VISUAL MEMORY UNIT
VMU: Battery Pack Extension Experiment
Platform: Dreamcast
Version: Final Version
ID: Kurtis “UltraSuperSaiyan” Mays
E-mail: LeJune_Mays@Hotmail.com
Created: February 24, 2001 2:05 PM
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Table of contents
I. Legal Rights
II. Introduction
III. Experiment: How to create your own battery pack extension
A. Materials and Equipment Required
B. Procedure (Very simplistic step by step)
C. Trouble Shooting
IV. Special advantages for your new battery pack
V. Contact Information
VI. About Myself
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I. Legal Rights (special attention Webmasters and Web abusers)
I will allow anyone who wants to use this FAQ on his or her
Official Websites, Only if you contact me and ask me or I specifically send
it directly to you. If you do have my permission, you must make sure that I
have Full Credit for the production of this FAQ that you are using on your
Website.
Copyright:
© Copyright 2001-2002 Kurtis “UltraSuperSaiyan” Mays. No one may
change or use for any type of illegal profit. It may be reproduce and
Printed for personal or private use. My FAQ can only be placed in a magazine
or Publication if you contact me and I give you my approval and you must be
sure to give me full credit.
________________________________________________________________________
II. Introduction
The purpose for this Experiment, is for everyone who is having trouble
with the short life span of the VMU batteries while operating their VMU’s
hand held features. This Experiment will show you how to make a battery
pack extension and to properly connect it to your VMU without causing any
damage to your VMU. When this Experiment is completed, you will have a very
close to everlasting batteries, plus many more different and helpful
advantages for the use of your VMU hand held game play, which I will be
discussing later in this Experiment.
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III. Experiment: How to create you own battery pack extension
A. Materials and Equipment Required
1. Visual Memory Unit
2. Phillips Screw Driver
3. Needle Nose Pliers
4. This is only for those who know how to solder. Red and black Wire
[From Radio Shack (3 feet + recommended)]. If you do not know how to
solder, do not use wire.
5. This is for those who do not know how to solder. A pair of Red and black
wire leads will alligator clips on each end. From Radio Shack
6. Battery Bracket (which contains the space for 4 AA batteries with two
external wires) From Radio Shack
7. 4 AA batteries
8. Soldering Iron. (This is only for those who know how to solder)
9. Solder. (For those who solder)
10. Electrical Tape (Any hardware Store)
11. Velcro (any store) Not Required, Optional
B. Procedure (very simplistic step by step)
Step: 1.Take your Battery Bracket (6) and 4 AA batteries (7). Place the
batteries inside the brackets. Make sure all the batteries are turn in the
proper directions. Now take your Electrical tape (11) and place a couple of
strips across your batteries so the will not fall out. If you have done
this correctly, you now have yourself a battery pack. Place it aside for
later use.
Step: 2.Pick up your VMU (1) as if you are going to play it . Then flip it
over to the left or to the right. Now your VMU’s Battery cover end should
be the closest to you. Take your Phillips Screw Driver (2) and open the
cover and remove your VMU batteries. (You will not need them neither your
VMU cover anymore).
Step: 3.Your VMU should still be in the same position (Cover end closest to
you). Notice the bigger spring type tab in the bottom of your VMU where you
removed your batteries and a smaller 2-prong tab sticking out from right
side. Take your Needle Nose Pliers (3) and straighten that 2-prong tab out
as much as you can.
Step: 4a.(For those who do not know how to solder) Take your Red and Black
leads with the alligator clip ends (5). Clip one end of the black lead to
the big tab in the bottom of the VMU and clip one end of the red lead to the
smaller 2-prong tab sticking out of the right side. Now take your Battery
Pack that you put together earlier. Notice the 2 red and black wires on the
battery pack. Now it is just a simple game of Matching colors. Hook the
clip at the other end of the black lead from the VMU to the black wire of
the battery pack. Then, connect the clip at the other end of the red lead
from the VMU to the red wire of the battery pack. Your VMU should beep to
conform that you have connected your VMU properly.
Step: 4b.(For those who solder) Take your Red and Black wires (4), Soldering
Iron (8), and Solder (9). Follow the same instructions listed in 4A, except
where it tells you to hook or connect, you will actually be soldering.
Step: 5.Take the electrical tape (10). Tape up your wires as if your are
trying to cover up a cut on your arm. Rap tape firmly where you can see any
bare wire. Of course, you can’t really put any tape around the alligator
clips, so everyone who is using the soldering technique will not have to
worry about any wires coming loose. WARNING- DO NOT PUT TOO MUCH TAPE AROUND
YOUR VMU, OR IT WILL NOT FIT INTO YOUR DREAMCAST CONTROLLER.
Step: 6.Finally, the Velcro (11), is for you to decide a very stable place
to place your battery pack while you are using your VMU. (Optional) I
recommend the Velcro if your are using alligator clips.
C. Trouble Shooting
Q: If my VMU did not beep after I connected my battery pack?
A: 1) Make sure your batteries are in the Battery bracket correctly. 2)
Check to make sure you have your wires connected properly. 3) Check your
wire connection points. 3) Make sure your batteries are not already dead if
you did not buy new batteries.
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IV. Special Advantages for your new battery pack
1) With my new battery pack, I am able to play VMU for days without one sign
of my batteries getting low.
2) If my batteries die, I will not have to go buy a brand new memory card as
many others do.
3) If my AA’s ever die. I do not have to worry about looking for those very
rare expensive batteries. I can go to the nearest store and grab a pack of
AA’s.
4) My battery pack has not run low since I have created it.
5) I have no problem inserting my VMU into my controller.
6) You would think that the battery pack would be heavy, its not.
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V. Contact Information
You can contact me at Lejune_Mays@hotmail.com. I am usually lurking around
in the GameFaqs message boards and Chats under they name
UltraSuperSaiyan.com
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VI. About My Self
I am currently in college studying to be an Electronic Engineer Technician.
I think every heavy gamer should be in this field, we can come up with more
ideas like this one. I am mean this was to easy, because almost every
assignment I turn in has to be in some sort of report or a speech such as
this one.
