Game Boy Color front light mod

[Overload]

I'd be happy if my first attempt ended up looking like that Pikachu edition. Do you know what causes the black lines? Is it pressure?

looks like a couple of LEDs in the corner of the screen. While it doesn't really evenly light the entire screen, it looks like it'd be suitable.

[nightrnr]

That was actually my 2nd attempt. My 1st attempt was a bit rougher. My teal GBC from the thrift store had no idea the horrors that I had in store for it. Fortunately, it still works fine.

As for the youtube link, I guarantee he has a diffuser panel in front of the LCD screen. If you are used to seeing signs of front-lit screens, you can tell as soon as he turns it on. It casts a "light shadow" (for lack of a better term) into the screen (pause it at 0:21 to see it); you really only notice it when viewed from certain side angles). Looks like it's lit from the bottom, not side, so the shadow lines, if present, would only be visible tilted towards you (which I don't think he does in the video).
The extra LEDs are just for show, since he has a translucent shell.

By all means though, experiment away if you feel the need. That's exactly what it took to convince me.

The black/shadow lines are actually present on the GBA-SP (AGS-001) screens as well, you just don't see them as easily. Play a game on an actual AGS-001 system and get to a darker screen and tilt the screen towards you (better yet hold it sideways and tilt left and right). The GBA-SP also has a really nice anti-glare film on the LCD that reduces the lines, but I've yet to come across a film of the same quality sold separately.
The only thing pressure causes is those existing lines to bend, if you don't have it in very well. The lines themselves are from the ridges on the diffuser screen, I think.

Otherwise, it's just not a perfect fit. The GBA-SP's and the light screen were designed to fit exactly together, no gap or angle or anything. The LED panel (the metal strip holding the LEDs that the diffuser is placed in) makes it hard to do that. Some modders might be better at making it fit. I tried several times to get it in there properly and there not much else I can do to improve it.

[TheSegaSaturnGuy]

Zerey Zhang sells the ags 101 screen for $23.Also, you could just buy one of these : http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... ead#unread

[Overload]

Zerey Zhang sells the ags 101 screen for $23.Also, you could just buy one of these : http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... ead#unread

I've got three of those clones on the way. Looking to sell 2, and hopefully sell some modded GBC to make my loan payments.

$23 is a bit steep for a light. Broken AGS-001 are cheaper, and I'm not sure the 101s will even work with the mod.

Got my gbc apart using a tiny flathead, so a tri-wing isn't completely necessary, but it is convenient to have.

[MrPopo]

One thing I'd recommend is to NOT use the transparent GBC; the GBA frontlight screen will extend below the GBC screen and gives a bright light above the A button. In terms of wire to use, you just need something thin since there isn't much space inside the case.

[Overload]

I'm using a less-than-perfect atomic purple gbc for my first run with one of those iffy screens to see how it looks and to get some practice in. Figure I'd be able to sell it for a cheap price to recoup some costs or just hang on to it.

[nightrnr]

Well, Overload, I tried to talk you out of it, but since you're the optimist/curious type, I wish you luck .

You are right about the AGS-101 screens, they are only really useful for replacing an LCD on an original GBA to make it a back-lit system.
For front-lighting a GBC, the AGS-001 is the only way to go.

I'd be interested to see/hear the results and insights on your own project. I was in your shoes a couple years ago. Haven't done a lot of projects since then, but it's still an interest for me.

[Overload]

I'll be sure to update with pics once everything's done!

[Overload]

Got my 2 screens in today. They are exactly the size of the GBC screen, so that's nice. They are definitely a little cloudy, but I'm hoping that's not too much of a problem. Unfortunately, I don't think I have a soldering iron, so I don't know when I'll be able to actually finish the mod.

[nightrnr]

Got my 2 screens in today. They are exactly the size of the GBC screen, so that's nice. They are definitely a little cloudy, but I'm hoping that's not too much of a problem. Unfortunately, I don't think I have a soldering iron, so I don't know when I'll be able to actually finish the mod.

Yeah, just got mine too (within the last half-hour, actually). I want to throw one in my GBP, just to see how it fares. The GBP screen is just a little bigger than the GBC LCD, but hopefully it will work. I don't even know which side of the screen is which yet. I'll have to check where my solder points are again, but it should be pretty simple.

You should go down to radio Shack and get yourself a soldering iron and maybe a small spool of solder. It's best to eliminate all the reasons holding you back on your 1st project. You also might want to practice melting solder on a board that you don't care about (I had a bunch of broken Game Gears that I cut my teeth on, but anything electronic will do). When you are confident and relatively steady, you can move on to your GBC. Really, 2 or 3 solder points are a breeze, so don't let it seem too intimidating.