Connecting arduino to 360 remote control

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi, just wandering how I can connect the arduino to the media remote for the Xbox 360. My idea is to connect the arduino to the remote and then use a pot and button for a sleep timer.

Pot will control time until it turns xbox off and the button will start the timer.

I tried cutting the trace at either side of the button on the remote and using a transistor as a switch with the arduino but that didn't do anything.

Is it possible or am I just being stupid. Fed up falling asleep with the Xbox on after watching Sky Player.

Thanks

Jonny

2

I tried cutting the trace at either side of the button on the remote and using a transistor as a switch with the arduino but that didn't do anything.

Post the circuit of what you tried.
Did you connect the arduino ground to the Xbox ground?
Sometimes you need a FET rather than a transistor to push the button.

3

Can't find the remote I was using, will buy another and try again.

It was the little media remote like this:

I was using the ground on the arduino, haven't done much electronics and just learn/mess about when I have free time. Will read up on FETs

4

Yes but please post the circuit of what you tried. We don't need a picture of a remote we want to see how you wired it up to see if you made any mistakes.

5

Here's a crude attempt at circuit I had tried.

Was then setting the pin to high when I wanted the button pressed.

6

You need a resistor in the base 1K will do. You also need to connect the ground to the arduino.

If that dose not work then replace the transistor with a logic level FET

7

Thanks, its working now on an old 360 wireless controller. Will buy a new remote and make my sleep timer now.

:sleeping:

8

I'm implementing a similar transistor set-up on an old Nintendo. When you say connect the ground to the arduino: should the arduino ground be connected to the emitter of the transistor? Should it also be connected to the ground on the Nintendo?

Thanks,

Jordan

9

Yes the emitter, arduino ground and Nintendo ground should all be connected together.