Famicom AV, LED and NES Controller Ports Mod

[muckyfingers]

 I picked up a used famicom awhile back and decided the controller ports were too short so I thought about using a longer cord and soldering inside the Famicom. Then I remembered I had a busted NES so I removed the ports and hand filed the holes in the famicom and wired them up internally I also wired up the D3 and D4 to player 2 side and utilized the switch in the back for switching between the MIC connection on P2 side and D4 pin for Zapper use. This means I retain full use of the original controller 2 with MIC and can use a US zapper as well. Also since they are wired to where the old controllers were and not the 15pin connector (except D3 and D4) the controller ports are compatible with all Famicom and NES games including US NES Super Mario Bros. 2 aka Famicom Super Mario USA

For the controllers I sacrificed a busted original NES controller for P1 and for P2 I had to use an NES extension cable in order to retain the microphone function, a regular controller doesn't have enough pins wired for it to work.

The old RF out is now the audio out and I removed one of the switches to make room for the Video out. I added an LED under the POWER lettering and though it is faint I can still see it fine. I don't like super bright blinding LEDs I only want to know if the system is on or not. The Eject switch no longer functions, as there was no room after adding the controller ports, the mechanism had to be removed. I am contemplating gluing it in the bottom position, so it doesn't move. I have tested the ports with original and 3rd party controllers as well as the Zapper and Duck Hunt.

[80sFREAK]

Hmmm interesting concept to place connectors.

[famiav]

Nice work !  For me, this mod is too intrusive on the Famicom (it would make me sick at heart to pierce console's shell^^) but after all, Famicom are fairly easy to find so if you have several hardware, you make fun!

For controllers mod, did you reverse the contents between a FC controller and an NES controller isn't it? On controller II, microphone works ?

[muckyfingers]

Nice work !  For me, this mod is too intrusive on the Famicom (it would make me sick at heart to pierce console's shell^^) but after all, Famicom are fairly easy to find so if you have several hardware, you make fun!

For controllers mod, did you reverse the contents between a FC controller and an NES controller isn't it? On controller II, microphone works ?

There are plenty of Famicom's available and this one isn't new or anything so I didn't think customizing it this much was a bad thing. The NES controllers and Famicom controllers have the same input pins just different connectors to the motherboard. I matched them up and all worked well, controller 2 does use the MIC, the switch on the back of the system switches between MIC and Zapper support on the controller 2 port.

[famiav]

I see! I ask you these details because I'm me rebuild an adapter to connect my NES controllers on the Famicom, with a smaller box, you can see that I made in this topic : http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=7567.0;wap2

But I want to go further: I got one Famicom controller 1 turned  to be able to plug in my adapter or a NES (by inverting circuits that are identical in both cases) but for controller 2, I wish to do the same thing but with the possibility to use microphone, but also a NES zapper in my adapter. Should really install a switch ?

If this does not bother you, you could edit this diagram (with Paint why not) or an other to show me your connections for microphone and NES zapper: http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTluvrhBHP2b0WtMdsvutPJnyBQgdta0S7pCnOOXjLqcQWDoupws16erPdG

Thanks you !

[muckyfingers]

Here are a couple of pics to help explain. I cut the traces for the switch inside the Famicom (it is a simple on-on switch). The Black wire goes to D4 on the controller port, the Red wire goes to D4 on the expansion port, the White wire goes to MIC input on the onboard controller 2 connection. Notice how I cut the Brown wire from the onboard connection. Inside Controller 2, I wired  the MIC ouput to D4, remember I had to sacrifice an NES extension cable to wire inside Controller 2 so I could utilitze the MIC output. A regular NES controller does not have enough wires in the connector, so you can't take a cord from an NES controller and put it in the Controller 2 it has to be an extension cable that you cut and solder into controller 2. I used a Multimeter to identify which pins were which and soldered accordingly.

[famiav]

Hmmm ok so it is not possible to use the microphone with a cable NES controller (unless you use an extension cable). Too bad it does not matter, I will try to mount a microphone in my little front adapter if I have a little courage.

To connect a Zapper, no need to change specific compared to my schema I posted?

[muckyfingers]

Hmmm ok so it is not possible to use the microphone with a cable NES controller (unless you use an extension cable). Too bad it does not matter, I will try to mount a microphone in my little front adapter if I have a little courage.

To connect a Zapper, no need to change specific compared to my schema I posted?

Yes to connect the Zapper just use the schematic you posted.

The issue with just using the front port for the controllers is that some games like US NES Super Mario Bros. 2 / JPN Famicom Super Mario USA will not work with them. It has to be on the onboard controllers for it to work with those games.

[famiav]

Super Mario Bros 2 on Disk System ? It works with this.

[muckyfingers]

I meant US NES Super Mario Bros. 2 and JPN Famicom Super Mario USA, not the JPN Famicom Super Mario Bros. 2 aka the Lost Levels.

edit: fixed previous post as well.

[HokusaiXL]

I personally would have put extension cables out of the original controller wire holes instead of cutting up the top of the case.  Neat mod none the less though. o:

[dragonstrap]

Is there any risk in accidentally having the switch the wrong way? I.e. mic controller using zapper-D4 or zapper using mic-D4?
Obviously it won't work, but can it cause damage?

Nice work. If possible, could you go into a little more detail with regard to pinouts and in particular the mic switch?
edit: I read your posts a little closer. So D4 on the controller will either be D4 on the expansion (for zapper) or mic input (for mic) - I think I get it.

I've got a player2 famicom controller that's been gutted from a broken famicom. What I want to do, is replace the internal connector with a DB15 plug so that I can have a microphone controller working with my "AV Famicom".
I assume this is possible, but where would the microphone input go on an AV Famicom's motherboard?

[NintendoKing]

Why didn't you file the back holes to fit the controller ports? That would have been more consistent with the look.

[dragonstrap]

Why didn't you file the back holes to fit the controller ports? That would have been more consistent with the look.

I can imagine that he didn't put the controller ports at the back because that would require breaking the plastic screw-columns that actually hold the case together. It seems like a good idea, but might be a bit difficult/messy in practice.

[Drakon]

I love the controller port installation looks great how you did it.