Installing an MC Cthulhu and Imp in an Xbox 360 SF4 SE stick

Tech Talk
81

So while I want on my Imp from Nareg, I’ve been trying to plan out how I want to do this mod. For the most part, I want to be as non-invasive as possible on the actual TE PCB. However, I can’t really see much of a way around soldering at least 4 points (possibly 5):
D+
D-
5v
Guide (I’d like one button for home/guide/pcb selection)

I also wanted to use a neutrik RJ45 jack for all cables, which makes adding an imp even more fun.

So here’s my diagram:
http://sites.google.com/site/joysticksetc/Home/dual-mod2.png

So, just to cover a points of my plan:

  • Connections between the barrier strip and MC will be soldered on the MC end and crimped .187 QD’s at the strip
  • Modified 5-pin will be made using an old PCB head from an SE stick
  • Connections from MC to buttons will be new wire screwed in at the MC and crimped .187’s at the buttons
  • Basically all existing button wires will be removed

Some of the wiring has me a bit confused, so I colored those runs and what to ask about them:
Red Wire - Vcc Imp to V1 on MC

  • Is this correct? I wasn’t sure if this should go here or the screw terminal

Purple Wire - Imp Guide to MC Home Screw Terminal

  • By soldering point 9 on the MC to the guide spot the TE PCB, I loop at this together correct?

Yellow Wire - MC Spot A to 5V on TE PCB

  • Wasn’t sure if this needed to go here (Cthulu doc says "where red usb cable went, but there’s also a Vcc spot on the PCB)

Green Wire - MC Spot C to TE PCB Ground

  • Ok, now I know Toodles has said that, when dealing with common ground pcbs, “Ground is Ground”, but I just wanted to make sure that using this ground is the only grounding between the two PCBs I need. Is that correct?

This probably seems like more work than is necessary, but its how I’d like to approach the project. Please let me know if I’m totally missing something if I’m outright wrong about something.

Note: The thick grey line was there for me to note the barrier strip’s connection to the PCB. Also, I know I don’t have LB/LT wired up, I don’t plan on using them, just wanted the “tougher” part of their pre-wiring done in case I do ever need them.

Thanks!

82

No responses? Was my diagram that bad? :rofl:

83

If you have an MC Cthulhu, yes.

Yup. The Guide button will control the Cthulhu Home, and since you also connected it to Guide on the Imp, it will control which PCB is used when plugged in.

Unlabelled point A is directly connected to the Cthulhu VCC screw terminal; you can use either point A or the VCC screw terminal to connect the line going to the MadCatz ‘USBVCC’ power line. Either way works exactly the same.

Would I lie? :slight_smile: Ground is ground is ground, and you have the ground on the MC (from point C) connected to ground on the MadCatz pcb through via the stick connector. That’ll work fine.

84

Thanks Toodles,

I’m just super paranoid that I’m going to screw something up with this. I need to hurry up and hit 500 posts so I can + rep you for all you’ve done for the community. :wgrin:

Time to get started on preliminary work!

85

Quick question.

I just got done modding my TE stick and everything works fine. Only issue I’ve come across is trying to power the PS3 on by using the Home button. It doesn’t work when I hold the button down.

Is this feature disabled when using the Cthulu?

86

Home button power up function ONLY works with official Sony SixAxis, DS3 or Blu-ray remotes.

I believe Sony didn’t implement low power polling of its USB ports in standby mode so USB devices can’t power up the system.

87

100% correct. This isn’t a limitation in the Cthulhu, this is Sony deciding that no wired devices should be able to turn on the system. Find me a wired controller that can power on the PS3, and I’ll do my best to figure out how to recreate it with the Cthulhu.

88

Oh okay, thanks for the reply.

By the way, thanks Toodles, Bomberman, and Faux123.

I just completed my dual mod last night after about 5hrs of modding. This was my first time ever soldering or wiring anything electronic. With the help of the images, writeups and especially the design of the boards, I was able to over come some of the slight fustrations and now I have a working dual mod TE stick.

Even though the wiring looks like a birds nest (I used 22 gauge wire =/) I’m still proud of the work.

89

I have a SE X360 stick and trying to put MC Cthulhu and Imp.

I think Im having problem with my Imp connection. When I connect the MC Cthulhu directly to PS3 and PC, it recognize my stick but when I connect it use built in Usb cable and connect to PS3 or PC, it doesn’t recognize it. I don’t have a problem on Xbox360.

My connections are
Imp
G -> SE PCB G
5v -> MC V1
2D+ -> MC D+
2D- -> MC D-
1D+ -> SE PCB D+
1D- -> SE PCB D1

G -> MC Guide

MC Connections
VCC -> SE PCB 5v
Guide -> SE PCB Guide (PCB behind the Guide) / Also to Imp
G -> SE PCB G

One thing that i haven’t done is connect the four holes on Imp; G-Blk, V-Red, D+Grn, and D-Wht.
Is this the reason why I’m having problem? Where should I connect it?

Thanks

90

Are you following my guide? Because if you did those wires would be connected, wouldn’t they? I mean, the USB cable should be attached from there.

91

Thanks for your reply Bomberman and Toodles for PCB & Imp

Yes, but the difference is I connected the 360 SE PCB’s D+ and D- points to the Imp’s 1D+ and 1D- points. The MC Cthulhu’s D+ and D- wires should connect to the Imp’s 2D+ and 2D- points.

