Print

[johnnywikked]

Very cool.
Infact, the best Wii related mod I've seen yet.

10/10, I can see many people doing exactly that. Well done!

[twistedsymphony]

I'm assuming you're using a 7805 5V driver to step down the power from the battery? if not you'll most likely burn out the LEDs in the sensor bar.

Even if you are using that step down converter you'd be better off building a circuit that steps UP the power from a couple of AAs (or AAAs or Cs or Ds or any other 1.5V battery). 7805s are only about 60% efficient, where as using a step UP converter is closer to 80% efficient.

I'd recommend this circuit here: http://www.ladyada.n...ake/mintyboost/

I understand why you went with the hardwired adapter but A detachable AA battery pack that plugs in with the same connector would be cool.

Another cool thing would be to wire up a USB Mini port, that way the sensor bar could be powered by something like the minty boost for wireless, or any available USB source using unmodified equipment that you can pick up at any store... you wouldn't have to worry about triple ply shrink wrap tube either, just using professional USB cable and you could even plug it right into the Wii's USB port.  

[twistedsymphony]

Are we talking about the same Mini USB connector?

I mean MINI-USB not "B"-USB


^there it is next to a full-sized USB connector, it looks to be a hair smaller then the connector you ended up using.

It's the same connector they use in many cell phones/PDAs/slim cameras/etc. it's built for tiny devices like the sensor bar.

[twistedsymphony]

the point is it's a standardized cable... if you loose the custom cable you built you'll have to build another one, if you loose a USB cable you can just go to the store and pick another one up.

USB can be used for data but many devices simply use it for power and nothing more... much like the wireless Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers.

not trying to step on your mod or anything, because it is cool. I'm just throwing around ideas for V2.

[kaidomac]

Wow, I'm glad I found this sub-forum!  I ordered an extra Wii sensor bar and stand earlier ($11 from Nintendo), looking forward to doing a wireless mod.  What I'd like to do is put 4 AAA batteries inline on the rear...anyone know where to get a good vertical battery holder?  It'd be sweet to integrate a charging plug too for using NiCads or NiMis.  Sickmods needs to get on this