Post by: pablot on December 29, 2006, 11:06:00 AM
What is needed:
- Tear down instructions for the Wii, found here
- An odd nintendo screw driver to open the Wii (explained in tear down instructions)
- A NPN transistor (2n3904 for example, can be bought at radioshack)
- A resistor in the range of 1k-10k ohms
- Some moderate soldering skills.
In this post you can see a schematic of how the light bar is controlled. Imidiately when you plug in power to the console you will get 12V through the resistor to the two LEDs that are connected in series. What turns the LEDs on/off is the NPN transistor that connects/disconnects them from ground. What we will do is add our own NPN transistor and control it so that the LEDs get a path to ground when the Wii is not in standby.
If you know nothing about transistors you can read about it here. What we need is a signal to that turns on the transistor (opens it up) when the Wii is not in standby. The best source I have found for this is the signal that controls the standby LED.
So we will simply connect the base of the transistor to the standby signal through the resistor. Connect the collector to the ground side of the LEDs and the emitter to ground. The picture below shows how to solder it. I haven't done this install in person as I don't have a Wii yet (
) so I can't show any install pictures. First one to do this mod will have to snap some pictures of it!
(click for a larger version)
As you can see there are test points to solder too, and those are easy enough to use. A top install is harder but if there is need for it I'll make a top side install diagram.
Happy hacking!
/pablot
Post by: kaidomac on December 30, 2006, 05:42:00 PM
Post by: grim_d on December 30, 2006, 05:48:00 PM
would this mod stop the fading (if you have a message) from working? or don't you know.
Post by: pablot on December 30, 2006, 05:28:00 PM
QUOTE(grim_d @ Dec 31 2006, 01:19 AM) 
very nice work my man.
would this mod stop the fading (if you have a message) from working? or don't you know.
well, if I have understood it correctly, the message pulse only shows when the console is off, right? So then this mod won't interfere at all. If the message still pulses when the console is on, well.. then it won't be shown.. since this mod makes turns the LEDs on full when the console is on, but its not harmful.
/pablot
Post by: grim_d on December 30, 2006, 05:33:00 PM
QUOTE(pablot @ Dec 31 2006, 12:35 AM)
well, if I have understood it correctly, the message pulse only shows when the console is off, right? So then this mod won't interfere at all. If the message still pulses when the console is on, well.. then it won't be shown.. since this mod makes turns the LEDs on full when the console is on, but its not harmful.
/pablot
well personally ive only seen the message pulse when my wii was on, in saying that, it was only once, and i did have a message waiting for me. I don't use wii-connect24 so i wouldnt see it when it was off anyway.
I just wondered if perhaps it returned control to the console in such an event, but i guess something more than a transistor would be required for this.
thanks.
Post by: SICKdimension on December 31, 2006, 12:59:00 AM
Post by: sicknasty413 on December 31, 2006, 02:28:00 AM
QUOTE(SICKdimension @ Dec 31 2006, 03:06 AM) 
Hehe, not too shabby. A tutorial from a guy who's never even seen a Wii. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
I always found that too be odd..He must be a smart one (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
Post by: SICKdimension on December 31, 2006, 05:35:00 AM
QUOTE(sicknasty413 @ Dec 31 2006, 12:59 AM)
I always found that too be odd..He must be a smart one
Ya. He doesn't own a 360 either. I wonder where how he figures all this out?
Post by: bigjimmy on December 31, 2006, 02:46:00 PM
QUOTE
A tutorial from a guy who's never even seen a Wii.
Hmmm interesting......but either way, kool mod!
Post by: sicknasty413 on December 31, 2006, 02:58:00 PM
QUOTE(SICKdimension @ Dec 31 2006, 07:42 AM)
Ya. He doesn't own a 360 either. I wonder where how he figures all this out? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)
He must be the 2nd coming of Jesus...
Post by: bigjimmy on December 31, 2006, 03:03:00 PM
QUOTE
He must be the 2nd coming of Jesus...
The console gods sent him......
Post by: pablot on December 31, 2006, 07:22:00 PM
Have a good new years everyone!
/p
Post by: liquid-core on December 31, 2006, 10:31:00 PM
QUOTE(sicknasty413 @ Dec 31 2006, 01:29 PM)
He must be the 2nd coming of Jesus...
