Hip Gear Screen Pad

Krukar · Post by **Krukar** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 3:57 pm

I picked up a Hip Gear Screen Pad http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... 1?v=glance for 20 bucks. It has a nice LCD Screen so an lcd screen for 20 bucks is something I can't pass up. Anyway I bought one for Gamecube so I can easily plug the cable into the SNES and boom it works like a charm. However I'm still stuck with having the remove the controller part of the screen then having it run on batteries. I have no clue how to make it run on batteries so I'm wondering does anyone have any tutorials on stuff like that. I took my snes apart and it works on batteries, so now I just have to get them working together.
Any advice or suggestions on how else I can use this would be appreciated, thanks.

Post by **Sparkfist** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 5:07 pm

First thing first, use that most secret of things on the MB; the search function next time.

Now on to the meat. I have one and I will tell you know that you will need a 10v battery to power it, you can get it down to 9v if you replace the 7808 power regulator with an 8v LDO (low drop out). Secondly the screen is independent of the controller so you can easily remove it and it will still work. Lastly as many ask the AC adapter says it outputs 12v at 500mA, now as said before you can power the thing off of a 10v battery no problem, the 500mA thing is a little more than what the device will consume under load so its more like ~400mA (I guess though).

Good luck, if you make it work please post how you did it to help other members, and post it in this or an already exsisting Hip Gear thread.

Krukar · Post by **Krukar** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 5:16 pm

Sorry about not searching, didn't think anyone else used it.

Now heres my question after I opened it. Theres two groups of wires coming out of the screen, they both go into the controller then theres one huge group of wires that comes out of the controller circuit thingy. Do I just cut the two groups coming out of the lcd and rewire them someone to my battery pack.

Also what kind of battery pack should I get? I've never gotten a battery pack so I have no clue what to look for. How many batteries should there be? And from your post it took me awhile but I eventually figured out what you ment.

Sorry but electricity is certainly not my specialty, I can make the case and get it in there but electricity was always black magic for me.

Post by **Sparkfist** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 6:47 pm

I'll say this, cut some of the shielding off of the power cable, video cable and controller. That way you can see the color of the wires, this will tell you what wires go where and for what. After you knowthat you can cut and group the wires based on what they're for. Once thats done I'd say break the a/v connector open and use the pinout on gamesx.com to find out whats audio, ground and video.

For the battery pack you can go to RadioShack and buy their 15 minute charge batterys. They have a capasity of ~2000mA and 1.2v, you'll want to connect these together (9) in series to increase the voltage to 10.8. If you want to know how to set up the batteries take a look at Doomportables.org.

JackFrost22 · Post by **JackFrost22** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 9:50 pm

the 15 minute charge batteries arn't worth it look at regular recargeble AA

Krukar · Post by **Krukar** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 3:43 pm

Okay I'm sorry that I'm such a noob but I really have no idea what you're talking about.

Heres my question. The hip gear has like volume, colour and other controls on it. Do I need that hooked up to some circuit? I really don't know anythinb about wiring so my plan was to just keep the circuit of the controller inside the portable system. I guess I'll just show you a picture since I'm not good at describing stuff.

see theres two cables coming out and they go to the circuit. Do I just cut them and attach them to the battery pack that I'm going to buy.

Oh speaking of batter pack, I really have no idea what to get, sorry. I'm going to Radioshack if anyone can describe (or show me) what I need to get I'd be really grateful.

Sorry for being such a pain but I appreciate the help.

Post by **Sparkfist** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 3:59 pm

I know what yout taking about, inside the screen case there are (to my knowelege) two boards. One is the video screen and the other alouse you to change contrast, brightness, volume and color (how useless!). I would suggest not screwing with the screen unless you want to throw your money away, just desing/install the screen into the case so that the controles are there for you should you need them. Simply remove the guts from the Hip Gear case and reconnect the a/v and battery wires.

Really portablizing isnt as technical as it seems its just time and finatially taxing.

Edit- As for the battery thing look into getting AA that are Ni-MH (Nickel Metal Hydrid) that are atleast 2000mA. You'll also want to ask for battery holders for the AAs, to get enough voltage out of the AAs you'll need to make a series circuit (batteries are set up positive to negitive) and have 9 (or 10 if you want an even number).

Krukar · Post by **Krukar** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 4:06 pm

Yes there are two boards inside the monitor case. However there is a third board which is where the controller is. My question is do I need all 3 of these boards for it to work,.or can I just cut the two wires coming out of the monitor case and just re wire them to the batter pack?

JackFrost22 · Post by **JackFrost22** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 4:14 pm

you do not need the controller baord

Krukar · Post by **Krukar** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 4:49 pm

alright thank you. Ill cut the wires and when I pick up a batter pack ill try rewiring it. Can anyone tell me what kind of battery pack I need now?

Post by **Sparkfist** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 5:18 pm

I'd say use AA, unless you want to use two 6v r/c car rechargable batteries. In either way you be putting in 2v over the output and the regulator will work, or as I've said in the past you'll need 10v. I would suggest whatever you pick it have atleast 2000mA (or 2 Amp) capasity.

Krukar · Post by **Krukar** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 7:14 pm

what if I wanted one of those sony lithium rechargeable batteries? say I wanted to make one where at the end of the day I just plug it in and charge it how much would that cost? and how much hours would I be getting from it?

also how many aa batteries should this thing have?

Post by **Sparkfist** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 7:37 pm

Please read post replys carefully in the future.

Li-ion batteries do offer greater capasity but they cost more. I'd say you looking at about $30-50 for that kind of battery.

If you going for AAs 9 will work fine but if you want an even number like 12v and 10 batteries you can do that.

JackFrost22 · Post by **JackFrost22** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 8:09 pm

all you need are six i tohugh hmm 1.2(6) yup 7.2volts

Post by **Sparkfist** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 8:19 pm

But the Hip Gear screen has a 7808 power regulator in it so you need atleast 10v for it to work.