Hardware running the wiimote off of wii power

[froggestspirit]

Hi, I'm attempting to build a somewhat portable wii. I have taken apart a wiimote, and I'm hoping to mount it on the inside, and cut a port for the classic controller. My main goal here is to have a port in the wii for a classic controller, and not needing to worry about the wiimote needing batteries. Can the wiimote run off of a 5V power supply if wired to one of the USB terminals?

 

[migles]

a wii mote takes 3V... (2 AA batteries) you will need to cut some power..

 

[froggestspirit]

a wii mote takes 3V... (2 AA batteries) you will need to cut some power..

is there an easy way to do that? maybe a common device I can take that piece out of?

 

[migles]

is there an easy way to do that? maybe a common device I can take that piece out of?

its probably super easy, i would like to say you just need to put a resistence, but since i know barely anything about electronic, i gonna call @FAST6191 he can probably answer this since its a basic thing..

(wait for his answer or someone else)

 

[froggestspirit]

I can atleast confirm that the usb power doesn't work, I tried wiring that up

 

[migles]

I can atleast confirm that the usb power doesn't work, I tried wiring that up

doing that, could fry your remote... if you apply over voltage to something, you may fry it and make it kaput... or at very least shortning it's life really fast...

 

[froggestspirit]

doing that, could fry your remote... if you apply over voltage to something, you may fry it and make it kaput... or at very least shortning it's life really fast...

i may have to pick up an offbrand one then

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maybe it can be wired up to one of the controller ports for gamecube? I think there's a part that runs at 3.3V or something

 

[endoverend]

I'd take a look at this pdf

http://wyxs.net/web/wiiscan/wiiscan/wiihardware.pdf

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Also this looks like exactly what you're looking for

http://www.dx.com/p/3600mah-usb-rec...for-wii-remote-controller-black-70799#reviews

 

[froggestspirit]

I'd take a look at this pdf

http://wyxs.net/web/wiiscan/wiiscan/wiihardware.pdf

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Also this looks like exactly what you're looking for

http://www.dx.com/p/3600mah-usb-rec...for-wii-remote-controller-black-70799#reviews

I want to put the wiimote inside of the wii, I removed the disc drive for extra space. I don't think a rechargeable battery pack would be good in this scenario

 

[FAST6191]

5V to 3V and only needing power/current for a wii remote should be quite doable with basic electronics-- the 5V is fixed so the classical two resistor thing would work, you might get there with modern regulators as well -- http://docs-europe.electrocomponents.com/webdocs/12c1/0900766b812c18ef.pdf . You would not be the first to want to power a standard 2 AA/AAA battery device from 5V USB either and as such you can probably find a device aimed at it, maybe even in a form that looks like two AA batteries but a quick search is coming up short.

What might be more interesting though is if there were ever any charge options for the expansion port on wii remotes.

 

[froggestspirit]

5V to 3V and only needing power/current for a wii remote should be quite doable with basic electronics-- the 5V is fixed so the classical two resistor thing would work, you might get there with modern regulators as well -- http://docs-europe.electrocomponents.com/webdocs/12c1/0900766b812c18ef.pdf . You would not be the first to want to power a standard 2 AA/AAA battery device from 5V USB either and as such you can probably find a device aimed at it, maybe even in a form that looks like two AA batteries but a quick search is coming up short.

What might be more interesting though is if there were ever any charge options for the expansion port on wii remotes.

what about something like this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/5pcs-HT7130...-LDO-SOT-89-/200973330590?hash=item2ecaf1a89e

 

[FAST6191]

They claim to be 30mA which is a tiny amount, enough for a basic sensor chip that really wants 3V or something but full on wii remote with bluetooth firing, a rumble pack/nunchuck, speaker and all the gubbins in the middle all sucking down juice at once is a bigger ask.

 

[froggestspirit]

They claim to be 30mA which is a tiny amount, enough for a basic sensor chip that really wants 3V or something but full on wii remote with bluetooth firing, a rumble pack/nunchuck, speaker and all the gubbins in the middle all sucking down juice at once is a bigger ask.

I plan on taking out some of the un-needed stuff since it will be mounted inside the wii, so I already removed the rumble motor. I could probably remove the IR sensor too

 

[FAST6191]

Depending upon the item/circuit then removing parts and not at least replacing them with a resistor is not always the best idea and frankly I would not go to the effort if you could instead spend a few cents more on a good regulator or use a resistor voltage divider (it is an elementary circuit https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/voltage-dividers ) or any of the other ways of changing voltage.
http://www.newark.com/webapp/wcs/st...503&pageSize=25&showResults=true&pf=811353644 has various ones which you can look at. http://www.newark.com/microchip/mcp1725-3002e-sn/ldo-voltage-regulator-500ma-3v/dp/17M0598 would be a cheaper one but I am not a particular fan of the low max input (6V there, USB is 5V and max tolerance is supposed to be 5V +-0.25 for the older stuff like the wii but I would want to do some tests on the Wii stuff).