I have Jesus on my Wii. Maybe thats how he figures it out.
*Knocks on Wii asking if Pablot is home*
Btw, Happy New Years.
O'Malley
Post by: SirLink01 on April 09, 2007, 05:17:00 PM
Thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Post by: atomiX on April 09, 2007, 06:14:00 PM
Post by: SirLink01 on April 10, 2007, 05:36:00 PM
Just thought... I am anxious to give this a try!
Post by: j3y q on April 11, 2007, 05:05:00 PM
Post by: pablot on April 14, 2007, 07:01:00 AM
Post by: SirLink01 on April 15, 2007, 12:47:00 PM
Drew up a schematic if anyone needs...
Thanks for the mod Pablot!
Post by: pablot on April 15, 2007, 10:41:00 PM
Post by: b15ginz on April 16, 2007, 08:49:00 AM
or on when the wii is on?
Post by: pablot on April 16, 2007, 10:50:00 AM
Post by: throwingks on April 29, 2007, 07:16:00 PM
I.E. Higher value resistor = dimmer light?
Post by: pablot on May 02, 2007, 11:40:00 PM
QUOTE(throwingks @ Apr 30 2007, 03:52 AM)
In the case of the resistor, what difference will we see depending on the value?
I.E. Higher value resistor = dimmer light?
you can use it somewhat in that way, but its not good and often fails.. if you want to dim a led you have to use a PWM
Post by: Wii Modder on July 05, 2007, 11:39:00 PM
anything wrong?
Post by: throwingks on July 06, 2007, 07:25:00 AM
Is that an NPN or PNP?
What is the value of the resistor?
Is it upside down?
As in E soldered to C and C soldered to E.
Your B look right.
Post by: throwingks on July 06, 2007, 05:35:00 PM
It is supposed to be right.
I was asking if you did on accident.
Post by: Wii Modder on July 06, 2007, 09:54:00 PM
Problems:
1. when wii is turned on and then trans put back on, works fine but light is still on at standby
2. solder pad came off the wii (how can i fix it?)
3. if trans hooked up and i turn the wii off it wont turn back on (wait let me check that, nope nvm itll turn back on)
4. dont know where esle to solder the B point to.
Post by: Jamsaus on July 08, 2007, 06:25:00 AM
Post by: SICKdimension on July 10, 2007, 01:41:00 AM
QUOTE(Jamsaus @ Jul 8 2007, 06:01 AM)
Umm.. I was just thinking that could anyone tell me if this ---> http://img527.images...jutut003ah8.jpg <--- transistor is good?
Yes, that transistor will work.
To Wii Modder, it looks like it could short out on the screw hole there when the screw is inserted. Other than that, provided you did use a NPN resistor, and not PNP, it looks right. The problem with the solder pad coming off is a problem though. I'm not sure where else to use for that.
Pablot (original poster) won't have internet access for a few weeks, but he might be able to give further input then.
Post by: SICKdimension on July 11, 2007, 09:47:00 PM
Post by: SICKdimension on July 12, 2007, 01:45:00 AM
Post by: japanwings on July 18, 2007, 08:47:00 AM
Post by: SICKdimension on July 18, 2007, 11:41:00 AM
QUOTE(japanwings @ Jul 18 2007, 08:23 AM)
Ok, i did this mod but a little more "compact"
Nice. And everything works as it should?
Post by: japanwings on July 19, 2007, 12:28:00 PM
QUOTE(SICKdimension @ Jul 18 2007, 08:17 PM)
Nice. And everything works as it should?
Yes, works perfect.
Post by: sicknasty413 on August 02, 2007, 02:12:00 AM
(IMG:http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i293/sicknasty413/Wii%20Mods/SNC10849.jpg)
...That's not the final picture. It looked a lot better, I promise!
I actually had a lot of trouble with this mod. Ended up disassembling the Wii like 3 times. Ended up retouching all the points and going overboard with electrical tape. Then it worked!
Good stuff though pablot, my friend was very happy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Post by: Koga on February 02, 2020, 10:35:00 PM
So, from the advice you all gave Wii Modder I assume I have a point that's grounding to metal somewhere.
