NESPi CASE by Retroflag

[Matra]

@lesensei That's exactly what I plan to do - when I next open it up

Probably some point next week - which is probably too far away for some of you impatient people but I've only just finished my 7" TFT guide (I also work full time and a Dad of a young toddler so 'free time' is not something I have often lol)

I'll go into as much detail as possible whilst keeping it simple, showing my thought process and how I went about doing what I did. That way people get more of an insight into how to do these things themselves in the future (if they are feeling brave).

[lesensei]

Thanks @matra, that's very good to hear. I'm indeed impatient, but by no means do I want to put undue pressure on you. I have a full time job and 2 young children myself so I can relate !
Actually, my recalbox+nespi project is supposed to be the xmas gift for my eldest son, who I saw having a hard time playing super mario with his cousins for lack of experience with a joypad... I want it to work nice and easy, but if the power buttons are not perfect when he gets it, I don't think he'll mind very much

Thanks again for your insights.

[xtreemsurf]

@lesensei

Thanks, @Matra for all your wisdom. I'm definitely in no rush. I've been doing a little work with the fan on my homemade case and I'm considering keeping my current case instead of switching to the NesPi. I really like the look of the NesPi though!

I have 4 1/2 year old twins and a 10 month old, so I also don't have as much time as I'd like to work on projects like this. I built the current Pi for my twins so they could experience some of the games my wife and I used to play when we were growing up.

I'll keep watching this thread, but definitely take your time on the guide. Family comes first!

[Matra]

@xtreemsurf @lesensei
Not sure if you've seen my other project here: https://forum.recalbox.com/topic/9934/guide-recalbox-on-7-tft I've made it as simple as possible for others to create what I did.

I'm making good progress on the smaller screen too (using the adafruit 2.8" screen) but that might go on temporary hold next week whilst I finish off my NESPi box

I'm very happy with the configs, custom splash screens and intro video on my 7" and consider that project done (so now I can play games on it more lol)

Need to implement my new idea with the fan in the nespi with power running off the switch and make a few other tweaks. Hopefully by the end of next week as I tend to tweak it on lunch breaks at work

[Seramis12345]

Hi there. I have Voigt the case too but I have some serious issues with it. I brought the Recalbox to friends, to have a retro Gaming night. But it turned into a nightmare. The Bluetooth stick couldnt connect to neither Ps3 normalerweise ps4 controllers, because for some reason the Board doesn't have enough current for more than one controller. I have a good 3.5 Power supply and if I rip the py out of the case ist works like a Charm.

Furthermore it was also impossible to connect the controllers via USB. More than two of them made the pi restart All over again, because there wasn't enough Power. I am wondering if the case I received is Faulty? S**tty Controllers for 5€ did the trick, but top notch Hardware doesn't work.

I am also using a fan, removing it changed nothing. I am not overclocked and the Recalbox works very well without the case.

Any ideas? Could I just buy a better Power supply with more then 3.5 Amperes?

[lesensei]

Hello @Seramis12345

I have read elsewhere that indeed the case is giving problems to people connecting USB devices on it: since it uses its own power module to power the Pi through the GPIOs, I guess it has its own limits and buying a different power supply won't help (as you have seen yourself, your power supply is not at fault).

I still chose to buy this case because I intend on using bluetooth controllers, but indeed I think this case is not for everyone. Or you need to make more hardware tweaks to it in order to use your own power supply directly...

Regards,

[Dragu]

I have still one spare PI3 lying around, and like my bartop is finished, I decided to put it also to work.
So, I order a black Nespi Case
https://www.amazon.de/Yikeshu-Retroflag-Himbeer-Modell-Himbeere/dp/B075QG8R4J/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1509963504&sr=8-9&keywords=nespi+case
and such 180° USB connector
https://www.amazon.de/abgewinkelt-2-0-Adapter-Stecker-Verlängerung-90-180-Grad/dp/B00DPQ84R2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1509963660&sr=8-4&keywords=usb+180°
I hope that it will fit for the CSL Sanwa Clone receiver, to put everything together in the box. So also television now involved....

[Seramis12345]

I guess you got me wront here. I am indeed using the device with a bluetooth dongle. It workd perfectly with the pi itself but when I am using the NESPI Case, I don´t get enought current for pairing a new controller. This is due to the fact that in order to pair a new controller, you have to connect it via USB . And as soon as this is happening, the pi doesn´t get enough current, resulting in strange behaviours. Such as: Restarting itself, working USB-Connection but not working bluetooth dongle or vica versa. However one cannot connect new devices to the dongle. If you take away the case this is working. And I guess if you are willing to buy yourself 4 Controllers which you will only use with the Nespi and never ever with some other device, this may do the trick but then again.... 30 Euros for a device with a lacking current in terms of powering a single bluetooth dongle and one USB-Controller for the sole purpose of connecting it via Bluetooth and not powering it as a whole, is one f**king mess and I also think a rip of. I think I will do a hardware hack and cut wholes into the box, so use the normal pi outputs instead.

I was just asking here because I was curious if I have gotten a faulty device. But if everyone has these issues it is just pricy crap.

[Dragu]

@Seramis12345
Did you tried with an 180° angle directly on the PI3, and I use a bluetooth keyboard that works very good with the PI3 build inside bluetooth.

[lesensei]

Well indeed, @Seramis12345, given your use-case and the price you paid, you are entitled to consider it pricey crap

I for one am satisfied by the case and its build quality, but very much less so by the way the power and reset buttons work. I think I'll end up trying to use something akin to the method used in the imgur thread above, or the guide that @Matra has hinted to, depending of my adventurousness...

Regards,