Game Boy Corrosion (It's Alive! ALIVE!)

[samsonlonghair]

I recently got this original grey brick Game Boy for free because it "wouldn't work". I got to thinking about that famous Game Boy that survived a bombing. If that thing still works, surely I can make this Game Boy work. I started by cleaning all the battery acid and corrosion from the battery compartment. I installed four fresh double As, but no luck. I wouldn't be so easily discouraged! I went to Radio Shack, and bought a six volt AC adapter. With the adapter plugged in, a spark of electricity flew through my grotesque Game Boy. The Monster rose from the dead!

It's Alive! ALIVE!


I'm not satisfied with this--Oh, no! I need this Game Boy to be portable once again, so I used my trusty tri-wing screwdriver to open up the case and see how much corrosion was inside. The following picture is not for the feint of heart.



As you can see, the corrosion is pretty bad. It looks like that copper shielding is being eaten away. On the top board, there's a lot of corrosion around a cap labeled "C6".

So how do I clean up all this corrosion? Should I replace that C6 cap? I don't really know anything about soldering, but this board doesn't look too dense. There seems to be lots of room for error. Is there any specific metal cleaner I should use for this project?

[Hobie-wan]

Electrical contact cleaner.

Electrical contact cleaner.

Electrical contact cleaner.

As for the capacitor, it depends if the battery leak damaged it. If the plastic sheath, metal top, and legs don't look too bad, it might be fine to leave it. Take everything out of the shell so you can clean the residue there, then use contact cleaner to clean the mess off the board. Try not to spray it on the screen just in case, but everything else can be doused to clean it off.

[sevin0seven]

i second.....i mean fourth Electrical contact cleaner.

[17DaysOlderThanNES]

I generally just use rubbing alcohol to clean off corrosion (by the way, that's what most electrical cleaners are, sometimes combined with aerosol for easy dispersal). You could mix in baking soda to neutralize any acidity. Since the batteries have been removed, you shouldn't have any problems after removing the surface corrosion. To make it portable again, maybe look into those R/C car battery packs (if you can find one equivalent to 4 AA's) and install the connector and then you'll have a rechargeable pack to boot. Alternatively, a totally dead Game Boy with a good battery compartment couldn't be too hard to find.

[samsonlonghair]

Okay, so where do I buy electric contact cleaner?

By the way, you win ten points if you can name the game.

[Dylan]

By the way, you win ten points if you can name the game.

Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3.

[CRTGAMER]

Okay, so where do I buy electric contact cleaner?

Any major hardware or electrical stores. Home Depot or Frys. Be sure not to get the capacitors wet, might soak in.

Told this joke before, a captive audience.

Be careful of Home Depot Curse, mainly applies to plumbing but can "Trickle" (sorry) to other departments.
When you buy a part, guaranteed two more trips back to the store the same day.

[Hobie-wan]

I have this particular brand (and with the yellow stripe) from Fry's.

http://www.puretronics.com/products/3000.htm

I think pretty much most contact cleaner is similiar though. It is also wonderful for removing sticker gunk and sharpie from game cases and shells. If it gets on a paper label, it usually won't cause damage as lone as you don't touch the sticker until it dries.

[samsonlonghair]

Thanks for the recommendations for contact cleaner. I'll go pick some up today.

Ten points to Dylan. You have no idea how hard it is to take a picture of the Game Boy screen. I must have taken that shot ten times.