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How to Create a Sensor Bar for the Wii

The Nintendo Wii console was one of the first to incorporate motion controls and try to break down the wall between the gamer and the game. The infrared camera on the Wii Remote and the Sensor Bar help with that, allowing players to point directly at what they want to click on or shoot at instead of forcing them to point with the less direct analog sticks. The Sensor Bar system is not without its faults, however--the thin cable can be damaged easily or may not be long enough to suit your needs. But enterprising Wii fans have come up with solutions ranging from lighting candles to making your own.

Things You'll Need

2 candles
Matches
4 to 6 infrared LEDs
6-inch-long perforated board
Wires
Battery pack or connectors
Soldering iron

Instructions

Candle Instructions
- 1
  Light both of the candles.
- 2
  Place one candle at each of the top or bottom corners of your TV screen.
- 3
  Power on your Wii console and open the Wii options menu. Click the "Wii" icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
- 4
  Scroll to and open the "Sensor Bar Position" menu, and choose the top or bottom depending on where the sensor bar is in relation to the TV. You should notice that the Wiimote is responding to the light from the candles. It may help to dim the lights in the room.
Homebrew Version
- 5
  Attach the IR LEDs to the extreme ends of the perforated board. Place them next to each other but wire them into place facing the front of your sensor bar. Attach the neighboring leads of both sets of LEDs to each other so there are two loose leads on either side of the bar.
- 6
  Wire the battery pack or connector into the center of the perforated board. Remove or disconnect the battery so you're not operating on a powered electrical circuit.
- 7
  Build a simple circuit by wiring the positive lead from the batteries to the left-most LED, connecting the loose lead from that LED cluster to the other LED cluster, and back to the negative lead from the battery pack. Solder these connections together.
- 8
  Leave the solder to cool for about 20 minutes, then plug in the batteries.
- 9
  Place your completed sensor bar above or below the TV and test it with your Wii. You may need to open the Wii options menu and adjust the "Sensor Bar Position" setting, but the Wii remote should react to your replacement sensor bar.

Nintendo Wii