for this project I’m going to show you how to hack an n64 game controller into
how to hack an n64 game controller into
how to hack an n64 game controller into a rocket launch controller little ignite
a rocket launch controller little ignite
a rocket launch controller little ignite fireworks up to 30 feet away or launch a
fireworks up to 30 feet away or launch a
fireworks up to 30 feet away or launch a rocket the moment you say so let’s start
rocket the moment you say so let’s start
rocket the moment you say so let’s start this project with a Nintendo 64 game
this project with a Nintendo 64 game
this project with a Nintendo 64 game controller
controller
controller I chose yellow because this way it’ll
I chose yellow because this way it’ll
I chose yellow because this way it’ll match the randomizer rocket I’ll show
match the randomizer rocket I’ll show
match the randomizer rocket I’ll show you how to build in another project
you how to build in another project
you how to build in another project video keep an eye out for that now if we
video keep an eye out for that now if we
video keep an eye out for that now if we flip the control over you’ll see there
flip the control over you’ll see there
flip the control over you’ll see there are nine screws holding the two halves
are nine screws holding the two halves
are nine screws holding the two halves together and all it takes to remove them
together and all it takes to remove them
together and all it takes to remove them is a small Phillips head screwdriver
is a small Phillips head screwdriver
is a small Phillips head screwdriver make sure you save the screws in a
make sure you save the screws in a
make sure you save the screws in a really safe place because we will need
really safe place because we will need
really safe place because we will need them to put the controller back together
them to put the controller back together
them to put the controller back together at the end with the screws removed let’s
at the end with the screws removed let’s
at the end with the screws removed let’s separate the two halves and take a peek
separate the two halves and take a peek
separate the two halves and take a peek inside you can see the upper half is the
inside you can see the upper half is the
inside you can see the upper half is the more complicated side where all the
more complicated side where all the
more complicated side where all the buttons and electronics are so let’s
buttons and electronics are so let’s
buttons and electronics are so let’s just leave that alone for a second and
just leave that alone for a second and
just leave that alone for a second and work on the bottom half instead grab a
work on the bottom half instead grab a
work on the bottom half instead grab a pair of pliers and look for the plastic
pair of pliers and look for the plastic
pair of pliers and look for the plastic support where the a button goes then
support where the a button goes then
support where the a button goes then grip it firmly and tear it off because
grip it firmly and tear it off because
grip it firmly and tear it off because we don’t need it while we’re here let’s
we don’t need it while we’re here let’s
we don’t need it while we’re here let’s rip the top off the housing where the
rip the top off the housing where the
rip the top off the housing where the controller packs go as well it’ll all
controller packs go as well it’ll all
controller packs go as well it’ll all make sense in just a second now it’s
make sense in just a second now it’s
make sense in just a second now it’s really helpful to file and grind down
really helpful to file and grind down
really helpful to file and grind down the little ridges on the inner walls of
the little ridges on the inner walls of
the little ridges on the inner walls of the slot and clean up the rough edges
the slot and clean up the rough edges
the slot and clean up the rough edges where any plastic got removed it’ll take
where any plastic got removed it’ll take
where any plastic got removed it’ll take a bit of work but when all the walls are
a bit of work but when all the walls are
a bit of work but when all the walls are relatively flat and you’ve smoothed down
relatively flat and you’ve smoothed down
relatively flat and you’ve smoothed down most of the rough edges you’ll find that
most of the rough edges you’ll find that
most of the rough edges you’ll find that you can push two 9-volt batteries inside
you can push two 9-volt batteries inside
you can push two 9-volt batteries inside and they fit perfectly that means we can
and they fit perfectly that means we can
and they fit perfectly that means we can make an improvised power pack to keep
make an improvised power pack to keep
make an improvised power pack to keep the whole system portable and
the whole system portable and
the whole system portable and self-contained ok we’re finished with
self-contained ok we’re finished with
self-contained ok we’re finished with the bottom half of the controller for
the bottom half of the controller for
the bottom half of the controller for now let’s move over to the top side go
now let’s move over to the top side go
now let’s move over to the top side go ahead and rip the circuit board right
ahead and rip the circuit board right
ahead and rip the circuit board right out of the casing but make sure you keep
out of the casing but make sure you keep
out of the casing but make sure you keep all the buttons in a safe place so you
