Custom Gamecube Regulator!! Wiikey Fusion/WODE compatible!!!

Includes PS2, Xbox 1, GameCube (but not the Phantom Game Console)

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zenloc
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Custom Gamecube Regulator!! Wiikey Fusion/WODE compatible!!!

Post by zenloc » Fri Apr 03, 2009 2:06 pm

The individual voltage lines on the GC draw as follows:

1,9v (GPU) - 3.4 Amps
1.9v (CPU) - 3.1 Amps
3,3v - 0.8 Amps
5.0v - 0.3 Amps (note that the 5v line is ONLY used for the disc drive motor,5v memorycard line and 5v rumble line for controllers nothing else!!!)
12.0v - 0.05 Amps (without fan, sound only!)

First off let's start with the original regulator. 10.2v is the lowest the board can handle and still work correctly didn't test how high it can go but it can reach above 20v no problem. I have done many tests with a switchable lab power supply and have come to the following conclusions:

10.2v - 1.7 Amps (min) 1.8 Amps (max)
11.1v - 1.5 Amps (min) 1.6 Amps (max)
12.0v - 1.4 Amps (min) 1.5 Amps (max)
14.8v - 1.2 Amps (min) 1.3 Amps (max)

This is with the 12v line of the regulator board connected to sound. If you don't connect 12v and use the 5v line as SS has found out if will slightly up the draw but it has very little effect in actual playing time. So I would just leave it connected to the 12v line.

Now for my custom regulator. It can go as low as 5v and still function properly. Also the V input is connected to sound. Making it get the highest possible voltage. It can take 5v but it doesn't always sound that good. Not every GC likes it at low voltages so it is recommended to give it the highest voltage possible. So we have the following:

5.0v - 3.4 Amps (min) 3.5 Amps (max)
7.4v - 2.3 Amps (min) 2.4 Amps (max)
10.2v - 1.7 Amps (min) 1.8 Amps (max)
11.1v - 1.5 Amps (min) 1.6 Amps (max)
12.0v - 1.4 Amps (min) 1.5 Amps (max)
14.8v - 1.2 Amps (min) 1.3 Amps (max)

Image
Check out this video of it in action! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbGlRTaqVb4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As you can see my regulator is as efficient as the original one with the given voltages and it can take lower ones. You can get all the regulators as sample so it doesn't even cost you that much. Just a few little components.

Parts used are :

1.9v - PTR08100W + 903 Ohm resisitor and 2x 100uF caps
3.4v - PTH08080W + 1.87 kOhm resisitor and 2x 100uF caps (1 cap on the output line is optional and not needed)
5v - PTH08080W + 348 Ohm resistor and 2x 100uF caps (1 cap on the output line is optional and not needed)

Image

Note you can use TI regulators for the 3.4v and 5v line. I just use these switching regulators cause they produce less heat.


------------------WiiKey Fusion/WODE REGULATOR---------------


Ok I have some great news! With my newest regulator for a WiiKey Fusion or WODE. The gamecube will draw a total of 1.7A (a bit lower in game) on 7.4v. This is the lowest I can get it with everything working 100%.

Let me explain:

The GPU takes 1.8v originally. I was able to power it of 1.7v while still working correctly. Drawing 3A at 1.7v
The CPU takes 1.55v originally. I was able to power it of 1.5v while still working correctly. Drawing 2.2A at 1.5v
The 3.3v line will stay the same as putting a lower voltage in won't make any difference in amp draw. Drawing 0.8A at 3.3v

By using a PTR08060 or PTR08100 for the 1.7v line
a PTH08080 or PTH08000 for the 1.5v line
and another PTH08080 or PTH08000 for the 3.3v line
we now have the possibility to bring down the total amp draw!!!

PTR08060 and PTR08100 need 100uF caps on output and input. PTH08080 and PTH08000 only need 100uf caps on input.

Following my diagram below you will be able to see which resistors you need to get the appropriate voltage.
Image
The other regulators on this diagram are for powering the cube of a single 3.7v battery. Amp draw is not as effecient as 7.4v so not really worth your time.

