Hacking Nunchuck Mod

bluebright · Sep 25, 2007

Currently on school holidays (one more term left and I never have to go to school again) and was bored. I was itching to pull something apart and my nunchucks were the first to go.

FULL GALLERY

Idea came from this topic:

http://forums.nintendo-scene.com/index.php?topic=505.0

The soldering points on the nunchuck were the same size as DVD points. Tiny. I think anyone should try this. If you screw it up, its only another $30.

SPiko · Sep 25, 2007

I had some spare 3mm blue LEDs kicking around so I went ahead and did this. Pretty simple and it looks sweet.

rhyguy · Sep 25, 2007

thats pretty cool

stormbob · Sep 25, 2007

Good job, very nice.

bluebright · Sep 26, 2007

thanks. I think I should have done one of them red though...

zosh · Sep 26, 2007

Just a quick remark regarding your caption for image no. 4:

QUOTE said:
The Nunchuck outputs 3.3v and the LED is about 3.5v. Still is bright enough though. So, if I went with the 3mm I would have to find a resistor

With LEDs, resistors aren't just there to regulate voltage. LEDs must be supplied with correct current, so a resistor is mandatory.

xbandaidx · Sep 26, 2007

I'd imagine battery life drains faster doing this.

SPiko · Sep 26, 2007

QUOTE(xbandaidx @ Sep 26 2007 said:
I'd imagine battery life drains faster doing this.

Well ya, obviously. But not by much. The power draw of a 3mm LED is minimal.

berrrt · Sep 26, 2007

this looks pretty cool. i'm not much of a modder, but i guess i'm gonna try this one. just have to get a led somewhere

SPiko · Sep 26, 2007

QUOTE(berrrt @ Sep 26 2007 said:
this looks pretty cool. i'm not much of a modder, but i guess i'm gonna try this one. just have to get a led somewhere

I've always been a fan of lsdiodes.com

4saken · Sep 26, 2007

I remember seeing this on acidmods a long time ago

Does look pretty nice

gamez2003 · Sep 26, 2007

Just wondering but is there a limit to how many leds you have in the controller?

TLSpartan · Sep 26, 2007

QUOTE(gamez2003 @ Sep 26 2007 said:
Just wondering but is there a limit to how many leds you have in the controller?

You could put 100's in if you wanted to but then the battery life would get really short

bluebright · Sep 26, 2007

QUOTE(zosh @ Sep 26 2007 said:
Just a quick remark regarding your caption for image no. 4:

QUOTE said:

The Nunchuck outputs 3.3v and the LED is about 3.5v. Still is bright enough though. So, if I went with the 3mm I would have to find a resistor
With LEDs, resistors aren't just there to regulate voltage. LEDs must be supplied with correct current, so a resistor is mandatory.

Click to expand...

huh. Well, I believe you. I can't say I know a terrible lot about the science behind it. But, if the LED I'm using is working fine. You sure it's necessary?

zosh · Sep 26, 2007

QUOTE(mr fluff @ Sep 26 2007 said:
But, if the LED I'm using is working fine. You sure it's necessary?

Clear answer: Yes. Not to drag this thread too far off-topic:

LEDs are not "loads" like light bulbs, they are only to be used with regulated current. This current can come from a current-regulated power source, but the easiest way to regulate current is a resistor. If the current is unregulated, the LED will draw more and more until it burns out. Using resistors for a LED is a must, you should not get used to do it otherwise, at least when thinking about voltage and current, when it comes to LEDs.

"But" no. 1: You might have lucked out. Batteries bring along a resistor on their own (they are not "ideal power sources", and have "internal resistance"), so LEDs may work with batteries without a resistor. This does not neccessarily apply to rechargables, tho.

"But" no. 2: You might have lucked out. It is very possible that in the circuit you attach the LED to, there's already a resistor in line somewhere.

I recommend you read up some basics about loads and why diodes are not loads, and the difference and relationship between voltage and current. Knowing electronics will make you a better modder.

Wii_DS. · Sep 26, 2007

I was thinking of doing this but I've never used a Soldering Iron before.

bluebright · Sep 27, 2007

Hmm. Your learned ways interest me. Thanks Zosh, I'll do a bit more research on that.

MADKATZ99 · Sep 27, 2007

well, that whole resistor thing baffled me.
Where was that guys resistor in the tut? Was it built in or somthing?

2 years of electronics tought me nothing!

Nice nunchucks though

zosh · Sep 27, 2007

QUOTE(MADKATZ99 @ Sep 27 2007 said:
Where was that guys resistor in the tut? Was it built in or somthing?Â

No, LEDs with built-in resistors are available, but quite uncommon to regular modding applications. But, after a bit of looking around, no LED mods, neither for the Nunchuk nor for the Wiimote, go so far as to install a resistor with the LED. Obviously, the circuitry the LEDs attach to is current-regulated in one way or another, I assume there's enough resistors in the circuit to make it safe and people went ahead and measured the current already.

I just wanted to point out that when working with LEDs, you always have to think about resistors, not only to regulate the voltage but also to keep the current safe for the LED.

Geez, I didn't want to go so far as to make this topic about resistors. Sorry guys.

ZeWarrior · Sep 27, 2007

nice I might try that when I learn to solder

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