AC to DC Power Adapter Controller Modification ============================================== I got sick of buying AAA batteries , so I came up with this cheap and handy little controller modification. All of the parts are available at Radio Shack at a low cost, and assembly is quick and easy. Note that a little soldering experience is required. Radio Shack Parts List ---------------------- 273-1754 - 3V 1000mA Compact Power Adapter: $4.99 (sale price) URL - http://www.radioshack.com/search.asp?find=273-1754 Pic - http://www.radioshack.com/images/ProductCatalog/ProductImage/273/273-1754.jpg 273-1716 - Size "M" Adaptaplug: $0.00 (free with above power adapter) URL - http://www.radioshack.com/search.asp?find=273-1716 Pic - http://www.radioshack.com/images/ProductCatalog/ProductImage/273/273-1716.jpg 274-1582 - Size "M" Panel Mount Coaxial Power Jack: $2.49 URL - http://www.radioshack.com/search.asp?find=274-1582 Pic - http://www.radioshack.com/images/ProductCatalog/ProductImage/274/274-1582.jpg Instructions ------------ 1) Remove the four screws and open the controller housing. 2) Drill a 5/16" hole on the rear half of the controller housing. The best place to drill (to have enough room for the power jack) is in between the upper-left and lower-left screw posts (when viewed from the rear of the controller), and 1/4" to the right of these two posts (again, when viewed from the rear of the controller). This will allow adequate room for the rear (internal portion) of the power jack. 3) Trim a little off of the lugs on the power jack with wire cutters to allow adequate room for the rear (internal portion) of the power jack. 4) Mount the the power jack in the rear portion of the controller housing. 5) De-solder the black wire from the negative battery compartment lug. 6) The power jack has three solder lugs on it when viewed from the rear of it (left lug, top lug, and right lug). Solder the black wire to the top lug of the power jack. 7) Solder a new wire from the right lug of the power jack to where the original black wire was connected to the negative battery compartment lug. 8) Solder a new wire from the left lug of the power jack to the positive battery compartment lug (there will already be a red wire coming from the PC board to this lug, leave that one were it currently is when soldering the new wire). 9) Reassemble the controller housing. 10) Connect the adaptaplug to the power adapter so that the center tip of the plug is positive. 11) Bingo! No more AAA batteries (at least if you're near an AC outlet )! Useage ------ The way that the power jack functions (when connected like described above), is that it will disconnect the internal AAA batteries when the AC to DC power adapter is connected (so the batteries won't be damaged), and then reconnect the internal AAA batteries when the power adapter is disconnected. Conclusion ---------- Total Price: $7.48 + tax Total Time: 30 minutes Future Battery Cost: $00.00, Zilch, Zilcho, Nada, Null, Nothing -:) ENJOY! ------ Rich „Weeds„ Nagel RichNagel@compuserve.com