all the buttons in a safe place so you
all the buttons in a safe place so you don’t have to waste time looking for
don’t have to waste time looking for
don’t have to waste time looking for them later
them later
them later I removed the three small screws to hold
I removed the three small screws to hold
I removed the three small screws to hold the thumbstick assembly to the casing
the thumbstick assembly to the casing
the thumbstick assembly to the casing and as you can
and as you can
and as you can see the whole thing just pops out now in
see the whole thing just pops out now in
see the whole thing just pops out now in one piece before we start modifying this
one piece before we start modifying this
one piece before we start modifying this unit there are a few quick adjustments
unit there are a few quick adjustments
unit there are a few quick adjustments that need to be made to the underside of
that need to be made to the underside of
that need to be made to the underside of the casing like breaking off the plastic
the casing like breaking off the plastic
the casing like breaking off the plastic Ridge right above the start button area
Ridge right above the start button area
Ridge right above the start button area and tearing off the support walls where
and tearing off the support walls where
and tearing off the support walls where the a button used to be this will free
the a button used to be this will free
the a button used to be this will free up some space for a few new components
up some space for a few new components
up some space for a few new components now we also need to drill a couple holes
now we also need to drill a couple holes
now we also need to drill a couple holes in the top so I’m using a fifteen sixty
in the top so I’m using a fifteen sixty
in the top so I’m using a fifteen sixty four inch drill bit to cut a hole
four inch drill bit to cut a hole
four inch drill bit to cut a hole directly in the center of where the
directly in the center of where the
directly in the center of where the Nintendo logo would normally be and a
Nintendo logo would normally be and a
Nintendo logo would normally be and a 3/32 inch bit to cut a sound hole just
3/32 inch bit to cut a sound hole just
3/32 inch bit to cut a sound hole just below that at this point the upper
below that at this point the upper
below that at this point the upper casing is completely finished so let’s
casing is completely finished so let’s
casing is completely finished so let’s get back to modifying the thumbstick
get back to modifying the thumbstick
get back to modifying the thumbstick assembly only one screw holds the
assembly only one screw holds the
assembly only one screw holds the assembly together but you need to be
assembly together but you need to be
assembly together but you need to be extremely careful when removing it
extremely careful when removing it
extremely careful when removing it because the whole casing is
because the whole casing is
because the whole casing is spring-loaded and they’ll try to burst
spring-loaded and they’ll try to burst
spring-loaded and they’ll try to burst open on you it’ll be a lot easier if you
open on you it’ll be a lot easier if you
open on you it’ll be a lot easier if you don’t let that happen the bottom part of
don’t let that happen the bottom part of
don’t let that happen the bottom part of the assembly is where the trigger button
the assembly is where the trigger button
the assembly is where the trigger button used to be and our goal here is to
used to be and our goal here is to
used to be and our goal here is to replace it with a momentary push-button
replace it with a momentary push-button
replace it with a momentary push-button switch of course that means willing to
switch of course that means willing to
switch of course that means willing to cut a space for it I tried using a 5/16
cut a space for it I tried using a 5/16
cut a space for it I tried using a 5/16 inch fit to carve a channel halfway
inch fit to carve a channel halfway
inch fit to carve a channel halfway through the casing which apparently
through the casing which apparently
through the casing which apparently keeps the brackets for the circuit board
keeps the brackets for the circuit board
keeps the brackets for the circuit board intact while creating just enough room
intact while creating just enough room
intact while creating just enough room to accommodate the button on the inside
to accommodate the button on the inside
to accommodate the button on the inside now if we dig up the original Z button
now if we dig up the original Z button
now if we dig up the original Z button circuit board and cut a 5/16 inch hole
circuit board and cut a 5/16 inch hole
circuit board and cut a 5/16 inch hole straight through the contact pad we
straight through the contact pad we
straight through the contact pad we should end up with a hole the right size
should end up with a hole the right size
should end up with a hole the right size for our switch I found this momentary
for our switch I found this momentary
for our switch I found this momentary switch in packs of four at a local
switch in packs of four at a local
switch in packs of four at a local electronics shop we don’t need the gap
electronics shop we don’t need the gap
electronics shop we don’t need the gap or a little tip at the end so go ahead
or a little tip at the end so go ahead
