Raspberry pi gameboy [Archive]

dasimpson

26-11-2012, 15:14

i recently got a raspberry pi and after many ideas for a case and none of them working.
i come across retroman's thread on using an old gameboy as a case doner to the project and i thoght that is exactly what i have been looking for.
a few problems i come across was getting a gameboy that would not cost me the earth ended winning one on ebay for £6.67 so not all that bad.
my next problem was what do i do about a screen.
well a quick look around the raspberry pi forum's lead me to the 3.5" reversing tft screens.
these look ideal so i orderd one but with a higher resalution then the one shown.
i did not think this would be a problem and that they be to much difference between the units.
when i recived it i proceded to do the 5 volt mod.
here was my 2nd problem the unit wont run on 5 volts i just get a white screen trust me to get the one that would be a pain.
then laid in bed that night i had a eureka moment.
i had used a dc-dc inverter awhile back for charging my mobile from 3.7v li-ion that could be ajusted from the input voltage upto 9 volts.
but this would mean i would need 2 of them one for the rpi and one for the screen.
then is accured to me that the screen has a built in voltage regulator and i could run the pi from that.
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=148&d=1353947994
here is a photo of most the large parts so far to fit into the game boy.
the battery pack is 4 x 5000mah 18650 for a total of 20000mah (20ah)
i dont have the game boy just yet to show lacation of were the parts will be but they is some sanding and removing of parts on the rpi to be done as well as the lcd's pcb
ill try to post more as i go along and keep you all updated

dasimpson

27-11-2012, 17:34

well i have done a little work today i have sanded the rpi a little so it will fit in the gameboy case the way i wont here is a photo of the work
befor
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=152&d=1354041529
this pic is not mine but from the rpi website i did not think to take a befor picture oops
after
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=151&d=1354040934
i could not get hold of a dremal or a tool like it so i used double sided tape to stick some sand paper onto a gear on the end of a motor see photo below
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=150&d=1354040926
i will show the orientation as soon as the game boy arrives

dasimpson

27-11-2012, 22:25

just when things start going well something always comes around to bite you on the ass.
while shrinking the lcd pcb i have managed to kill it.
another is on its way but this just sets things back alittle and another extra cost but i wont be counting this in the final totals for this project

dasimpson

01-12-2012, 23:18

i have made some more progress on the game boy case now i have it here are a few pics of work done and some layout
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=166&d=1354407955
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=167&d=1354407989
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=163&d=1354407851
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=169&d=1354409964
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=168&d=1354409953
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=164&d=1354407894
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=165&d=1354407923

RetromanIE

02-12-2012, 23:59

Looking good,
Looks like Retrovia is becoming the home of Game Boy/Raspberry Pi mods :have a nice day:

dasimpson

03-12-2012, 13:56

lol i had noticed that kind of a good thing we can all swap war stories lol

dasimpson

03-12-2012, 13:58

at the moment im just waiting on a replacment screen got i hate waiting but if you wont cheap china it is

dasimpson

03-12-2012, 23:36

well my mod has come to an end on connecting power to the gpio pins tonight i slipped up and cannected it on the wrong pins my raspberry pi has died reast in peace pi was good while it lasted

RetromanIE

04-12-2012, 06:26

well my mod has come to an end on connecting power to the gpio pins tonight i slipped up and cannected it on the wrong pins my raspberry pi has died reast in peace pi was good while it lasted

Leave the pi for a couple of days and try it again.
it has been known to come back from things like this.

dasimpson

04-12-2012, 12:35

i sure hope so cont afford another at moment and due to be laid of on the 14th so going to have to be put on hold on good news the screen has arrived well kind of it is at the post office waiting for me to pick it up

dasimpson

04-12-2012, 12:37

i was not paying full attenton and cannectec the power to the pin 1 (3.3v) and pin 5 (gpio1) instead of pin 2 (5v) and pin 6 (ground) i was connecting this way because i had removed the power connector, lan and usb to make it fit the game boy how i wonted

dasimpson

04-12-2012, 16:52

well on a good note the screen is a 5 volt capable and is esay to mod unlike my last one that i killed the pcd on and i still have the listing for it it is a 640x480 one like foobar has upon looking at the ribbon cable i dont think it can do 640x480

dasimpson

04-12-2012, 22:13

well the pi maybe dead but work goes on.
the new screen in and hot glued in place pcb yet to mod did not feel like doing it today.
the dead pi in place of were the working one will be.
i found you can safely remove about 3mm of the pcb ethier side with out killing the pi but puting power on the wrong pins will kill it lol we live and learn.
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=170&d=1354662348
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=171&d=1354662776
as you can see above the hole is a little bigger then the screen think many will have this same problem at the sides anyway.
im trying to work out something to use as a small bead around the egde to tiday it up a bit after all work is done i will be spraying the hole thing black so alot more prep work to do yet.