The total draw of running the cube of these 3 regulators is 1.7A (a bit lower in game). If you don't want to bother with 2 separate regulators for the CPU and GPU. You can use the PTR08060 or PTR08100 on 1.7v to power both chips. The difference in total draw is 0.2A. As running it of those 2 regulators will give you a total of 1.9A on 7.4v

It's your choice. Note that the draw of the WODE and WiiKey chips have to be added. I still need to measure those.
Last edited by zenloc on Mon Apr 25, 2011 10:46 am, edited 14 times in total.
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Re: Custom Gamecube Regulator!

Post by ShockSlayer » Fri Apr 03, 2009 7:15 pm

I almost hate to say this, but for the sake of trying, you should try two gamecube heatsinks. I've gone back and experimented with the regulators and I'm still stuck there........

...

...

What's the Ah rating of your battery? Try using a lower one.... that might work!

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Re: Custom Gamecube Regulator!

Post by Skyone » Sat Apr 04, 2009 1:16 am

Maybe the LMS1585 is just a piece of crap? :lol: I could search for another regulator, if you want to replace it entirely.

Though it shouldn't be an issue...it's capable of up to 5A.

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Re: Custom Gamecube Regulator!

Post by zenloc » Sat Apr 04, 2009 5:28 am

The chip is not capable of having so much amps draw out of it in one go. The draw is just to high that's the only thing that makes sence. What I haven't tried yet is putting two regulators in parallel WITH current sharing. I only put both ends together before. Check this site out http://electronicdesign.com/Articles/In ... =9270&pg=1 scroll down there they explain how you can calculate the "share" resistor but i'm not good with those kind of calculations?? I don't get it at all :?

Could someone calculate it for me. V = 1,9v Amp draw should be 2,8 Amps according to the round going calculations but I get the feeling the're wrong.

I'm using a 7,4v 4A LiPo battery I can't use a lower one since I don't have one. But I doubt it's the battery though... I'll try putting on another gamecube heatsink just for the sake of trying :D maby even 3 heatsinks :lol:

I've been looking for a different regulator since linear regulator's on a high amp draw are super inefficient (excess heat). I read that switching regulators do a better job at high amp draws. But I can only find one regulator that works of at least 8v which is too high. The battery i'm using will work but ones it dips below 8v the circuit will stop working obviously.

Skyone if you can find a different regulator that can handle more heat or does a better step down PLEASE let me know... :wink:

Anywayz the sharing current resistor would be my best bet for now anybody that can help me with that?
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Re: Custom Gamecube Regulator!

Post by Skyone » Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:38 am

Well according to datasheets, the chip should allow draw up to 5A, and the GC's 1.9v line only draws a maximum of 2.5A at any given time. This is why the overheating is obscure.

An alternative could be the PTR08060. Handles up to 6A, and goes down to 0.6v. To get 1.9v out of it, you'll need a 903Ω resistor, but the closest standard value you'll find is likely to be a 910Ω, which would have a 5% tolerance anyway. You'll also need two 100uF electrolytic capacitors.

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Re: Custom Gamecube Regulator!

Post by zenloc » Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:53 am

hmm that regulator might work. Altough do you have any idea how much the Resistor share has to be for the 2 regulators? That i can try right now the other part i have to wait for..... :roll:

It is indeed strange that the cube only drawes 2.5 amps so 5amp reg should be enough. What could be the reason it is overheating so much??

I'm gonna measure how much amps the gamecube draws just to be sure.
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Re: Custom Gamecube Regulator!

Post by eurddrue » Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:03 am

zenloc wrote:hmm that regulator might work. Altough do you have any idea how much the Resistor share has to be for the 2 regulators? That i can try right now the other part i have to wait for..... :roll:

It is indeed strange that the cube only drawes 2.5 amps so 5amp reg should be enough. What could be the reason it is overheating so much??

I'm gonna measure how much amps the gamecube draws just to be sure.
It's dropping 7.2 to 1.9v right? doesn't that make all of the other 5.3v turn into heat? I'd say that's why it's overheating.
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wallydawg wrote:
chainfire95 wrote:220V I believe
I think we should check to see if you can withstand 220 volts

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Re: Custom Gamecube Regulator!

Post by zenloc » Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:06 am

yeah that's the problem the step down is too much. I might see if a lower voltage battery would help.
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Re: Custom Gamecube Regulator!

