Just Wanna Make Sure I Got This Right (PCE USB Adapter)

[GSZX1337]

Since no one seems to want to make a PC-Engine USB adapter, I decided to make my own. I found this conversion circuit for the PC-Engine and looking through the pictures and the instructions, it looks like it's possible to use this circuit as my desired adapter. As I understand it, I would take the circuit, a Mini-DIN cable (which I would cut and take the female side of), and a USB cable (which I would again cut to take the USB plug) then solder the wires to the correct areas to assemble the converter. Do I have that right?

Sorry if this is a bit newbish/stupid, I just don't want to spend a ton of money on components and find out I got something wrong.

Thanks in advance,
~gszx1337

[Ziggy]

Yeah dude, looks pretty straight forward.



Looks like you simply purchase that PCB then solder the wires to it. Nothing more.



If you wanna make it look a little more fancy, I suggest a small project box and some grommets. Check the pics in this thread. You can even get a smaller box than that.

[GSZX1337]

Nice to see I got it right. In your thread, you said that you got your project box from RadioShack. The smallest box I can find from them is 3x2x1 and the circuit is around 1x0.6x0.2. I don't really know of a good place to get a project box. Do you have any suggestions?

Also, I'd really prefer to use a TurboGrafx-16 controller, but every female DIN cable I find is a tad expensive. I really don't want to spend more than a few dollars on a cable that I'm just going to cut in half. Do you know of any place where I can get a DIN cable for less? If not, could I take that cable I linked to in my last post and replace the tips with these female full-sized DIN connectors?

Thanks for the help so far,
~gszx1337

[Ziggy]

In your thread, you said that you got your project box from RadioShack. The smallest box I can find from them is 3x2x1 and the circuit is around 1x0.6x0.2. I don't really know of a good place to get a project box. Do you have any suggestions?

Yeah, I think the 3x2x1 box is the smallest Radio Shack has. It sounds big, but if you stop in a Radio Shack and look at one, they're not too big in person. I can understand wanting one as small as possible, but the 3" one isn't a bad backup if you can't find one. And just as a reference, the one I used was larger than the 3" one.

I haven't ever really shopped around for project boxes, so I couldn't tell you the best place to get one from.

Also, I'd really prefer to use a TurboGrafx-16 controller, but every female DIN cable I find is a tad expensive. I really don't want to spend more than a few dollars on a cable that I'm just going to cut in half. Do you know of any place where I can get a DIN cable for less? If not, could I take that cable I linked to in my last post and replace the tips with these female full-sized DIN connectors?

The TG16 controller uses full size (not mini) DIN connectors? And you're having a hard time finding a DIN cable for cheap? Well then, if you're sold on using a project box, then why use a cable at all? Just get a panel mount DIN connector, like this one:

http://www.digikey.com/product-search/e ... ageSize=25

^That's an 8-pin female DIN, make sure that's the right connector you need.

And if you're doing it this way, then you obviously can't use a micro small project box (it's needs to be large enough to mount the DIN connector on). The 3x2x1 box will probably be perfect, actually. The DIN connector I linked above, it's about .8" from one end of the nut to the other, so it'll just fit on the 1" height of the box.

Doing it this way, you'll end up with more of a traditional looking controller USB adapter, such as...

The only reason I used cables on both sides of my FC-NES adapter was because you can't just go out and buy NES controller panel mount connectors. The only option is to buy NES controller extension cables (or butcher something - which I never am willing to do). But since the TG16 uses a standard off-the-shelf connector, you can just get a panel mount connector and not have to bother cutting a cable. Cutting a cable can be annoying with multiple pins. You have to sit there and figure out which pin is which wire. Maybe it's not so bad with just 8, but there was like 20-something I had to figure out for the FC cable, and another 7 for the NES cable. Luckily the ones I got had color coded wires, but I've seen cables with no color coding. Maddening!

[Ziggy]

If you don't wanna go with the panel mounted DIN connector, then I have a cheap alternative for buying a cable. Just get the Female DIN plug, like this...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2PK-Audio-Video ... 51b59f3378

...then use a spare CAT5 cable you have lying around. You know, those small ~6' patch cables that come with your router or other devices and you never use them. This is why you save them! If you don't have one lying around, ask your buddies until you find some one that threw it in their closet.

[GSZX1337]

Yeah, I think the 3x2x1 box is the smallest Radio Shack has. It sounds big, but if you stop in a Radio Shack and look at one, they're not too big in person.

I actually used to work at a RadioShack and stocked those boxes every week. The first thing I thought of when I saw 'em was "I'm gonna need something smaller."

I can understand wanting one as small as possible, but the 3" one isn't a bad backup if you can't find one. And just as a reference, the one I used was larger than the 3" one. I haven't ever really shopped around for project boxes, so I couldn't tell you the best place to get one from.

I won't be worrying about that since...

The TG16 controller uses full size (not mini) DIN connectors? And you're having a hard time finding a DIN cable for cheap? Well then, if you're sold on using a project box, then why use a cable at all? Just get a panel mount DIN connector, like this one:

http://www.digikey.com/product-search/e ... ageSize=25

^That's an 8-pin female DIN, make sure that's the right connector you need.

And if you're doing it this way, then you obviously can't use a micro small project box (it's needs to be large enough to mount the DIN connector on). The 3x2x1 box will probably be perfect, actually. The DIN connector I linked above, it's about .8" from one end of the nut to the other, so it'll just fit on the 1" height of the box.

Doing it this way, you'll end up with more of a traditional looking controller USB adapter, such as...

I like the sound of this!

If you don't wanna go with the panel mounted DIN connector, then I have a cheap alternative for buying a cable. Just get the Female DIN plug, like this...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2PK-Audio-Video ... 51b59f3378

...then use a spare CAT5 cable you have lying around.

Could I use the CAT5 cable to connect the PCB to the DIN connector?

[Ziggy]

Could I use the CAT5 cable to connect the PCB to the DIN connector?

You could, but I personally wouldn't. If you're using a panel mount DIN and a project box, then it's not like you're worrying about appearance. You can use ANY wire to connect the PCB to the DIN connector. I'm the kinda guy that's always gonna have spools of wire on hand, but you may not. In that case, you may want to use a spare patch CAT5 cable instead of having to buy wire. I like to save my patch cables for when I need a cable with up to 8 connections, it's useful for stuff like this. But my main concern is that CAT5 cables have stranded wires. I find it so much easier to use a single conductor wire. But I guess that's just a preference thing. It wont make a difference electrically. Me personally, I would use an 18 or 20 AWG solid conductor speaker wire (which you can get from Radio Shit).

Oh, one other thing if you plan to use a patch cable. Most wire strippers only go down to 20 or 22 AWG. All of the CAT5 cables I've messed with were smaller than 22 gauge. I have a specialty pair of strippers that go down to 30 AWG, and they weren't easy to find. I would just get a spool of ~20 AWG solid conductor speaker wire from Radio Shit, if you don't already have something similar, just to make life easier.