to bad solder or shorts, @supertazon was really kind and sent me some new one in my way!
By using another soldering technique, it worked!
But at the moment when I turned the GameCube off and back on, nothing... The console didn't turn on anymore...
It was really frustrating, but I think I knew the issue: due to the length of the USB-C charger, it created a pretty big inductance, making a big voltage spike when we turned the module on.
After speaking with @YveltalGriffin, he told me that the circuit could be protected with a simple electrolytic capacitor in parallel with a TVS diode.
The next week, I borrowed the components and an oscilloscope from my school to test everything, and we were right! There was a huge voltage spike that destroyed the step-down converter.
Great! It was time to install the components and see if it works, and it did!
It was time for a second revision. Due to the old mistake, @supertazon and I decided to not open source that first revision.
USB-GC2
@supertazon was really happy with the results! I decided to completely remake the USB-GC from scratch in my side, by keeping the original ideas,
and constantly asking his opinion.
After a few days, I ended up with a really satisfying result of having everything on the same face, except the USB-C port.
I quickly ordered it at the same time as the Xii-Boy Ultra shells. And I ordered the new components on Digikey.
This time, we decided to add a switch to easily configure the input tension.
After assembling, it was working! YAY!!!
I tested a lot of things, but I didn't fry!
I also tested temperature which was really stable, around 40C in 12V mode and 53C in 15 to 12V mode.
Now that everything has been tested, it's time for the release!
Here are the SPECS of that USB-GC2!:
- Next-gen GameCube Power board
- Compatible with both 12 and 15V charger
- Protected against voltage spikes
- Same layout, connectors and switch as the original board
- Good passive thermal dissipation (~40 - 52C)
- Easy swap, plug and play module
- BOM around $15
- Open source!
You'll find the GitHub repository here: USB-GC2 GitHub Repository
Special thanks to:
- @supertazon for the collab / help
- @YveltalGriffin for the troubleshooting and board reviewing
- @Bryceshaw06 and @SimplyStevii for their constant support
- Everyone else for the support and motivation given!
Thanks for your support! I'm really grateful!
Have a nice day and see you next time!
Have fun!