On your guide you said,
Let’s install the SE’s USB cable to the Imp. The imp has four holes specifically for the USB cable at its top, so make sure you attach the USB cable wires to those exact holes. Solder the cable’s green wire to D+, white to D-, red to V, and black to G. We’re not using the shielded ground wire, so hopefully you cut that off already.

So can I connect the Imp USB
G-Blk -> SE PCB G (currently connected to Imp G)
V-Red -> SE PCB 5v (currently connected to MC VCC)
D+Grn -> SE PCB D+ (currently connected to Imp 1d+)
D-Wht -> SE PCB D- (currently connected to Imp 1d-)

Cheers.

92

I think I got it… After reading your reply and looking at your posted pics.

I didn’t attached the USB cable to Imp :slight_smile:

93

This is going to be a very n00b question so i do apologise :slight_smile:

My soldering skills is very very limited (i managed to mod the mayflash stick with sanwa parts, but i’m no soldering expert), so to keep soldering at the bare minimum, would i be better off getting the assembled cthulhu and just solder the wires for the buttons and direction stick? I’m also guessing that means having two different cables correct?

Is the advantage of doing this mod, so you only use the existing usb cable and the “imp” allows you to switch from different systems.

Also a few more questions…

  • Would you guys recommend this mod for the non-experienced solderers?
  • If you do end up doing this mod, does it always start on the ps3? So if for example, i change it to 360 mode, when i turn it off, and then turn it back on, will i need to hold the home/xbox key again to get into xbox mode? Or does it remember that it was in xbox mode?

thanks in advance.

94

would i be better off getting the assembled cthulhu and just solder the wires for the buttons and direction stick? I’m also guessing that means having two different cables correct?

I don’t like the screw-down terminals that come on the assembled Cthulhu. But if you wanted to make a dual-system stick as easily as possible, using both the 360 SE’s USB cable and the Cthulhu’s USB cable (with no switch or imp in-between), and thus having 2 cables coming out of the stick, would take the least effort.

Is the advantage of doing this mod, so you only use the existing usb cable and the “imp” allows you to switch from different systems.

Yes.

- Would you guys recommend this mod for the non-experienced solderers?

No. Too many things could go wrong and trouble-shooting is difficult. With that said, you have to make the jump from inexperienced to experienced solderer sometime…

- If you do end up doing this mod, does it always start on the ps3? So if for example, i change it to 360 mode, when i turn it off, and then turn it back on, will i need to hold the home/xbox key again to get into xbox mode? Or does it remember that it was in xbox mode?

No, the Imp/Cthulhu do not remember which system was last active. You have to hold the Guide button every time you want to use the stick with whatever console is connected to the # 2 spot on the Imp. But if you want 360 to be the primary system you can connect the Cthulhu to the #2 spot instead, as long as you don’t need the stick to work with GC, XBox1, and PS1/2.

95

question, how you guy mount the cthuhlu board on the TE?what size/kind as the pcb feet?

96

I just use #4 size bolts/nuts and drill holes in the black frame for them. 1/2" sized bolts.

97

So I just did a deviation of this mod. I didn’t use the Imp, I used a DPDT switch, and I made it so that the RJ-45 handled all connections, but this guide served as the base example for what to do. Everything works swimmingly. I’ll post pics when I can get them. Once again, thanks to Bomberman for the guide, and Toodles for pointing out the differences in what I need to do plus making this awesome board.

98

Edit:

I was doing a mod to a TE, but the computer doesn’t recognize it in either mode.
It seems to not have any power and/or data flowing.

Alright, I did a bit of testing with my multimeter and this is what I found:

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/2771/multitested.png

I tested the stuff in blue.

I stopped testing and unplugged the stick because the IMP started getting really hot, and I think the other boards did too.

What is going wrong?/What else should I test?

99

Hey thanks for answering so quickly, its greatly appreciated!!! :tup::tup::tup:

Yeah this looks like the easiest way of doing it, it saves me building the cthulhu, but i’m guessing if i can solder properly, then building the cthulhu won’t be too hard to build right? (i didn’t realise non-built one is pretty much half the price of the built one)

Can I still use an assembled cthulhu and solder the usb stuff on to the IMP?

thanks, thats what i thought, and that would be sooo much cleaner then having 2 cables.

I’m tempted to attempt the mod, I think i should be able to handle it, however, if I get too happy with solder, is there a possibilty to short out the pcb and effectively kill it? Or would things just not work and its a matter of taking excess solder out of a joint?

I could never get that de-soldering braid to work properly, so my soldering has to be perfect :confused::confused:

i’m not too worried about other consoles, just ps3 and 360 as those are the ones that i use atm, i wouldn’t mind PC support though for mame.

I’m guessing if i can get it to work for either the ps3/360, then it’ll work for the PC right? because they are both pc compatible by default.
*
Also, what do you mean by what ever is connected to the #2 spot on the Imp? I might need to read through the thread again, but i can’t find any reference in the guide and in the diagram that faux123 posted regarding #2 spot.* edit: never mind, i saw the pic of the IMP and its got 1 DU+/DU- and 2 DU+/DU-

Once again, i do thank you for this guide, as soon as the shops open, I’ll probably order 2 sets of boards (if i can get it to work, i’ll buy another TE stick and mod it as well)

100

Hey all just finished my 360 TE/Imp/MC Cthulu mod and it works perfectly! Thanks Toodles, Bomberman and faux couldn’t have done it without you guys.

The one problem I have right now is that after checking everything was wired up correctly, I krazy glued the points and some dripped on my case! So very sad…would anyone happen to know a solvent I can use that won’t damage the TE plastic?(outer black)