going-digital/sdnes

SD converter mod-board for the Nintendo NES Classic, Famicom classic, SNES Classic and Superfamicom classic. For use with Hakchi.

SDnes

An internal SD card modification for the Nintendo NES/SNES/Famicom/SuperFamicom classic consoles

This design is a mod-board that solders directly onto the PCB. This board allows the console to a Micro-SD card. This works well with Hakchi and the tools at Hakchi Resources. The board is designed with KiCad 5.

It is:

• Cheap
• Home solderable (although you will need a fine tip)
• Compatible with Hakchi firmware
• Tidy
• Open source
• NOT easy to solder. The minimal install requires soldering pads that are 1mm apart. If you are used to soldering surface mount, no problem. If not, this should not be your first project. (But it is open source, so if you want to flood eBay with them, be my guest!)
• NOT as convenient as a ready-made board.
• NOT suitable for users who often remove their MicroSD card. I use Hakchi to make changes remotely over USB or WiFi instead.

Alternatives

• Super Storage is a fully assembled board that allows much easier access.
• SD breakout boards can be handwired.
• For ultimate cheapness, an SD to microSD adapter makes a functional breakout board, and everyone has a spare.

Bill of Materials

There are two versions of this mod. If your console main board has the marking "FTM-NES", you will need the NES version. If it is marked "FTM-SHVC", you will need the SHVC version. The other components are the same.

Component	Description	Source
SK1	Molex 500901-0801	RS:670-2430, Farnell:1344008, Digikey:WM19081CT-ND, Mouser:538-500901-0801, Octopart
PCB NES	PCB	Oshpark or your chosen fabricator.
or PCB SHVC	PCB	Oshpark or your chosen fabricator.

Optionally card access indicator: Fit R1 (1Kohm, 0603) and D1 (Red LED, 0603).

Optional decoupling: Fit C1 (100nF, 0603)

Fitting the NES version

• First, solder the card socket onto the mod PCB.
• Remove the metal cover plate over the console PCB.
• Mount the PCB as shown below. Hold it in place with tape, taking care to precisely align the holes with the test pads. Image placeholder
• While keeping the mod PCB aligned and gently pressed onto the console, flood the larger pad holes with solder.
• Then flood the smaller pad holes with solder.
• Carefully remove the tape. Apply a small amount of hot glue to mechanically secure the mod PCB down.
• Insert the prepared SD card and latch it in place.

Fitting the SHVC version

• First, solder the card socket onto the mod PCB.
• Remove the console PCB, and turn it over. The mod PCB fits on the rear.
• Mount the PCB as shown below. Hold it in place with tape, taking care to precisely align the holes with the test pads. Image placeholder
• While keeping the mod PCB aligned and gently pressed onto the console, flood the larger pad holes with solder.
• Then flood the smaller pad holes with solder.
• Carefully remove the tape. Apply a small amount of hot glue to mechanically secure the mod PCB down.
• Insert the prepared SD card and latch it in place.

Licensing

This design is licensed with the Solderpad 2.0 License.

sdnes's Issues

optional Led, Res, and Cap

I cant see anywhere that tells me where to put the optional components.

I have soldered the sd card adapter to the NES and SNES pcbs from but the optional components are not labeled on the PCB or on the github

SHVC version fouls in NES case

SHVC version fouls against controller 1 backshell when used in NES enclosure. It is also very close to a support rib in the case, and might foul on some installations.

Check compatibility of NES and SHVC with Famicom enclosure

I don’t have access to a Famicom enclosure. Looking for assistance in closing this issue. It would be good to know these mods are Famicom compatible.

Feature request: Optional FPC extension + second PCB

First of all I want to say thank you for making this availible. I think it's great that people can upload even just anything to a PCB fabricator and have a low cost professional solution. Hats off to you sir.

I don't really expect that this will be addressed being that this is has not been updated for a while, but due to the first PCB like this I've owned having been the Super Storage v3 by echo10, I can't help my fondness of the FPC cable extension. It's nice to be able to mount the SD card slot somewhere different than the solder points on the bottom of the SNES classic motherboard.

I know I've seen at least one shop surface with a closed source PCB offering the same functionality of the Super Storage v3, but I wonder if this functionality could be incorporated into this project's minimal design.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but this seems like a minimalist PCB intentionally. As such, I would imagine it would be preferred to the author that the base PCB remains open ended to either use case: optional FPC extension & PCB, or use as currently designed.

Thinking about this, if it's possible to design this way, maybe the FPC pads should be underneath where the SDcard slot is mounted on the main PCB. Idea here is, that way an end user can't have both sd card slots mounted at the same time. Either chose the base PCB for the microSD slot location or choose the secondary PCB to mount the microSD slot, then solder the FPC connector in place of where the slot would go on the base PCB.

I'm going to attempt to learn some cad in the meantime to see if this is something I can pull off on my own. If I do make some progress I suppose I can fork this and see where it goes. I just like the open source nature and small footprint of your design. Idea is pitched with intent to keep what some would consider an unnecessary feature an option without forcing it or compromising the minimalist nature.

Silkscreen error on NES version

NES version should reference NES, not SHVC on rear silkscreen.