dasimpson

09-12-2012, 23:25

a bit more work done on the mod will soon have another pi to get further along also just waiting on a higher ampage dc inverter
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=173&d=1355098949
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=172&d=1355098940
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=174&d=1355098956

dasimpson

10-12-2012, 13:55

it is very surprising what you can fit in here.
any one who says they don't have room are doing it wrong lol.
i have yet to fit a usb hub, wifi dongle, wireless keyboard dongle and maybe a large storage pen drive.
i need to wire up the buttons that going to be the easy part the hard part is doing the coding to make them work.
alot of sanding prep work and spray it black.
after all that only coding work should be needed.

dasimpson

06-01-2013, 18:19

just another update lol dc invter arrived still working out on were to put it and were to run wires have not ben able to get a new rpi just yet i was laid off in december of last year so the penny watching has started

dasimpson

12-01-2013, 05:33

very good news for you all the new raspberry pi has been paid for just waiting on delivery also got to rework the case as i have decided to keep the lan port but remove the usb ports as they stick out way to far

dasimpson

22-01-2013, 18:53

well time for an update sorry about the poor qality photos i just couldent get the light right more work needed on taking photos i think but here we are battery connected buck converter in new pi in screen connected
what you see on screen is raspbain couldent find my openelec sd also need a few hints how i could make the gui a bit more readable done config settings and when fully booted jumps to a diff res anyway here are the photos
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=175&d=1358884050
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=179&d=1358884083
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=178&d=1358884073
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=177&d=1358884064
http://www.retrovia.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=176&d=1358884057

alot of filling to do were i have cut to much out and prep work to be done

dasimpson

24-01-2013, 17:18

well my project is comming very close to been done i have the gameboy buttons working and controling xbmc i cheated i tulk an old keypard apart worked out what pin sequnce gives what kaypress and then soldered that to the buttons i have up down left right select is back start is enter a is the latter a and b is the latter be hopefully that will allow me to run an emulator for games i just wish they was a simpler way to put media on it rather then over the network this may be solved at a later date if the right usb pen comes along but i can fun and external hdd off the usb port if i need just need to work out some way of doing a video of it to show you the results still a few little kinks to fix like making film titles readable in xbmc other then that it works

dasimpson

26-01-2013, 18:16

i have just done a video for you all i am very very sorry about camera control i was using my phone it is the only way i have to record anyway i hope it is enoth for you all to see what i hace done and explain a bit more any questions just ask away the link goes to my drop box account were i hope you will be able to download it
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5lhkg6mwuvjpd1a/MOV00141.3GP
hope you all enjoy

dasimpson

26-01-2013, 21:28

it would seem my betterys are not really holding what they say they do im going to have to do further testing

dasimpson

26-01-2013, 21:41

good job i have 8 li-ions from a dead laptop i scrapped will have to give them a try and double chech run times doh word of warning dont by 18650 from ebay you dont know what your getting

Bryn

29-01-2013, 13:46

Excellent video, Gameboy looks amazing :)

dasimpson

29-01-2013, 13:49

thank you means alot first mod i have done to anything

Bryn

06-03-2013, 08:09

Hi Dasimpson,

I'm trying this mod myself and I happen to have got myself the same screen as you.

Could you give me some advice on how much of the screen board I can cut to fit it into the gameboy case - currently got it vertical but is too close to the buttons for my liking :)

Thanks in advance!

dasimpson

06-03-2013, 15:54

dasimpson

06-03-2013, 16:05

also I had 2 diferent screens with diferent pcbs in this build so need to know which one you have

dasimpson

06-03-2013, 16:07

im waiting on the money to get a new Gameboy and screen been a bit careless and broke the screen the Gameboy case is looking to tatty now
I have also removed the lan port on my pi and the lan chip to bring power down I kinda give up on the project as I could not shrink the front end down to make it veiwable

