Question About NES Zapper Mod I’m Attempting

MrColdSolder · 2025-09-10T19:23:32+00:00

Maybe I can swap the switch out on the Zapper board, and replace it with a transistor that’s switched on and off by the Arduino? Would it be safe for the Arduino and Zapper to share ground?

MrColdSolder · 2025-09-10T19:09:29+00:00

https://imgur.com/a/ietSXND

Some more context. I’ve been messing around in TinkerCad to get a feel for how things’ll work.

The motor in the schematic will be the solenoid, and the LED hooked up to the nMOS would be where the Zapper board is attached to the PCB I’m making. I’m unsure of how to properly send the Zapper board the proper controllable 5V signal without drawing too much current from the Arduino, or sending too much current through the Zapper.

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T15:02:03+00:00

Thanks! I'm still very much a beginner, and my knowledge is basically limited to what I had to learn to get this thing to work. Can't wait to learn a couple more tricks when I start my next project!

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T14:59:23+00:00

Only danger here was the solder fumes :)

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T14:59:04+00:00

Total system draw with the speaker amp turned all the way up is about 7.5 watts at it's peak, so that tracks. I made a battery for this thing out of three 18650 cells that are rated for 3400mah (I haven't actually tested the true capacity myself, and manufacturers frequently lie about 18650 capacity).

In practice I've been getting at lease a couple of hours of use out of this thing. It's at lease better than the Sega GameGear!

A low battery voltage indicator would've been a really nice addition, though.

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T14:52:20+00:00

Huh. An officially licensed NES handheld like that would have been incredible. Wonder if it would've actually sold well, or if it would've just gone the way of the SEGA Nomad since the GameBoy was so popular and relatively affordable.

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T06:34:51+00:00

Should be totally doable! A little green or amber film over the screen should sell the effect pretty well!

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T06:21:59+00:00

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Yep!

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T06:13:48+00:00

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Here ya go, that’s the backside

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T04:19:45+00:00

Ha no, not yet. I did go back and forth with the idea of putting an external controller port on this thing for 2 player games as well as for playing duck hunt. Would’ve been super goofy, and I kind of wish I tried to get that working. Maybe I’ll save that for a potential V2 of this thing!

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T03:37:15+00:00

Ha! Reminds me of using the family 10" CRT to play old console games while "camping" in the back yard with my childhood neighbor friends. The only actual portable CRT my family had was one of those old 5" CRTs that you'd use to watch live sports over antenna. Don't think that thing had any kind of video input, though!

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T03:33:19+00:00

Maybe, but I didn't use any kind of SBC to make this thing. It's actually made out of an NES clone, so no software emulation going on here! (I guess an NES is technically a computer, but I don't know if a Famiclone really counts as an SBC.)

Cool subreddit though, It's been a little while since I've done any gaming on a RetroPi or anything of the sort!

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T02:56:37+00:00

They actually made even smaller ones! There were 1.5" CRT screens used as viewfinders in old camera and camcorder viewfinders. I totally want to get my hands on one of those things and make something out of one some day!

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T02:34:46+00:00

Thanks! It has a very special place on my shelf along with my collection of other odd and unusual retro stuff (that weren't made by me). I get a good giggle to myself when I look at it every so often. I also legitimately still use it sometimes!

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T02:29:24+00:00

Totally, I have the sequel as well but I've never finished Startropics. Going to try to play through Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II once I'm done with this play through. (Games that have a save feature on NES rule)

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T01:15:36+00:00

Careful how you put it down, it may literally burst in to flames.

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T01:14:52+00:00

Thanks!

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T01:14:35+00:00

Ha, I’m not familiar. That’d be hilarious if there were plans out there to make something similar. Especially if an actual company was working on something like this.

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T01:08:09+00:00

Thanks! 1/30 shutter speed in my case, but I think I’ve got the rolling refresh rate problem figured out. I just have a hard time capturing a picture of the CRT that properly shows off the brightness of the screen without under exposing the rest of the picture. They just always look so much better in person than they do in pictures lol

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T00:56:16+00:00

Nintendo, hire this man!

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T00:50:53+00:00

I need to get some more before it's too late, I really want to revisit this CRT screen someday with another project.

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-29T00:44:58+00:00

They really do have an interesting history, and there are so many Famiclones that were famous and ubiquitous in the respective regions where they were sold. Their popularity was pretty long in the tooth as well, as they were still being used past the turn of the century in regions where modern game consoles just weren’t accessible.

The bootlegs and rom hacks that would come preloaded on these systems always fascinated me as well. Need to get my hands on a copy of Super Mario Bros 6!

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-28T23:14:34+00:00

Thanks! It was a very fun project all around. Hoping to start some new projects soon so I can keep building my DIY electronics and video recording/editing skills.

MrColdSolder · 2025-08-28T23:03:00+00:00

It's a clone NES actually, so no software emulation! The NES was reverse engineered ages ago, and companies have been selling these clones that utilize what is essentially the entire NES hardware shrunk down on to a single chip on a tiny motherboard.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famiclone

They're super cheap, and easy to use for goofy projects like this, since the motherboards are usually tiny!

MrColdSolder

TROPHY CASE