or a little tip at the end so go ahead and snap it off with a pair of pliers
and snap it off with a pair of pliers
and snap it off with a pair of pliers with the switch over and solder
with the switch over and solder
with the switch over and solder insulated copper wires to each of the
insulated copper wires to each of the
insulated copper wires to each of the terminals for durability and good
terminals for durability and good
terminals for durability and good electrical contact and when the solder
electrical contact and when the solder
electrical contact and when the solder cools you can see that connecting the
cools you can see that connecting the
cools you can see that connecting the button to the circuit board is as simple
button to the circuit board is as simple
button to the circuit board is as simple as pushing it through from the underside
as pushing it through from the underside
as pushing it through from the underside and tightening the washer and the hex
and tightening the washer and the hex
and tightening the washer and the hex nut securely on the top with a circuit
nut securely on the top with a circuit
nut securely on the top with a circuit board lock back in place you should be
board lock back in place you should be
board lock back in place you should be able to see how this new trigger button
able to see how this new trigger button
able to see how this new trigger button mimics the old Z button almost perfectly
mimics the old Z button almost perfectly
mimics the old Z button almost perfectly let’s go ahead and replace the joystick
let’s go ahead and replace the joystick
let’s go ahead and replace the joystick component so we can reattach the
component so we can reattach the
component so we can reattach the spring-loaded assembly and screw it all
spring-loaded assembly and screw it all
spring-loaded assembly and screw it all back together with that the modified
back together with that the modified
back together with that the modified assembly is finished so it can go back
assembly is finished so it can go back
assembly is finished so it can go back into place on the control cover and we
into place on the control cover and we
into place on the control cover and we can replace the three screws that hold
can replace the three screws that hold
can replace the three screws that hold it in position now before you do
it in position now before you do
it in position now before you do anything else it’s a good idea to put
anything else it’s a good idea to put
anything else it’s a good idea to put the control casing back together and
the control casing back together and
the control casing back together and make sure the new switch aligns with the
make sure the new switch aligns with the
make sure the new switch aligns with the trigger button I hooked mine to a
trigger button I hooked mine to a
trigger button I hooked mine to a multimeter to be extra sure and tested
multimeter to be extra sure and tested
multimeter to be extra sure and tested for electrical continuity each time the
for electrical continuity each time the
for electrical continuity each time the button was pressed it seems like
button was pressed it seems like
button was pressed it seems like everything is working perfectly so that
everything is working perfectly so that
everything is working perfectly so that means it’s time to load the controller
means it’s time to load the controller
means it’s time to load the controller with a few more goodies you’ll see what
with a few more goodies you’ll see what
with a few more goodies you’ll see what all these do in just
all these do in just
all these do in just I found a red push-button that’s an
I found a red push-button that’s an
I found a red push-button that’s an awesome replacement for the old a button
awesome replacement for the old a button
awesome replacement for the old a button and this is going to become the ignition
and this is going to become the ignition
and this is going to become the ignition switch for the actual rocket launch it’s
switch for the actual rocket launch it’s
switch for the actual rocket launch it’s got a plastic nut holding it from the
got a plastic nut holding it from the
got a plastic nut holding it from the backside which keeps it tight and helps
backside which keeps it tight and helps
backside which keeps it tight and helps prevent it from popping back out the
prevent it from popping back out the
prevent it from popping back out the next step is attaching the buzzer and a
next step is attaching the buzzer and a
next step is attaching the buzzer and a green LED I found that a ring of hot
green LED I found that a ring of hot
green LED I found that a ring of hot glue around the center hole is all it
glue around the center hole is all it
glue around the center hole is all it takes to hold the buzzer right where we
takes to hold the buzzer right where we
takes to hold the buzzer right where we need it and of course it works best if
need it and of course it works best if
need it and of course it works best if you can line the center up with the
you can line the center up with the
you can line the center up with the small sound hole we made earlier now you
small sound hole we made earlier now you
small sound hole we made earlier now you should find that the sub miniature green
should find that the sub miniature green
should find that the sub miniature green LED makes an excellent fit with the