Bryn

07-03-2013, 15:18

the simpler option is this screen http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-new-3-5-inch-TFT-LCD-Color-display-screen-Car-reverse-Rearview-Monitor-CZ8-/190806793134?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item2c6cf89bae

but if you really need the mod the one you have I will take a photo of mine or whats left of it I cracked the screen but still have the pcb I will try my best to explain what to do

if you could send me a full photo of the pcb I could draw a line for the cut and were the wires need to be joined but I do have to worn you you will loose the ability to control brightness etc

Thanks mate, looking at that other screen i might just leave this one in tact and buy the simpler one - this is my first attempt and think might be wise to make it as simple as possible :)

Least I can then use the first screen for something else - got a couple of gamegears spare...

dasimpson

07-03-2013, 15:34

sounds a good idea if I decide to finish the mod ill be using the other screen I have scene it used in a Gameboy mod but forgot were

Devinw

29-03-2013, 14:03

If you are still monitoring this thread, have you ever thought of making a quick list of the supplies you used to make this? Including tools, wires, screens batteries and everything. I've been planning on doing this for months now and it would be for my High School Senior Project which determines if i graduate or not.

I plan on going into computer science and i love this kind of stuff but i am not quite as good as most of the people on these forums. Its overwhelming seeing the video you posted earlier with all the wires and craziness.

The reason i ask for a list is so i can start ordering everything because i have to have this done by may 1st. If you would consider quickly jotting down what you used i would be the most grateful 17 year old in the world.

dasimpson

29-03-2013, 18:46

ill crack on with a list for you asap most my tools were made as I went along to do set jobs

these I know you will need
dremel or some kind of hobby drill with cutting and grinding bits
soldering iron
cat5 cable or ide cables
battery well an old laptop battery is good for this
old keyboard unless you better an programming then me and can work gpio out
infact drop me a pm ill give you my skaype and we can talk about it there if you like

dasimpson

29-03-2013, 22:01

this screen is a little more expensive then others but they is no need to cut the pcb only mod it to 5 volts all codes are ebey item numbers
my battery system is 3.7 volt easyer to charge
lcd
261120355026
charging unit
251066719498
li-ion protection circuit
230899880022
3v dc boost circuit
390551997712
for the li-ion i got old laptop battery after been ripped off for higher capacity ones on ebay

dasimpson

29-03-2013, 22:04

for cutting i used a motor ajustable eletrical block and a cutting disk and shaft from a dremel for sanding i stuck some sand paper onto an old plastic gear and stuck that onto the shaft they should be a picture of it and that is mainky the only tool i used other then a soldering iron and a multi meter

Devinw

02-04-2013, 18:07

Thank you soo much for the list, my gameboy came in the mail yesterday so im going to start taking it apart and planning while i order the items on the list. Ill let you know how it goes thank you!

dasimpson

02-04-2013, 18:15

cool and good luck why don't you make a thread here for your build log and a place to ask for help

Devinw

02-04-2013, 20:30

I could very well do that, my cousin will be helping me thankfully but ill have it started this weekend. I know we will run into things like how to wire the buttons and maybe some programming questions so a thread would be a good idea.

dasimpson

02-04-2013, 20:31

if you mean gpio wireing and program im at a loss that's why I used the keyboard controller

Devinw

03-04-2013, 20:01

Damn none of those items you listed ship to the U.S! Oh well ill just have to look for similar ones haha.

EDIT: Also ive never used ebay before, it seems i can only bid on items? I dont really have time to bid and wait, and then have it shipped. So for the LCD screen did you take it apart or anything? Just curious because http://www.amazon.com/HDE%C2%AE-3-5-TFT-Monitor-Automobile/dp/B005JSMM9K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1365019589&sr=8-2&keywords=3.5%22+TFT+LCD This one doesnt look like you can take off the plastic case to get just the screen like you can with the LCD screen you used.

Also for the batteries, How many do i need? Would http://www.amazon.com/UltraFire-3000mAh-Rechargeable-Battery-Charger/dp/B004LHFU62/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365020069&sr=8-1&keywords=PCB+Charger+for+Single+Li-ion+Cell+3.7V Work?
It comes with two and a charger and i can buy another two if needed.

