GB Boy Colour power problem

[agentfff]

Hey, guys...how did you get the GB Boy Colour case open? I have 4.5 and 3.8 security screw bits, but neither work. I heard that the plastic case molding is too small for the 4.5 bit? Did you have to damage the case to get in? Thanks!

[Ziggy587]

Interesting. Unlike the first time I posted in this thread, I now own a GB Boy Colour. You are right, the cavity that the security screw sits in is very small. But I just checked, my security bit fits in there just fine.

You could always do the "pen trick." Google for a proper guide, but the short of it is you take the plastic casing to a pen (remove the ink) and hold a lighter on one end of it until the plastic melts. While the plastic is still melted, shove it in the hole and hold it there tight until it solidifies. Now you have made a security bit with the perfect fit. I've done this once before and it does work, but it's kinda one-time use. If you do this to get the bits out, you might consider swapping in non-security screws so you don't have to deal with this problem again in the future.

[Tanooki]

The real question is, has anyone figured out something to stop the stupid thing from sucking the batteries dry in hours (or so) when it's turned off??

I gave up and sold mine over it, but I wish I did still have it, if that were cured. I liked the screen even if some got fussy about the aspect ratio of it as I didn't care it looked fine. The battery and the queen's english on the lens are the only thing that irked me.

[Ziggy587]

Maybe there was a hardware revision, or a problem that only affected a certain percentage of units, so I say get another one. They're cheap enough. I got one a year or two ago. I don't use it all the time, but I still have the same two Duracell batteries that I put in there when I got it and everything still works fine. I even use an Everdrive most of the time.

[Anapan]

I haven't had any problems either. I never noticed any excessive power draw. I used it extensively when I got it years ago and I use the everdrive GB most of the time in it. I haven't turned mine on in a couple or three months while the Energizer batteries I left in it still have a completely full charge.
Maybe there is something to the hardware revision thing? According to the circular sticker on the top left corner of the back of mine, it was manufactured in April of 2014. it's a GBC-046 that has "COLOR GAMEBOY 188 IN 1" multirom included.
Pic here

[agentfff]

Interesting. Unlike the first time I posted in this thread, I now own a GB Boy Colour. You are right, the cavity that the security screw sits in is very small. But I just checked, my security bit fits in there just fine.

You could always do the "pen trick." Google for a proper guide, but the short of it is you take the plastic casing to a pen (remove the ink) and hold a lighter on one end of it until the plastic melts. While the plastic is still melted, shove it in the hole and hold it there tight until it solidifies. Now you have made a security bit with the perfect fit. I've done this once before and it does work, but it's kinda one-time use. If you do this to get the bits out, you might consider swapping in non-security screws so you don't have to deal with this problem again in the future.

Interesting tip...thanks! I was considering taking a Dremel to either the outside of my 4.5 bit to make it smaller...no one cares what that ends up looking like, as long as it still works. Or, if I have to, Dremel the screw cavities on the GB Boy...but I kinda care what that looks like. Or, I can order a dozen different 4.5 bits on eBay, and hope I get one that fits?

[Tanooki]

Interesting I guess they did revise it. Maybe the second hand one I got originally was an original model before they went off production for a year or so when the prices got stupid on ebay, and the returned run since that time aren't battery gobblers.

I put a nice new fresh pair of duracells inside the one I last had and left off in my desk they were dead fast.

[samsonlonghair]

You might find that LI-ION batteries hold a steady charge for longer than NI-CAD batteries.

Old fashioned Nickel-Cadmium batteries gradually fade out. That’s why you you can take them out of a handheld game, and still use the remaining charge in a low power device like a TV remote control. Newer style Lithium Ion batteries steady through their charge before they finally give up the ghost.

Of course, none of this negates the possibility of plain old manufacturing errors. If you think that your Chinese clone console was poorly manufactured, then that sounds plausible to me.