LED makes an excellent fit with the
LED makes an excellent fit with the other hole we made at the top and this
other hole we made at the top and this
other hole we made at the top and this one will need to be held in place with
one will need to be held in place with
one will need to be held in place with hot glue as well because there’s no room
hot glue as well because there’s no room
hot glue as well because there’s no room for the hex nut just use a liberal
for the hex nut just use a liberal
for the hex nut just use a liberal amount of hot glue and when it cools
amount of hot glue and when it cools
amount of hot glue and when it cools that LED won’t be going anywhere at this
that LED won’t be going anywhere at this
that LED won’t be going anywhere at this point all the major components are
point all the major components are
point all the major components are installed so let’s solder them together
installed so let’s solder them together
installed so let’s solder them together and bring this launch controller to life
and bring this launch controller to life
and bring this launch controller to life I cut up the cord from an old cell phone
I cut up the cord from an old cell phone
I cut up the cord from an old cell phone charger and wired everything together
charger and wired everything together
charger and wired everything together using this schematic I designed the
using this schematic I designed the
using this schematic I designed the circuit to run on two 9-volt batteries
circuit to run on two 9-volt batteries
circuit to run on two 9-volt batteries in parallel so it has a higher current
in parallel so it has a higher current
in parallel so it has a higher current the LED and buzzer are set in parallel
the LED and buzzer are set in parallel
the LED and buzzer are set in parallel as well but only work if the button and
as well but only work if the button and
as well but only work if the button and the trigger is pressed when the trigger
the trigger is pressed when the trigger
the trigger is pressed when the trigger is pulled a very small electrical
is pulled a very small electrical
is pulled a very small electrical current will pass through the igniter to
current will pass through the igniter to
current will pass through the igniter to check whether it’s intact or whether
check whether it’s intact or whether
check whether it’s intact or whether it’s damaged if the connection is good
it’s damaged if the connection is good
it’s damaged if the connection is good then the small electrical current
then the small electrical current
then the small electrical current continues to flow through the circuit
continues to flow through the circuit
continues to flow through the circuit lighting up the LED and sounding the
lighting up the LED and sounding the
lighting up the LED and sounding the warning buzzer letting you know that the
warning buzzer letting you know that the
warning buzzer letting you know that the igniter has continuity and is ready for
igniter has continuity and is ready for
igniter has continuity and is ready for ignition
ignition
ignition now even though electricity is flowing
now even though electricity is flowing
now even though electricity is flowing it’s only around 40 milliamps and that’s
it’s only around 40 milliamps and that’s
it’s only around 40 milliamps and that’s not near enough to set off the igniter
not near enough to set off the igniter
not near enough to set off the igniter it actually needs closer to 2 amps or 50
it actually needs closer to 2 amps or 50
it actually needs closer to 2 amps or 50 times more power for proper ignition if
times more power for proper ignition if
times more power for proper ignition if you’re ready to launch keep the trigger
you’re ready to launch keep the trigger
you’re ready to launch keep the trigger pulled and pressed the red button
pulled and pressed the red button
pulled and pressed the red button simultaneously this opens the electrical
simultaneously this opens the electrical
simultaneously this opens the electrical floodgates and send the surge of around
floodgates and send the surge of around
floodgates and send the surge of around 6 amps to be ignited firing it off
6 amps to be ignited firing it off
6 amps to be ignited firing it off instantly all right now that the
instantly all right now that the
instantly all right now that the connection points are soldered and
connection points are soldered and
connection points are soldered and insulated with electrical tape we just
insulated with electrical tape we just
insulated with electrical tape we just got a few finishing touches left find
got a few finishing touches left find
got a few finishing touches left find the circuit board you ripped out earlier
the circuit board you ripped out earlier
the circuit board you ripped out earlier and draw two lines one on the bottom
and draw two lines one on the bottom
and draw two lines one on the bottom side of the controller pack connection
side of the controller pack connection
side of the controller pack connection and another that humps up and over the
and another that humps up and over the
and another that humps up and over the contact pad for the a button we can make
contact pad for the a button we can make
contact pad for the a button we can make things a little more tidy by ripping all
things a little more tidy by ripping all
things a little more tidy by ripping all the wires and cords off the board and if
