SS's WIP GCP!

Kyo · Post by **Kyo** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:09 pm

to have one on while all is good, you just need add a NOT element to the circuit.

Mario · Post by **Mario** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:14 pm

bacteria wrote:Fantastic input Mario. When I get my components delivered I will have a bash at this.

40mA is perfectly fine given the benefit of this mod!

Pleased two diodes work together ok, couldn't find one at 7.2v, but did find 3.3v and 3.6v ones (bought both), so two 3.6v together = 7.2v which should be fine.

Sent you a PM with an idea:

If we have a green LED on whilst all is good (7.5v - 8.4v), amber LED on instead (7.2v - 7.5v) and red LED (under 7.2v) is that possible, and easy, or a difficult prospect?

Another question - I know how to test resistors, but how do you test diodes to see what rating they are? Also, what makes the zener diodes different to normal ones?

As I replied in the PM, making a circuit that has a green LED under normal conditions then a red one when the battery is low will be really easy, you simply need to add another NOT circuit (just another transistor). Having an LED that lights up in the middle would be quite a bit more difficult. EDIT: Just saw Kyo's post. Great minds think alike!

I don't know how to test diodes, you just have to make sure you have the right ones. The thing that makes zener diodes different from normal ones is their breakdown voltage, the voltage at which current can pass backwards through the diode. With normal diodes, this voltage is quite high and when you pass that voltage, it damages the diode. Zener diodes are made to have a low breakdown voltage and not be hurt when you reach it.

ShockSlayer · Post by **ShockSlayer** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:34 pm

Yeehaw! Okay, you can continue your discussion of low battery LED mods in here, that is fine, but I have an update to my project:

I'm actually working on the case.

I have speaker grills now, and, after lots of hot glue and sanding, my portable officially looks worse. :p Nah, its a bit better. I just have to work a bit more to get it all smoothed out. But I'm only doing to front and sides. the back can suffer, as I dont look at it.

SS

Mario · Post by **Mario** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:02 pm

ShockSlayer wrote:Yeehaw! Okay, you can continue your discussion of low battery LED mods in here, that is fine, but I have an update to my project:

I'm actually working on the case.

I have speaker grills now, and, after lots of hot glue and sanding, my portable officially looks worse. :p Nah, its a bit better. I just have to work a bit more to get it all smoothed out. But I'm only doing to front and sides. the back can suffer, as I dont look at it.

SS

Lolz at that last sentence.

I realized the idea of having two LEDs is even easier than I thought. You don't even need the second NOT gate! Here's how you would do it:

The 30ohm resistor may need to be slightly higher, maybe 100ohms. Also please don't go by the colors on that resistor, that is just a random one and is not 33ohms.

Kyo · Post by **Kyo** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:17 pm

Ah! Of course!

ShockSlayer · Post by **ShockSlayer** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 5:43 pm

Yes, I agree! (what did he just say?)

Okay. I just got back in from re-sanding and repainting and I might actually get to release this.

(this one's for Triton, as in my mind he is the case connoisseur. All you vac-forming nubs got nothing on the frankencase!

) In order to make my case look better, without increasing weight, I used 8 gallons of hot glue. Actually, more like two sticks. I'll explain my technique when I find the time. Its great for filler, and it was inspired by bacteria. And if its ugly it was inspired by me; dont want to make anyone feel like they inspired a failure.

I hope to put on the gloss later tonight.

SS

jjhammerstein · Post by **jjhammerstein** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 5:47 pm

What is our ETA, captain?

Mario · Post by **Mario** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 5:48 pm

It's over 9000!

(What did he just say?)

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 5:48 pm

Will experiment when my components arrive. Located two places in my case which can have the LEDs

SS - Excellent, I look forward to seeing the end result on your case. As you say, the back is not important, especially if the disk drive can be replaced at some time by memory cards, as that will change the look of the back of the case anyway by making it slimmer.

ShockSlayer · Post by **ShockSlayer** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:29 pm

Yeah, While the paint dries, I've been working on a monitor. I just replaced the PSU with a gamecube power adapter and a few 7805's

SS

Post by **Triton** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:09 pm

this one's for Triton, as in my mind he is the case connoisseur. All you vac-forming nubs got nothing on the frankencase

thanks i think? im both intersted and terrified by what you are doing with the hotglue as filler. if you ever wanna talk case building stuff hit me up on IM

ShockSlayer · Post by **ShockSlayer** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:56 pm

Yeah. You should be saying thanks.

Oh, and it looks better? The gloss is drying, and its still not smooth. Huh.

I'm so annoyed by this that I'm about to give up. In making it "look better" I have reduced its functionality. This gaddamn paint got on my screen in the corner, and I had to scratch it off.

SS

Mario · Post by **Mario** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:12 pm

Can we have pictures now? I promise not to flame. I really want to see this thing!
If I ever dissed any of your other cases, it's just because I was jealous that you had just made your eight hundred and thirty-second N64 portable...

Post by **Triton** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:43 pm

I don't know how to test diodes, you just have to make sure you have the right ones. The thing that makes zener diodes different from normal ones is their breakdown voltage

also know as PIV or peak inverse voltage, for a normal zenner its around 5.1v and to test diodes you use what they call a curve tracer. can also be used for testing transistors

Mario · Post by **Mario** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:49 pm

Thank you.

I've posted a tutorial for this, check it out here:
http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=27829

Please comment/criticize/tell me if there are any errors.