How To Install an NES cable onto a Multi-Console Cthulhu

This Instructable will guide you through installing an NES style controller cable onto a multi-console 'MC' Cthulhu.

All of the information about the Cthulhu project is available online in the Shoryuken.com forums:
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=162026

Please be quite aware that this Instructable applies only to the MC Cthulhu; if your Cthulhu was purchased advertised only for PS3/PC use, then you cannot add a Playstation cable and expect it to work. Upgrade chips are available if you would like to turn your PS3 Only Cthulhu into an MC Cthulhu. If you are unsure which one you have, plug your arcade stick into your computer with the Start and Select buttons held down. if you see a new device called 'Cthulhu Bootloader' get installed, you have an MC Cthulhu. If you only see your arcade stick show up as normal, then it is not an MC Cthulhu.

NES and SNES support was added to the MC Cthulhu in firmware version 1.5. Please make sure to download the newest firmware from the Shoryuken.com link above. Please follow the instructions included with the firmware to flash it on the MC Cthulhu.

Step 1 Step 1: Get to know your cable

Before heating up the iron and jumping in without a plan, it is very important you take a moment to get to know what to expect. Let's start by getting to know your NES cable.

You can use any kind of cable that has an NES end, like the one pictured. You can scavenge these from dead controllers easily, or purchase a Nintendo extension cord. If you have an extension cord, cut the male end off as close to the end as you can, so you are left only with the female end and as much cord as possible.

Remove about 1 1/4" inches (3-4 cm) of insulation off of the end, exposing the insulated wires from the cable. If there is any sort of uninsulated wire or metallic shielding, go ahead and trim it off next to the end of the main cable insulation. If you have any heat shrink tubing of the right thickness to barely go over the main cable insulation, go ahead and slide it on now so you won't forget it later. The heat shrink tubing is optional, but definitely makes for a professional looking installation.

Strip about 1-2 mm of insulation off of the end of each of the smaller wires, exposing the copper. Get your multimeter ready to check for continuity, and a small piece of paper and pencil to jot down what you find. If you need assistance with pinning out your cable, help is now available:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-pin-out-a-console-cable-for-installation-on/


The first picture below shows the proper pin number and purpose for each of the pins in the Nintendo plug.  'N/C' means not connected; we don't need to connect them to the Cthulhu.
Our job now is to identify which of the colored wires in the cable go to which of the pins on the end.  (The Cthulhu Column entry should be ignored for now. Get the pinout done before ever heating up your soldering iron.)

Purpose Pin # Cthulhu Column
GND - 1 - G
CLK - 2 - A
LATCH - 3 - F
DATA - 4 - C
VCC - 7 - V

Once you've pinned out the cable, locate all of the rest of the wires that don't match the pins, and trim them short around the end of the insulation. They aren't needed.