the wires and cords off the board and if
the wires and cords off the board and if we use a large pair of pliers to grip
we use a large pair of pliers to grip
we use a large pair of pliers to grip the slot for the controller pack and
the slot for the controller pack and
the slot for the controller pack and give it a good twist it’ll snap right
give it a good twist it’ll snap right
give it a good twist it’ll snap right off now carefully break off pieces of
off now carefully break off pieces of
off now carefully break off pieces of the board around the a button then grind
the board around the a button then grind
the board around the a button then grind down any rough edges with a file to
down any rough edges with a file to
down any rough edges with a file to clean it up and make it look
clean it up and make it look
clean it up and make it look sir find the silicon button pad next
sir find the silicon button pad next
sir find the silicon button pad next with the six contacts on it and if you
with the six contacts on it and if you
with the six contacts on it and if you use a marker to draw a line separating
use a marker to draw a line separating
use a marker to draw a line separating out where the a button would be then
out where the a button would be then
out where the a button would be then simply use a pair of scissors to cut it
simply use a pair of scissors to cut it
simply use a pair of scissors to cut it off then that’s it we can go ahead and
off then that’s it we can go ahead and
off then that’s it we can go ahead and gather up all the buttons now and put
gather up all the buttons now and put
gather up all the buttons now and put the whole thing back together when the
the whole thing back together when the
the whole thing back together when the components are back in place go ahead
components are back in place go ahead
components are back in place go ahead and lay the modified button pad in
and lay the modified button pad in
and lay the modified button pad in position now it should make sense why we
position now it should make sense why we
position now it should make sense why we had to make that cut the circuit board
had to make that cut the circuit board
had to make that cut the circuit board goes in next to help keep the buttons
goes in next to help keep the buttons
goes in next to help keep the buttons from falling out and to make sure they
from falling out and to make sure they
from falling out and to make sure they look and act like normal
look and act like normal
look and act like normal now before we screw the casing together
now before we screw the casing together
now before we screw the casing together there’s just one thing left to do and
there’s just one thing left to do and
there’s just one thing left to do and that’s to add 30-foot lead wires so we
that’s to add 30-foot lead wires so we
that’s to add 30-foot lead wires so we can ignite the Rockets from a distance
can ignite the Rockets from a distance
can ignite the Rockets from a distance and for that I’m using a hundred-foot
and for that I’m using a hundred-foot
and for that I’m using a hundred-foot roll of 24 gauge speaker wire I found at
roll of 24 gauge speaker wire I found at
roll of 24 gauge speaker wire I found at the hardware store I soldered and taped
the hardware store I soldered and taped
the hardware store I soldered and taped the wires into position then tied a knot
the wires into position then tied a knot
the wires into position then tied a knot on the inside of the casing to protect
on the inside of the casing to protect
on the inside of the casing to protect the wire from getting pulled out
the wire from getting pulled out
the wire from getting pulled out accidentally at this point let’s feed
accidentally at this point let’s feed
accidentally at this point let’s feed the two 9-volt battery clips through the
the two 9-volt battery clips through the
the two 9-volt battery clips through the slot for the controller pack and screw
slot for the controller pack and screw
slot for the controller pack and screw the two halves back together just like
the two halves back together just like
the two halves back together just like that our n64 rocket launch controller is
that our n64 rocket launch controller is
that our n64 rocket launch controller is completely finished and ready for
completely finished and ready for
completely finished and ready for testing I hooked up two 9-volt batteries
testing I hooked up two 9-volt batteries
testing I hooked up two 9-volt batteries and push them into place then gathered
and push them into place then gathered
and push them into place then gathered up a handful of my homemade rocket
up a handful of my homemade rocket
up a handful of my homemade rocket igniters which you can learn how to make
igniters which you can learn how to make
igniters which you can learn how to make in another project video just for
in another project video just for
in another project video just for convenience I attach alligator clips on
convenience I attach alligator clips on
convenience I attach alligator clips on the ends of each wire so the leads will
the ends of each wire so the leads will
the ends of each wire so the leads will bite onto the igniters this way we can
bite onto the igniters this way we can
bite onto the igniters this way we can hook up and even change igniters within
hook up and even change igniters within