Post by eurddrue » Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:11 am

what is the minimum voltage that your stepdown requires? you could use a ti rig to make it 3.3v then it could turn that into 1.9v without having to dissappate all of those extra volts.
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wallydawg wrote:
chainfire95 wrote:220V I believe
I think we should check to see if you can withstand 220 volts

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Re: Custom Gamecube Regulator!

Post by Skyone » Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:19 am

It is an LDO regulator after all, might be a good idea to get the switching regulator. :lol:

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Re: Custom Gamecube Regulator!

Post by zenloc » Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:22 am

Yeah that's what I think i'm going to do. First i'm going to measure the gamecube draw again to make sure they are correct. I will post the result once i'm done :wink:
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Re: Custom Gamecube Regulator!

Post by eurddrue » Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:26 am

Since your in Holland Texas Instruments won't ship free samples to you, but usually you can get somebody on the forums to send you one :wink:
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chainfire95 wrote:220V I believe
I think we should check to see if you can withstand 220 volts

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Re: Custom Gamecube Regulator!

Post by zenloc » Sat Apr 04, 2009 2:41 pm

I just measured the total draw of the cube and came to the folowing conclusion.

1,9v draws 6000mA and at start up and in game sometimes goes up to 6600mA so nowhere near the 2500mA that was measured before!!
3,3v draws 800mA
5v + audio draws 350mA
This was measured from the original regulator with the 12v line briged to 5v line on gamecube mobo

12v draw complete regulator goes up to 1700mA

The reason the regulator got so hot was that it was exceeding the 5A draw. Skyone could you find a 7A swichting regulator?

So in watts this makes much more sense:

1,9v x 6,6A = 12,54 watts
3,3v x 0,8A = 2,64 watts
5v x 0,35A = 1,75 watts

in total = 16,93 watts if you would power it with a custom regulator

and 12v x 1,7A = 20,4 watts if you would power it with original regulator

Correct me if i'm wrong though. If I put this into battery life perspective you get the following:

using original regulator with a 14,8v battery you get: 20,4watts / 14,8v = 1378mA so let's say 1400mA
using original regulator with a 11,1v battery you get: 20,4watts / 11,1v = 1837mA so let's say 1850mA
using custom regulator with a 7,4v battery you get: 16,93watts / 7,4v = 2287mA since it's not 100% efficient 2287mA / .80% = 2858mA so let's say 2860mA

If we take a 3,7v 2600mA li-ion battery and use 12 cells we get the following:
3x 4 cell 14,8v 2600mA = 14,8v 7800mA with 1400mA an hour you get 5 hours and 31 min battery life
4x 3 cell 11,1v 2600mA = 11,1v 10400mA with 1850mA an hour you get 5 hours and 37 min battery life
6x 2 cell 7,4 v 2600mA = 7,4v 15600mA with 2860mA an hour you get 5 hours and 27 min battery life

Note that reason i'm using 12 cells as a example is that in all three voltages I can use 12 cells.

CONCLUSION!!!
You'll see that the 7,4v battery has less battery life then the others so the whole custom regulator thing is kind of a waste of time altough it is minimal. I'll just buy a 14,8v battery instead as the 11,1v battery has a flaw aswell. After the battery drops to a certain voltage the regulator won't work anymore. So having a 14,8v battery is the best bet of having the best battery time.

EDIT: 11,1v battery doesn't have the voltage drop I mentioned It will cut itself off when the battery is empty. So that would leav the 11,1v as the longer lasting battery untill prven otherwise.

These calculations make much more sense. If I calculated anything wrong please let me know so I can correct it. WOW that's allot of info to swallow :shock:
Last edited by zenloc on Sun Apr 05, 2009 2:36 am, edited 5 times in total.
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Re: Custom Gamecube Regulator! Correct Gamecube Draw!!!!

Post by jjhammerstein » Sat Apr 04, 2009 4:25 pm

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH.

Now it all makes sense.
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Re: Custom Gamecube Regulator! Correct Gamecube Draw!!!!

Post by Skyone » Sat Apr 04, 2009 4:27 pm

zenloc: a lot of that logic is flawed...

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