My Other Rechargeable Gameboy Mods

[retroupgrade]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to be doing a DMG build for my fiancée, and I was wondering if this is as simple as a direct solder from the battery terminals to the board contacts or if there's a resistor or something? Apologize as I'm a novice when it comes to electrical stuff.

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It's very simple. I wonder why the rechargeable mod isn't more popular, actually. You need three ingredients:

1) A TP4056 based charger board (with usb port if you want usb charging. Any 5 volt source will do.) ($1-$5)
2) A 3.7V Li-Po or Li-Ion battery, of course. ($3-$10)
3) A diode, such as 1N4148 or similar ($.10-$5)

The diode is placed between the positive battery terminal and the positive BAT point on the charger or Game Boy positive battery terminal. The purpose of the diode is to drop the voltage about .6 volts and prevent any "reverse charge" from reaching the battery during Game Boy use. Li-Ion/Li-Po batteries are typically 3.7 volts and with the diode it comes down to a more friendly 3.1 volts. Game Boys usually run from 3 volts (1.5V + 1.5V for each AA or AAA). It's possible to run the Game Boy directly from the Li-Ion battery, but it is neither safe nor practical for long-term use.

I never saw the real need for rechargeable 'cause for me it's actually easier to pack a couple of AA batteries for the road rather than finding some place to charge it...

However, LOVE the backlit! Mine is so dull that it hurts my eyes! I actually have to have the sun right at my back to see it! Back in the day I didn't even know the map of Breath of Fire 2 was green until I got a DS!

Thanks for the compliments! Popping in fresh AA's is very easy and has a unique satisfaction. I can't explain it.

In this day and age, I think the backlight is a must. Somehow, it never bothered me in the 90s, but now it's super inconvenient to play without a light. Let me know if you would like assistance purchasing or installing your own backlight. OR I would more than happy to sell you one of my Game Boys with a backlight pre-installed--rechargeable mod optional, of course.

[crazysyd86]

Thanks again! I'll be trying this out in the next few months (have to work on it when she's not home) and I'll be chronicling my build if I can. I'll be sure to post the end result.

[darsparx]

This kind of thing makes me wish I had the time and effort to buy a soldering iron and do mine. At least just a gbc(I might just start playing my gba's on ds). The thought of modding my OGBA kinda freaks me out especially because i don't like gbc carts hanging out I feel like I'll snap it in half when I stick it in my jacket pocket before work >_>)

[retroupgrade]

This kind of thing makes me wish I had the time and effort to buy a soldering iron and do mine. At least just a gbc(I might just start playing my gba's on ds). The thought of modding my OGBA kinda freaks me out especially because i don't like gbc carts hanging out I feel like I'll snap it in half when I stick it in my jacket pocket before work >_>)

If the games you want to play are mostly GBA games, the DS is a good option. It covers the backlight and rechargeable features. I'd only go after the retro-mods if you want the old-school feel of play original Gameboy and Gameboy color games. Personally, I have a connection to the AGS GBA because it plays all Gameboy games. With the backlight mod, I feel like I'm holding the best of the best. But, then again, I have a large number of original and color games I'd like to play. It just depends on what part of the venn diagram you are in.