hook up and even change igniters within a matter of seconds now if the electric
a matter of seconds now if the electric
a matter of seconds now if the electric match has continuity it then when we
match has continuity it then when we
match has continuity it then when we press the trigger button a green light
press the trigger button a green light
press the trigger button a green light and buzzer come on telling us the system
and buzzer come on telling us the system
and buzzer come on telling us the system is armed and ready for launch and
is armed and ready for launch and
is armed and ready for launch and pressing the red button next we’ll light
pressing the red button next we’ll light
pressing the red button next we’ll light it up and of course 30-foot lead wires
it up and of course 30-foot lead wires
it up and of course 30-foot lead wires mean we can remotely launch our rockets
mean we can remotely launch our rockets
mean we can remotely launch our rockets now from a pretty good distance away I
now from a pretty good distance away I
now from a pretty good distance away I took this launch controller out into the
took this launch controller out into the
took this launch controller out into the desert to test on homemade rockets and
desert to test on homemade rockets and
desert to test on homemade rockets and sugar motors that I showed you how to
sugar motors that I showed you how to
sugar motors that I showed you how to make in another project video you can
make in another project video you can
make in another project video you can see that with everything connected
see that with everything connected
see that with everything connected properly the controller works exactly
properly the controller works exactly
properly the controller works exactly how we hoped it would so we don’t have
how we hoped it would so we don’t have
how we hoped it would so we don’t have to worry about lighting a fuse and
to worry about lighting a fuse and
to worry about lighting a fuse and running away anymore because instead now
running away anymore because instead now
running away anymore because instead now we have the ability to launch rockets or
we have the ability to launch rockets or
we have the ability to launch rockets or if you light pyrotechnics with the
if you light pyrotechnics with the
if you light pyrotechnics with the simple push of a button well now you
simple push of a button well now you
simple push of a button well now you know how to convert an old video game
know how to convert an old video game
know how to convert an old video game controller into a remote-controlled
controller into a remote-controlled
controller into a remote-controlled rocket launch controller that not only
rocket launch controller that not only
rocket launch controller that not only looks awesome but launches freaking
looks awesome but launches freaking
looks awesome but launches freaking rockets in real life by the way if
rockets in real life by the way if
rockets in real life by the way if you’re wondering what to do with the
you’re wondering what to do with the
you’re wondering what to do with the leftover cord from the controller don’t
leftover cord from the controller don’t
leftover cord from the controller don’t throw it away instead use it to
throw it away instead use it to
throw it away instead use it to mass-produce another round of igniters
mass-produce another round of igniters
mass-produce another round of igniters for future launches well that’s it for
for future launches well that’s it for
for future launches well that’s it for now if you liked this project perhaps
now if you liked this project perhaps
now if you liked this project perhaps you’ll like some my others check them
you’ll like some my others check them
you’ll like some my others check them out at the king of random
out at the king of random
out at the king of random komm yes hey guys at the end of this
komm yes hey guys at the end of this
komm yes hey guys at the end of this video but it’s not the end of the
video but it’s not the end of the
video but it’s not the end of the adventure click here to see the last
adventure click here to see the last
adventure click here to see the last project and click here to see the next
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I’ve made over 100 project videos for
I’ve made over 100 project videos for you to check out and I’m still making
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you to check out and I’m still making new videos every 5 days so click here to
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email every time I upload in the meantime here are a few other videos I
meantime here are a few other videos I
meantime here are a few other videos I recommend watching they’re all favorites
recommend watching they’re all favorites
recommend watching they’re all favorites for different reasons and you’ll learn
for different reasons and you’ll learn
for different reasons and you’ll learn something new in every project
something new in every project
something new in every project thank you for watching sharing and
thank you for watching sharing and
thank you for watching sharing and supporting my videos and I’ll see you in
supporting my videos and I’ll see you in
supporting my videos and I’ll see you in the next project video affect you then
the next project video affect you then
the next project video affect you then [Music]
”
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