Famicom 15 pin port -> Nes Controller adapter notes

[incrediblehark]

I told a member of these boards I would post my notes on a Famicom to NES controller cable. If anyone would like to add or make corrections feel free.

I made this cable a few years back when I was using an original Famicom, and didn't have the system 3 feet in front of me while I played. I used a neo geo extension cable (which was just an old M/F 15 pin rubberized extension cable i shaved to fit the neo) and 2 controller ports from an old broken NES. I was able to determine the pinouts using continuity and get down to what color wire corresponded on the nes 7 pin cable.

One of the issues I came across was that i could do 1P from the 15 pin port no problem, but issues would arise when I tried wiring up for P2 as well. In the end I disconnected the hardwired P1 Famicom controller from the main board, stripped a cat5e cable and used the wires to route the pins from their internal connector to the internal points on the 15pin. This could have probably been better done with a switch or IC of some kind but I didn't have the knowledge at the time or attempted to bother because I was fine with just disconnecting the hardwired controller. What I'm getting at is even with an adapter cable, an internal modification will be necessary to get full functionality out of the cable.


PIN # | Famicom DB-15 Connector

01 | GND
02 | Sound Output
03 | IRQ
04 | Port 1 - D4 (Zapper)
05 | Port 1 - D3 (Zapper)
06 | Port 1 - D2
07 | Port 1 - D1
08 | Port 1 - D0
09 | Port 1 - CLK
10 | Out 2
11 | Out 1
12 | Out 0
13 | Port 0 - D1
14 | Port 0 - CLK
15 | +5V


8                       1
  o o o o o o o o
    o o o o o o o
15                    9

PIN # | NES 7 Pin Connector | Wire color

01 | GND | Brown
02 | CLK | Red
03 | Out 0 |Orange
04 | D1 | Yellow
05 | D4 (Zapper - P2) | Purple
06 | D3 (Zapper - P2) | Blue
07 | +5V | White

      1
7   o
 o  o
 o  o
 o  o
5     4

Internal Famicom connections (underside of board - disconnect P1 controller)

DB15

8                       1
  o o o o o o o o
    o o o o o o o
 15                   9

P1 pins and pin # as it corresponds to the NES 1P connection

  o  o  o  o  o
  1  4  3  2  7

[DragonmasterDan]

I told a member of these boards I would post my notes on a Famicom to NES controller cable. If anyone would like to add or make corrections feel free.

I made this cable a few years back when I was using an original Famicom, and didn't have the system 3 feet in front of me while I played. I used a neo geo extension cable (which was just an old M/F 15 pin rubberized extension cable i shaved to fit the neo) and 2 controller ports from an old broken NES. I was able to determine the pinouts using continuity and get down to what color wire corresponded on the nes 7 pin cable.

One of the issues I came across was that i could do 1P from the 15 pin port no problem, but issues would arise when I tried wiring up for P2 as well. In the end I disconnected the hardwired P1 Famicom controller from the main board, stripped a cat5e cable and used the wires to route the pins from their internal connector to the internal points on the 15pin. This could have probably been better done with a switch or IC of some kind but I didn't have the knowledge at the time or attempted to bother because I was fine with just disconnecting the hardwired controller. What I'm getting at is even with an adapter cable, an internal modification will be necessary to get full functionality out of the cable.


PIN # | Famicom DB-15 Connector

01 | GND
02 | Sound Output
03 | IRQ
04 | Port 1 - D4 (Zapper)
05 | Port 1 - D3 (Zapper)
06 | Port 1 - D2
07 | Port 1 - D1
08 | Port 1 - D0
09 | Port 1 - CLK
10 | Out 2
11 | Out 1
12 | Out 0
13 | Port 0 - D1
14 | Port 0 - CLK
15 | +5V


8                       1
  o o o o o o o o
    o o o o o o o
15                    9

PIN # | NES 7 Pin Connector | Wire color

01 | GND | Brown
02 | CLK | Red
03 | Out 0 |Orange
04 | D1 | Yellow
05 | D4 (Zapper - P2) | Purple
06 | D3 (Zapper - P2) | Blue
07 | +5V | White

      1
7   o
 o  o
 o  o
 o  o
5     4

Internal Famicom connections (underside of board - disconnect P1 controller)

DB15

8                       1
  o o o o o o o o
    o o o o o o o
 15                   9

P1 pins and pin # as it corresponds to the NES 1P connection

  o  o  o  o  o
  1  4  3  2  7 

I have a Famicom EXT port to NES adapter I picked up off of Amazon some time ago and it works pretty well. It's nice to see some specs on how people can design their own too.

[technozombie]

I'm interested in one of those EXT port adapters for my Famicom Twin, but I could only find them for $25. It seemed a bit steep for something I don't "need".

[incrediblehark]

You could always take one of THESE and wire up one (or two) spare nes pads to it.

[technozombie]

You could always take one of THESE and wire up one (or two) spare nes pads to it.

I'll have to look and see if I have any controllers with trashed cords that I could do this to.