For the protection circuit/board charger there only seems to be one of this kind available, how many would i need and is this ok? http://www.amazon.com/7-2v7-4v-Lithium-battery-protection-board/dp/B009S37XF0/ref=sr_1_28?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1365020431&sr=1-28&keywords=Battery+Protection+Board+Charger

Could you also explain to me what a li-ion is and how do i buy one. You said you got yours off an old laptop you had? I dont have a laptop i can take apart so what is it so i know what to buy? I'm getting flat cell phone looking batteries and AA looking batteries so im not sure which.

dasimpson

03-04-2013, 21:43

lcd you listed has 4 screws in the back I had to cut the pcb to make it fit not to hard to do when you know what your doing
the ultrafire batterys you looked at are li-ion batterys the pcb protection circuit you only need one for parallel connected batterys I have one for ten 18650 batterys in parallel I then use a mobile booster circuit to take the 3.7 volt to 5 volt

to find the ports look at the numbers then take the name search ebay us for items of same name and click buyitnow I don't bid for things if I can help it

no http://www.amazon.com/7-2v7-4v-Lithium-battery-protection-board/dp/B009S37XF0/ref=sr_1_28?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1365020431&sr=1-28&keywords=Battery+Protection+Board+Charger is no good as this is for 2 li-ions in series not parallel series connection ups the voltage but keep the amp hour rating the same parallel connection keeps the voltage the same but doubles the amp hour rating

2 batterys in series for 7.2 will run the screen your could then run wires from the 5 volt capacitor in the screen to the the raspberry pi to power it
if you geet the ultrafire batterys they have built in protection circuits so you wont need another one you only need the protection circuit if the battery does not have it's own

dasimpson

03-04-2013, 21:54

if you look at my very first photo that is 4 18650 lion batterys in parallel for more amp hours it then goes to a dc to dc boost circuit this uped it to 6 volts for the screen I then ran 5 volt from the screen to the pi

Devinw

04-04-2013, 18:39

How many watts or how strong does my soldering iron need to be?
http://www.amazon.com/Neiko-40420L-Tooluxe-Cordless-Soldering/dp/B002GQCYUK/ref=sr_1_11?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1365099447&sr=1-11&keywords=soldering+iron
This looks nice and cheap but again i dont know if its strong enough.

http://www.amazon.com/Round-UDMA-133-Cable-Black/dp/B00415U2BW/ref=sr_1_cc_3?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1365099643&sr=1-3-catcorr&keywords=ide+cable
Is this the IDE cable you talked about?

You also said something about the batteries i listed and how they are li-ion batteries, do i still need these? I'm not sure what batteries i need and what pcb protection circuit i need.

If i buy batteries what do i put them on to that can draw the power from them? Like if you put batteries into your remote control it has the two receiving ends you know what i mean?

Sorry for the stupid questions, i am trying to understand what you are saying, i re-read over and over again and sometimes i just dont understand what you mean, i read i think that you said you were dyslexic, so i completely understand. My apologies for asking so much.

Devinw

04-04-2013, 19:17

How important is the New DC-DC Converter Step Up Module 3V to 5V 1A USB Charger for MP3/MP4 Phone WST.

It takes en entire month to ship from everywhere i look, both amazon and ebay. I dont have an entire month to wait for some small $2 piece thats... a bit silly.

dasimpson

04-04-2013, 19:46

battery wise space is a problem hence 18650 li-ion batterys
the li-ion batterys you were looking don't need the protection circuit

if you don't mind taking the Gameboy apart all the time to charge batterys you could run them in series producing 7.2volt this would stop the need for dc -dc boost circuit
you run the 7.2v into the lcd screen on the screen they will be a 5v capacitor solder 2 wires onto it then run them to the raspberry pi

battery powered soldering iron are not the best they tend to go flat to fast as I have one I tend to use a a 15watt mains soldering iron for pcb work and a 30watt or higher for larger surface soldering

how I connected the batterys if you look at the photo you will see the 3mm doubled sided tape I used to hold power terminals top and bottom but also act as a spring to hold good connection

also any wire wil do as long as it is flexable and not solid core solid core with opening and closing will soon break

Devinw

04-04-2013, 22:25

Alright, i dont mind if i have to take it apart because i only need this to work for a 5 minute presentation! After than i dont care if it works or not haha.

I was thinking of just putting a video game emulator and some games on a flash drive and popping that into the side of the gameboy when its all finished and showing that off. And then plugging an Ethernet cable in for internet and showing how that works too. I would like wireless but i dont think that will be very easy.

Also in the very first picture with the batteries, are they in the original gameboys holding things? like where you would normally put the batteries in the back?