Modding a Sensor Bar to be AC/DC Powered

[saulin]

Hey guys to mod a Wii Sensor bar can I just use a 7.5W, 1A power supply?

7.5W 1A Power Supply

Like can I just wire the cables from the power supply to the Sensor bard and it should power up?

I heard the sensor bar uses 7.5W and some people use Resistors or other things in between to lower the voltage to 7.5W but if I have already the 7.5W can I just solder the wires?

I want to use the original sensor bar for the Dolphin Emulator

 

[JuanMena]

Doesn't Sensor Bar uses 12V?

I think there's a special USB Sensor Bar exclusively for Dolphin.
Buy one. It'll be easier than trying to mod this. I don't know if you'll need a USB protocol so Bar comunicates with Dolphin... unless it's all via Bluetooth.

 

[bobmcjr]

Doesn't Sensor Bar uses 12V?

I think there's a special USB Sensor Bar exclusively for Dolphin.
Buy one. It'll be easier than trying to mod this. I don't know if you'll need a USB protocol so Bar comunicates with Dolphin... unless it's all via Bluetooth.

The sensor bar does nothing by itself. It's just infrared LEDs so any USB one will work (although 3rd party ones, including my DolphinBar at least, tend to burn out).

Per https://www.consolemods.org/wiki/Wii:Connector_Pinouts

The connector nominally outputs 12v, but the power supply circuitry makes it drop to around 7-7.5v under load.

If I remember correctly the Wii PWMs 12V down to the appropriate voltage and likely does some smoothing.

 

[JuanMena]

The sensor bar does nothing by itself. It's just infrared LEDs so any USB one will work (although 3rd party ones, including my DolphinBar at least, tend to burn out).

Per https://www.consolemods.org/wiki/Wii:Connector_Pinouts

If I remember correctly the Wii PWMs 12V down to the appropriate voltage and likely does some smoothing.

So you're saying that any led will work with Dolphin?
Wouldn't be more viable to do the candles trick then, instead of using a sensor bar?

 

[Izual Urashima]

I'd recommend buying one over modding one, mostly for previously cited reasons.

Oh, and obligatory Highway to Hell mention.

 

[saulin]

I want to use the real sensor bar. I bought a USB one for like $10 and noticed 2 of the lights are not working

I'm pretty sure people modding these ones say it uses 7.5W

 

[Kazesama]

I want to use the real sensor bar. I bought a USB one for like $10 and noticed 2 of the lights are not working

I'm pretty sure people modding these ones say it uses 7.5W

Volts, not watts.

 

[morning_glory]

USB powered = 5v
Battery powered = 6v

(Just to add more confusion)

 

[saulin]

Right volts lol

Thanks for the replies guys. Should I be ok with a 7.5 v power adapter or should I try to lower it?

I'm going for a straight connection from the Power adapter to the Sensor Bar

 

[JuanMena]

Right volts lol

Thanks for the replies guys. Should I be ok with a 7.5 v power adapter or should I try to lower it?

I'm going for a straight connection from the Power adapter to the Sensor Bar

Usually voltages are fine if you use 20% Lower/Higher than required.

Anything lower than or higher than and you can expect malfunctioning.

 

[Anxiety_timmy]

Doesn't Sensor Bar uses 12V?

The one time I measured it I got a 5V reading, but I don't have access to a sensor bar or Wii to test that with.

 

[JuanMena]

The one time I measured it I got a 5V reading, but I don't have access to a sensor bar or Wii to test that with.

I'm supposing you can measure by sticking a multimeter to the Sensor Bar ikput, right?

But also, OP wants to use Sensor Bar in Dolphin. So I'm assuming it should use 5V instead.

 

[Anxiety_timmy]

I'm supposing you can measure by sticking a multimeter to the Sensor Bar ikput, right?

Yeah that's essentially what I did, I think it was alot closer to 5.3v, but it's just a row of infrared LEDs which don't draw that much power to begin with. If OP wants to use it with dolphin they could they would just need a way of powering it since the actual sensing part is entirely in the wiimote.

 

[saulin]

Update. I ended up using a 7v 1000mmA Power Adapter and I ordered this thing from AliExpress which took over a month to arrive

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...o.order_list.order_list_main.5.90a51802q7iiQn

It works like expected and I did not need to modify the Wii Sensor Bar. I just added a AC Power Connection to it