DS to DSlite charger converter?

[testinga]

Ok. So I found a really weird accessory which charges the GBA SP and original DS using a solar panel. It's stuck with those two models since they are the only ones with that charging cable (ntr-002). However, I only have the DS lite, and I won't buy another one just for this.
The DS and DS lite have almost exactly the same hardware and the lite draws more power, so it should be possible to use the cable out of the solar panel but with a new connector.
I couldn't just literally cut off the cable and add the new connector, I'm pretty sure you can't connect two random sets of wires and expect it work... The easiest way would be like one of those thingies that change USB to Apple for phones, but instead it's for DS's
It probably doesn't exist, though.

Also just to make ot clear, I don't have it yet, and the only website I found it on the seller doesn't ship internationally

 

[IC]

I couldn't just literally cut off the cable and add the new connector, I'm pretty sure you can't connect two random sets of wires and expect it work...

That would actually be the easiest solution if you have even the most basic soldering skills, just cut off the GBA connector and solder on a DS lite one from one of those cheap USB cables or something. Of course, the entire thing would be just as sketchy as using those USB cables, perhaps you've heard some of those discussions about USB ports providing a slightly higher voltage than the DS has written on it, and potentially being able to damage the DS (I don't think this has ever been confirmed), but judging the quality of the product from the pictures you provided, I wouldn't expect it to be 100% conforming to the standards of the GBASP/DS charger either.

 

[Alexander1970]

With the few Hours of sunshine in Central Europe, it would take weeks to charge a Nintendo DS...

 

[KleinesSinchen]

To your initial question: I agree with @IC_: Cutting off the connector from a cheap DS Lite charging cable should work. Even a method without soldering is possible. Twirling the the loose ends of two cables together and wrapping it in insulation tape. Verify correct polarity with a multimeter before plugging in a self-made cable
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I have to add my lengthy comments on devices like this. Please be careful with such accessories. I've seen such things – a small powerbank with some solar cells on one side "to charge the powerbank in the sun". It may look like a weird but cool thing – but let's have a look at some problems:

A) Solar Constant (anything but constant), PV energy output and overall engery efficiency

With clear weather and bright sunlight, we can get about 1000 Watt per square meter. If you solar panel has an efficiency of 15%-20% you get the idea what power you can harvest from 1m² under best conditions: 150W to 200W. That is the usual "up to […]"-marketing phrase. We have no idea how efficient the PV in such a gimmick is. Now measure the size of a powerbank and the tiny PV module. The measuring tape slipped a bit, but you get the idea: a bit more than 9cm length and 6cm width.​

​

Let's be generous and assume a bigger, maybe folding, solar panel of 0.1m x 0.1m → 0.01m² which delivers 1.5W to 2.0W at best. This power has to run through a charge controller. Means: We'll lose some energy through that as well.​

Notice something? I always assumed the best case in this small write-up. In practice your solar panel might be smaller, of poor quality/efficiency, you won't have the sun in zenith all the time. All that together means you'll have a hard time charging a DS – if it even accepts very low currents.​

B) Heat and Li-ion

Let's face another problem: We want to use PV, so the device must be in bright sunlight. The thing will get hot. Lithium-ion batteries do not like this. They age very quickly when hot and will fail very early if charged in bright sunlight regularly. The powerbank example apparently has this problem as the PV and the battery are parts of the same device. One can't store the battery in shade and the solar panel in sunlight. The GB/DS charger might offer this option, even with a small cable (putting a white piece of paper on the GB/DS to reflect most of the sunlight and keep the console cooler.​

I've no idea how the charger would compensate for the unsteady energy delivery of sunlight (small cloud passing by). At minimum it will need some capacitors to prevent drops and spikes before feeding the electricity to charging controller. Maybe it has its own battery (and therefore is a powerbank having the heat problem in sunlight)​

All in all: This device is a gimmick, might be fun to use and even a fun project to adapt it to a different device, but is is not environmentally friendly and not economical to use such a thing.

 

[testinga]

All in all: This device is a gimmick, might be fun to use and even a fun project to adapt it to a different device, but is is not environmentally friendly and not economical to use such a thing.

Yes, there are definitely many problems with the accessory in general, but I believe it was meant to charge slowly and be a backup battery, even being able to charge it directly. I managed to find more info, and it turns out the cable is short and detachable, as long as I can find one with the proper ends it should work...

"The shortest charging period you can expect is 8 hours when the unit is placed in strong direct sunlight."
source: aoaforums review of the recharger (it doesn't let me send the link because I only have 3 posts so far )

Interesting that they say the thing is accessible in many stores, I can barely find it anywhere
Images are of the cables and the dc input

 

[KleinesSinchen]

"The shortest charging period you can expect is 8 hours when the unit is placed in strong direct sunlight."
source: aoaforums review of the recharger (it doesn't let me send the link because I only have 3 posts so far *****)

Well, 8 hours sounds not too bad… but again: The best case.
I didn't find the source. Can you obfuscate the link a bit (leaving out http:// and put a few blanks into the rest of the URL)?

Interesting that they say the thing is accessible in many stores, I can barely find it anywhere
Images are of the cables and the dc input

A charger for GBA SP and DS "Phat" is something pretty old in the terms of gaming consoles (everything more a year out of production is considered to be old nowadays, but that is another topic). You can't expect it to be readily available. Found this as well: Has some more pictures.
https://videogame.brando.com/solar-charger-for-psp-nds-gba-sp-gba_p00096c0006d006.html
Interesting is that this little powerbank looks just like a GBA SP. Definitely cool as long as you keep your expectations realistic. One last thing: The device is old and so is the internal battery. Who knows if it still works correctly if you manage to get this thing.

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If you want to play around with something similar you could as well search for any other powerbank with solar panel. A normal powerbank will have a standard USB-A connector and you can use readily available "USB→proprietary Nintendo connector" adapters.

 

[testinga]

Well, here is the link:
https://aoaforums.com/frontpage/com...ew-logic-3-solar-charger-for-psp-ds-a-sp.html

I just saw how ridiculous the idea and small design is. I could just get a normal powerbank with a solar panel, but the reason it's interesting is that it was made over a decade ago and specifically for this. Even if it would be dead when I got it, I'd be happy with it.
Yet another thing, I managed to actually find a converter on ebay, and it's only 13GBP, exactly what I was thinking of

 

[testinga]

The thing is I've found and bought a few of these weird 3rd party accessories and there's a few online stores in Europe that still just happen to have them, despite selling mainly newer items. However, this solar charger seemed to be a really small release since i can't even find many mages, let alone someone selling it