GCp worklog

[DuHasst0]

I have been working on a portable game cube for a while now, and figured I should post some of my progress. Basically going frankencase from an old hp external cd burner. Here are some pics.

Top of my portable getting ready for holes

Using all for player ports

Front side where the controls will go and the screen

Where everything will go inside

Backside where I have the bike cut out for the fan

Motherboard rev a I believe, in the chassis of the old cd burner insides.

To side of the motherboard.

 

[DuHasst0]

Ok so I got my screen, batteries, pcb, charger, and extra controller board today. I messed up a couple Regs like a week ago so those are on the way. Putting some work in on the case to get the holes cut. I am kinda stumped though, with the heat sink I have, how do I Mount it to the board? I was thinking about using some epoxy on the inner lid and placing the heatsink there. But after that, it's all wiring and testing.

 

[DuHasst0]

So I really have only gotten a chance to just build an audio amp for my gcp. Been doing alot of mental placing of batteries, pcb, wkf, external memory card slot, 4 player sockets, a/v out, power switch. But I think this is going to turn out pretty good.

Audio amp before I cut it off

After I cut the amp off the bread board

 

[DuHasst0]

Did a whole bunch of cutting and case work. Unfortunately the epoxy I bought was old and hard so I have to take it back and get some new. I couldn't put any epoxy on the case to keep the controller front in so I have it hot glued in the corners for now. Drilled out the holes for av out and an external memory card port and wkf port.

Front of the case with lcd frame and controller waiting for epoxy.

Oh yeah my regs came in so those are installed and ready for power.

Using a full sized controller board since it's going to fit.

Memory Card av out and wkf ports

Wired my pcb for the batteries up. So far just have the charging port soldered straight to the board. I will be getting a switch so that I can have play and charge.

Waiting on 3ds sliders and for funds for plastic filler, paint and clear coat. So all this week when I have free time I will be wiring everything together.

 

[Blargaman91]

This looks really clean, and well organized. I like the whole controller face cut out in the unit.

 

[DuHasst0]

Thanks alot. It should make worrying the controller a bit easier. I have 2 dead iphone 3g phones so I may even throw in the rumble feature. There is still alot of work to be done in a way. Like just today I had a regulator die on me luckily when I got more I ordered an extra one. Then after replacing that I'm getting no video, but I remembered that I was having trouble finding the pin for audio just to make sure I had the right on from the ave n chip to the board. I think I'm going to have to write it straight to the chip and check that but that is after work and a busy weekend. But I was wondering if anyone browsing this thread could point to a solution or two so I can read it on break tonight? More pics soon.

EDIT: Forgot to mention I wrapped those batteries in electrical tape instead of the tape that was on them in the pic above.

 

[DuHasst0]

So haven't gotten around the to motherboard yet, work sucks. I did get some of the casework done tho. Got some epoxy in there. Got it everywhere cause it was thinner than what I was using at first. I will be going back to that other one for sure. Getting bondo later on to fill in any gaps and smooth everything on the front and back. I have been doing alot of thinking on how I was going to attempt the shoulder buttons and the analog part. I have a really good idea. My first idea would have worked if the button actually had legs. It would have been perfect too. Any way the pic I took off the epoxy didn't turn out and I'm really tired so I'm not going down there, more tomorrow.

Peace

 

[DuHasst0]

Alright, so I think my board may be just fine and I don't think I'm using a good wire or connection from when I solder my video wire. Then again I Maui have a short somewhere. Turned it on today after putting the heat sink fan on I have and it got pretty warm pretty quick in my opinion. But I could be wrong. I probably won't have time to do any work on her tonight either but I will try.

Anyway here is the front epoxied and ready for bondo.

 

[DuHasst0]

Ok so I am having some issues with my board. I am not getting any audio or video out. I haven't done much to it but take the ports out and wire power to it. I did wire the wkf but I removed it untill I can figure out wtf. I will post some shots of the board in just a few.

What do you think? I read that it could be a power thing. But it could be a short somewhere too.

 

[Ashen]

Are you powering it with the custom regulator shown? Have you tried with a stock regulator.

 

[DuHasst0]

Yes and no I haven't but the custom regs have an output of 5 3.3 1.7 and 1.5

 

[DuHasst0]

I should also state that I am getting voltage readings all over. I'm pretty sure they are all correct but I haven't checked with any guide I just know what port should have what voltage, ie: the memory card controller port area has 3.3v and 5v but unsure where it should be exactly cause didn't test while looking at a guide.

 

[DuHasst0]

I only had a chance to put the wires on the stock regs when I get home I will have to try it out I will post about how it goes from there.

 

[DuHasst0]

Ok so I may have found my issue but before I could do anything about it I noticed a large solder splash cleaned it up but snagged a component while doing so. I don't know what it was nor do I have any to replace it with. So I guess board one down. Maybe flipping through my zelda art book will cheer me up. Good news is a Co worker of mine is willing to give me a gc just so he can see it finished.

I have been showing the guys at work what I have been doing as well.

 

[DuHasst0]

So I looked over this board again, noticed quite a few missing components. Probably from my impatience before I started this log. But all markings looked to be for caps and I happen to have a board that may be popular has the worst fail rate. This board has a bunch of those kind of caps. Let's see if science is on my side today. I'm going to clean up the power port and try again

 

[DuHasst0]

Stock regs no video no audio. Last night wouldn't turn on, today I got it to turn on. Chips heat up, heat sink is turning. I have a feeling I'm missing something really easy.

Edit: while testing for voltage arose the dvd connector port, I killed my multi meter. Now it only reads 0.8.0 for any voltage and ohms are gone too. So I think that might be where my issues are now. I'll clean it out after lunch.

Edit 2: multimeter isn't dead just blown fuse. The meter died when I was checking for voltage on pin 10 of the disc drive connector port.

 

[DuHasst0]

So I have been thinking about this alot from yesterday. Was thinking if for some reason there is a short somewhere in the ports maybe cutting them off will solve this. Is this a sound theory or should I just wait for a chance to get a new board? I'm kinda feeling this still would be a great way to practice a trim either way though. Any ideas guys?

 

[thecasperrojas]

I had this problem before two times one was insufisian amp and the other was fried
EDIT: Also where are you soldering the av conections

 

[DuHasst0]

Re: Re: GCp worklog

I had this problem before two times one was insufisian amp and the other was fried
EDIT: Also where are you soldering the av conections

Ashen's trimming guide for the omwtf relocation, I also tried straight from chip and from the port itself.

Now my friend at work brought my a gc that he doesn't use. Just gave it to me for free cause he wants to see this done. With this one I removed one port at a time testing between everything is great. Tried to solder to alternate point(s) For video, nothing. Now I left the av port just in case, video works with av cable but not when wire is soldered to the alternative video spots. So I soldered to the pin underneath the av port, nothing plug the av cable in video. Wtf man, maybe I need to find video and go to the hardware store for a fuse for my multimeter.

 

[megalomaniac]

grounding issue on your video cable??