#Need Assistance with a NatalietheNerd PoCo Build

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

void stump
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I have been working on a PoCo build using NatalietheNerd's flex PCB and I'm having issues getting the Gameboy to boot.

I have confirmed continuity on GND, AMP, SPKR, ROUT, LOUT, LEFT, UP, DOWN, RIGHT, SELECT, START, B, A, SWC, and SWC3. I can't seem to get continuity on C23.

I have confirmed continuity on C and 3 for the power switch.

The Safer Charge board is registering charging when plugged into a USB-C and with the battery connected. I have the 5v wire soldered to the USB-C plug and the other wire soldered to the left side of F1.

The screen OSD wires have confirmed continuity to the screen control board as well.

icy pilotBOT
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Please remember to provide as much information as possible including all troubleshooting steps you have already taken. If this is a hardware issue, please provide clear in-focus images of the issue, PCB (circuit board), installation, and any soldering you have done. Help us help you, posts with insufficient information will be deleted

void stump
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The pictures wouldn't upload to the original post, but here is what I have.

PXL_20231110_002341311.jpg PXL_20231110_002302259.jpg
karmic loom
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The c23 thing is likely your issue since that's a power run

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You could try running a wire to one of the two unmarked vias to the top right of it

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other option is reflowing it until you get continuity but the more/longer you do it, the more of a chance you fry the flex and you have to run a wire anyway

void stump
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I will definitely give that a shot! I've given up on it for tonight and closed her back up but it's good to know I have some other optional Vias to use

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Does anything else stand out to you that I should attempt to correct?

karmic loom
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If you have continuity on everything else I wouldn't mess with it unless it doesn't work after you get this connection

void stump
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Awesome. Thank you for the suggestion. I'll give it a shot again tomorrow and report back.

void stump
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Hi! I tried soldering a jumper wire from one of the vias suggested to the C23 pad on the flex PCB, no dice. I even flipped the console over and desoldered the pads connecting the board to the flex PCB to realign them and resolder them. Still no continuity. Is there something I'm missing? Does the console need power on to read continuity to C23? Can I run a jumper wire from the flex PCB pad for C23 to the actual C23 component on the back of the main board? Will that cause issues and/or what side of the compent should I connect the jumper to?

karmic loom
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You should be able to do what you're saying in the last bit there with the wire; you want to solder to the side that's connected to that via, pretty sure it's the bottom of the component. You should be able to also just run the wire to the via and try solder it that way instead

fleet tide
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Work your way down the board from the top, checking every via that runs to C23, all the way to pin 7 on the power regulator. I would also check to make sure there’s no problems with the flex itself. Check for continuity between the C23 solder point on the flex to the solder point at the top of the flex.

fleet tide
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To be more specific, there are three points I would suggest you do a continuity check at, 1. From pin 7 of the regulator to the C23 solder point on the POCO board, 2. From the solder point to the C23 solder point at the top of the POCO flex, 3. From the top of the POCO flex to C23 on the GBC board (it is in the top left of the board when you have the cartridge side facing up). That is all the continuity you need. If you confirm continuity between all 3 of those points, at that point I’d be pretty stumped.

void stump
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Thank you for the suggestions!

void stump
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@fleet tide I was able to confirm continuity between Pin 7 and the C23 solder point and between the C23 component and the corresponding via. I could not get continuity between the Flex PCB C23 point and the the PoCo board. It appears I had completely ruined the pads on the flex PCB due to trying to flow the solder too many times. I'll have to order another flex PCB when/if they become available. Huge bummer, but I appreciate yours and @karmic loom help.

karmic loom
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If you run a wire from the pad on the bottom board up to the via it should work still

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You just bypass the flex for that part

fleet tide
fleet tide
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If so, run a wire from the via to the C23 solder point on the PoCo board, that will solve your problem

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Get some 30 gauge wire on Amazon if you don’t already have it

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A more complicated but definitely cleaner fix too would be to scratch off some of the solder mask to expose the copper trace and then just fixing the trace. The trace is probably broken really close to the solder point, so after scraping off the solder mask you could probably just hit it with a glob of solder and call it a day

void stump
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No, it's the flex itself. The pads took a beating from the flowing and reflowing of solder trying to make it work. There was no continuity between the two C23 points on the Flex anymore. The PoCo board has continuity to Pin 7 and the C23 component has continuity to the correct via. I also lost continuity to other points now as well. The Flex is a loss, but I can still try again.

fleet tide
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The flex is honestly just a conduit to make the job simpler. You can run 16 wires between all the same points and it will do the same thing.