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[Somewhat solved] NES outputs 4.6V on controller port instead of 5V which prevents Blueretro from functioning properly (jlai.lu)
submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by hylobates@jlai.lu to c/askelectronics@discuss.tchncs.de
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EDIT: Thanks everyone for you help, that has been very instructive. I think I just have a very poor quality cable adapter. Given that Blueretro is mostly an opensource DIY project, I’ll make a cable adapter myself instead of trying to fix what would obviously not function properly.

Hi everyone,

First of all let me say that I’m a total noob in electronics (I really only know the basics) and I’m facing an issue that I really don’t know how to tackle.

I have bought a Blueretro NES adapter on Aliexpress (this one) and it does behave erratically when powered by the console alone (Bluetooth not working, LED indicator down, random outputs to the console).

When I’m powering via USB, everything function properly.

So I guessed that I might have a voltage issue on the NES side. I tested mine and make a few friend test theirs (5 in total including mine) and the result is still the same: the controller ports outputs between 4.6 and 4.8V instead of 5V.

The Blueretro itself apparently uses an AMS1117 (picture here) which, from my understanding, is stepping down 5V to 3.3V (wild guess, I don’t really know what it does, just quickly read the datasheet).

So, sorry for the long intro, here are my questions:

  • Is it wise to try to step up the voltage from the NES to the Blueretro from 4.6V to 5V? How would it be possible? Is it even possible?
  • Given that the Blueretro is taking 3.3V apparently, is it possible to step down from 4.6V to 3.3V instead? Is it wiser than stepping up?

Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post :)

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[–] scrion@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Let me chime in with a few thoughts, can't go into full detail since I'm currently traveling and on my phone:

  1. It should be possible to power the BlueRetro using the controller port only. IIRC, the controller pins providing power are directly connected to the internal NES regulator, so with enough headroom to spare, you should be good to go. Eventually, this will depend on the firmware of the ESP-WROOM module used by the BlueRetro (max. current draw for the ESP32 should be around 250mA with all peripherals enabled and transmitting, I'd expect the BlueRetro to use quite a bit less in normal operation). That's also what the 8BitDo is doing, running at around 100mA.

If you look at YouTube videos, you'll also find one or two people running the BlueRetro directly off of the port.

  1. Where did you get the level shifter cable from?

  2. I'd also like to know the results of your voltage measurement in operation

  3. If push comes to shove and you decide to replace the LDO, the TLV1117LV made by TI would be a potential candidate, should be a drop-in replacement with better specs (price is about $0.30)

[–] hylobates@jlai.lu 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children) 
It should be possible to power the BlueRetro using the controller port only. IIRC, the controller pins providing power are directly connected to the internal NES regulator, so with enough headroom to spare, you should be good to go. Eventually, this will depend on the firmware of the ESP-WROOM module used by the BlueRetro (max. current draw for the ESP32 should be around 250mA with all peripherals enabled and transmitting, I’d expect the BlueRetro to use quite a bit less in normal operation). That’s also what the 8BitDo is doing, running at around 100mA.

That’s what I thought too. I originally ordered 4 cables (NES, SNES, N64 & GC). I only had troubles with the NES so I decided to just get a replacement. But the replacement has the exact same behaviour, so this is either an issue with my NES or the cable is not designed properly for PAL NES.

Where did you get the level shifter cable from?

What do you mean by that? The cable itself? It’s from Aliexpress.

I’d also like to know the results of your voltage measurement in operation

As stated below:

  • 4.8V on the controller port itself
  • 4.6V inside the cable adapter without Blueretro Core attached
  • 3.9V inside the cable adapter with Blueretro Core attached
  • 3.53V on input, 2.61V on the output of the AMS1117 when powered by the console only (and the Core itself is not functional that way)
If push comes to shove and you decide to replace the LDO, the TLV1117LV made by TI would be a potential candidate, should be a drop-in replacement with better specs (price is about $0.30)

Will it change something when the input power is so low? I feel like I might as well connect the 5V rail directly to the 3.3V input on the Blueretro…

[–] Gurfaild@feddit.de 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

If the controller port is connected to the same +5V rail as the CPU, wouldn't the NES crash if it only got 4.6V or less?

If only the BlueRetro is affected, maybe something behaves like a resistor in series with it, for example a broken solder joint in the adapter or at the connector on the NES

[–] hylobates@jlai.lu 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Only Blueretro is affected. Maybe the Blueretro NES adapter cable has just poor quality components. The other cable adapters I have for other consoles work fine, including the SNES which also operates in 5V.

[–] dgriffith@aussie.zone 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Could be. The way the voltage sags at the end of the cable with the blueretro connected suggests that someone skimped on copper in the wires.

If you can figure out a way to measure the voltage at the port with the cable attached and powering the blueretro, do that. If it is mostly the same whether the blueretro is connected or not, yep, it's the cable.

[–] hylobates@jlai.lu 2 points 5 months ago

I managed to do that (not an easy fit but I think I’ve achieved the measurement properly) and you’re right: the cable itself it probably of very poor quality. Given that Blueretro is mostly a DIY project I think I’ll make the cable adapter myself instead of trying to fix what is obviously not fixable.

Thanks for the help!