I accidentally got some solder on TP51 (directly beneath point C for the transistor) but I think I removed it sufficiently. You can see in the pic it looks pretty clean now.
(IMG:http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p266/Rockguard/Wii/Wiitraylightalwayson2.jpg)
Any thoughts? I felt like it should have been good to go but obviously not...
Any help is appreciated!
Post by: SICKdimension on December 07, 2007, 02:11:00 AM
Post by: Koga on February 03, 2020, 07:46:00 AM
Post by: Koga on December 07, 2007, 07:46:00 PM
I then added some electrical tape over everything but I still got the same scenario with the console just shutting itself off when I pressed the power button.
I removed the whole mod and my Wii operates properly, so it's definitely something with my layout. I'm just not sure what it could be.
Something to note: with the mod installed and the Wii not working, whenever I plug it in the standby button looks red, however with the mod removed and the Wii working fine the standby button looks yellow/orange. Is the red color something to troubleshoot off of? Or is it just a "problem" type issue?
Post by: Koga on December 08, 2007, 08:33:00 PM
I'm wondering, is this mod 100% compatible with all Wii systems? The only thing I can think to try is swap out the transistor just in case for some reason it's bad/the culprit.
Any thoughts?
Post by: throwingks on December 08, 2007, 09:09:00 PM
I am leaving the posts alone. No need to merge, you can tell by the time stamps you were respectful.
Post by: SICKdimension on December 09, 2007, 02:36:00 AM
Post by: Koga on December 09, 2007, 11:56:00 AM
Here are two pics of the current non-working mod:
Is there a difference between a "2N3904" and a "2n3904" transistor from RadioShack? I could only find the "N", not the "n" as stated in the directions, but I assumed they were the same.
I have the transistor placed with the flat side against the pcb, so I believe I'm reading it correctly with the collector on the left and the emitter on the right.
I'm about out of ideas here.
Post by: pablot on December 10, 2007, 11:18:00 AM
Post by: kmccann on February 04, 2008, 02:20:00 PM
QUOTE(Koga @ Dec 7 2007, 12:35 AM)
I installed this mod the other night but unfortunately I'm having an issue. It sounds like the same problem Wii Modder had/has. When I plug the Wii in, the standby light is on and as soon as I try to power it up, both the power light and the disc light bar flash on and then immediately the whole system shuts down. I have to unplug the power cable from the back of the console to get it back to where it started.
So, from the advice you all gave Wii Modder I assume I have a point that's grounding to metal somewhere.
I accidentally got some solder on TP51 (directly beneath point C for the transistor) but I think I removed it sufficiently. You can see in the pic it looks pretty clean now.
*IMAGE NOT INCLUDED*
Any thoughts? I felt like it should have been good to go but obviously not...
Any help is appreciated!
Hey, I know this post is a little old but I just did this mod on a Wii over the weekend with the same results (install mod > power on > lights flash > system shuts down). However, I was able to fix mine and since I stumbled across this thread as I was trying (unsuccessfully) to find someone with a solution I figured I would contribute. My initial setup was a 2n3904 and a 1/2 Watt 1K Ohm resistor (both from RadioShack). I decided to buy some other components and give them a try before I went with the far less impressive "ground the led board anywhere on the wii" mod. Lucky for me, my first guess turned out to be right. I swapped out my 1/2 Watt 1K Ohm resistor with a 1/4 Watt 3.3K Ohm resistor and everything worked exactly like it should (LED always on with the system on and off when the system is in standby and off). Now, I do not know if the issue was the 1/2 Watt vs the 1/4 Watt (original mod never made any note of wattage that I saw) or the 1K Ohm vs the 3.3K Ohm (original mod said anything from 1K to 10K was fine as I recall), but my suggestion to anyone doing this mod is to go in the middle of the 1K to 10K Ohm range with a 1/4 Watt resistor.
Summary of my working LED always on mod:
-2n3904 NPN Transistor
-1/4 Watt 3.3K Ohm resistor
-Exact same schematic as the original mod
GOOD LUCK!!!
Post by: V0rt3k on December 18, 2009, 05:06:00 PM
I am using a wii with firmware 4.1