Dummy AA batteries to AC adapter?

[Synomenon]

My nephew just got a Nintendo Wii and a wireless sensor bar to go with it (longer, wider range). It eats through AA batteries pretty quickly though.

Anyone know how to make dummy AA batteries connected to an AC adapter so they won't have to worry about replacing the batteries in it all the time?

I've found something just like this from Sony:
http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/sto...tNumber=ACLS5K

but the "batteries" are side-by-side instead of end-to-end like they are in this wireless sensor bar. The sensor bar takes four AA batteries.

 

[exdeath]

You are better off drilling a hole in the plastic and soldering in a barrel connector in parallel with the battery terminals for an off the shelf 6 volt DC power supply (dont use it with batteries at the same time lulz).

Or just buy another brand "sensor" bar that has a USB or DC port.

Or try LIon AA batteries or something.

Anything you try to do to mod isn't going to be worth the cost of gas to get the parts and the parts themselves by the time you just buy a different bar for $20. The one I have lasts for days with an internal rechargeable battery pack, and has both a DC barrel for an external charger or a USB port that connects to the Wii or any USB socket for power.

Is the "range" adjustable? Longer range implies the IR LEDs are brighter hence the power draw. Unless you are running a projector where you are 30 feet away from the Wii or have an overpowering (IR) light source near the sensor bar, the extended range brightness of the sensor bar isn't needed and it's just a marketing gimmick like Monster Cable.

Your best bet for making something would be those plastic AAA to AA adapters, that would fit, but you'd have to remove the conductors from the middle two and wire up your 6V DC to the outer ones only. Or just measure 4 batteries end to end and cut a dowel to length. Or use small alligator clips on the terminals and forget the dummy cells. Anything really.

 

[Synomenon]

Ok, can you provide a step-by-step on how to do this? I work next to a Fry's Electronics so getting the parts to do this is no problem.

 

[PottedMeat]

You are better off drilling a hole in the plastic and soldering in a barrel connector in parallel with the battery terminals for an off the shelf 6 volt DC power supply (dont use it with batteries at the same time lulz).

that's what i'd do pretty much.

you got a multimeter right? it helps to have around and you can get one from harbor freight for ~$3

go to goodwill and pick up a 6VDC power supply for $1 from one of their boxes of junk power supplies

you could either solder the power supply directly to the battery terminals + to + and - to -, or solder short lengths of wire and use wire nuts if you want it to be removable. i doubt you'd have space for spade connectors & batteries at the same time.

drill a small hole for the wires or find a space where they'd fit through ( like by the opening tab ).

 

[bobdole369]

I was going to rant about how stupid you were to ghetto rig some soldered wires onto a wireless controller, then I realized it was a "sensor bar". I didn't even know they had those. What exactly is wrong with the one that came with it? Don't solder to the battery terminals, they are likely to be stainless (hard to solder). Instead take it apart and splice into the wires leading to the circuit board. Put in a barrel connector and I would stick a coupl caps in too for good measure, since the wallwart isn't likely to be very filtered.

Items needed - 15-30W soldering iron.
rosin core solder
method to create hole for barrel plug (small drill - perhaps 1/4" hole)
barrel plug (radio shack has them in the parts bin)
matching 6v power supply.
optionally 1000-4700 uf capacitor with 12V
small runs of small (22ga) wire.

Plus goes to plus, minus to minus.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

I just use two sets of rechargeable AA batteries for mine. Leave one set on the charger until the other dies, then swap 'em.

 

[Modelworks]

A friend had one like that. If it is the same one then when you open it there is just a red and black wire connected to the battery compartment. I snipped off the wire ends and connected an old 5V phone charger to it and it works fine. The circuits in the one I did had no voltage regulation, it was 5VDC components with a resistor for the regulation, so do not exceed 6VDC which is the max the circuit would see from batteries.

 

[Synomenon]

If that's true, I can just solder a USB cable to those wire ends and plug it into one of my USB wall warts (5v, 1A).

 

[wirednuts]

If that's true, I can just solder a USB cable to those wire ends and plug it into one of my USB wall warts (5v, 1A).

if the sensor bar works on rechargeable batteries, then thats running on 4.8v and less. so yes, it probably will work on a usb cord. watch your milliamps though, if the sensorbar draws more then 500ma then i would get a dedicated wall wart with the proper current rating.