AMOLED screen mod - soldering advice | Game Boy | Page 1

austere summit Apr 18, 2024, 10:55 PM

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I was trying out my first Gameboy Color mod - I was so excited to get the AMOLED screen working.

I was working on it last night, and lo-and-behold, I turned it on and it powered on! I realized...I didn't put the button pads in. Oops! Carefully opened everything back up and put them in.

Then I piece it back together and power it on...nothing.

I re-checked everything. Re-soldered the one required wire. Still nothing. I'm a relative novice when it comes to soldering, so I think I've gone wrong somewhere there. Might've melted the power-switch backside a weeee bit too much at this point. I'll post pictures if anyone is interested.

Here's the mod...
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1309/0597/files/installation-guide.jpg?v=1710875376

I'm very embarrassed now that I've photographed the power switch, I'm 100% sure that's the issue, that I've just destroyed it. I just ordered a new one on aliexpress, so hopefully I haven't done any other damage.

I'll get some photos of the board on the back of the screen shortly as well 🙂

wind apexBOT Apr 18, 2024, 10:56 PM

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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

worldly gale Apr 18, 2024, 11:00 PM

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Woah that's crispy. Got any IPA you could use to clean that up? Looks like the wire is melted into the switch, not on the pad. Can't even see the pad anymore.

austere summit Apr 18, 2024, 11:03 PM

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worldly gale Woah that's crispy. Got any IPA you could use to clean that up? Looks like the w...

Not at the moment. I'll pop out for some shortly to be a bit more prepared.

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Some more pics...

worldly gale Apr 18, 2024, 11:07 PM

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The BAT side looks okay but how hot is your iron? 350c should be enough. That power switch is looking like it may be a lost cause however... there could be a bridge there and you've attempted to power it on which isn't ideal. Don't attempt to power it on until someone more experienced than I gets a chance to take a look.

austere summit Apr 18, 2024, 11:09 PM

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worldly gale The BAT side looks *okay* but how hot is your iron? 350c should be enough. That ...

Thank you for the advice. A lot of the youtube tutorials make it look so easy. The pre-tinned connection was so easy, but I find that the solder doesn't act the same way on the other one?

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I turned it up to I had it up at 375 because I wasn't having much success at 300. Obviously had it too low and then too high now in retrospect.

lapis stump Apr 18, 2024, 11:13 PM

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austere summit Some more pics...

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Is this solder?

austere summit Apr 18, 2024, 11:15 PM

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lapis stump

It looks to be. I was getting pretty sloppy as I was getting frustrated. I'll clean it up 🙂

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That would definitely cause issues....thank you...

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oh and apologies, just understood the BOT's advice not to ping folks 🙂

grim ember Apr 18, 2024, 11:28 PM

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Did you trim and/or put kapton tape over the cartridge pins

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That's probably how it shorted out - the exposed pins

austere summit Apr 18, 2024, 11:29 PM

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grim ember That's probably how it shorted out - the exposed pins

Negative, I had not had that recommended. Seems smart!

You're referring to the general exposed pins on the board? Are you also suggesting that the whole board may be shorted out?

grim ember Apr 18, 2024, 11:30 PM

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It can cause an intermittent short that you'd only notice when you close the system up

austere summit Apr 18, 2024, 11:30 PM

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grim ember It can cause an intermittent short that you'd only notice when you close the sys...

Ahh right, thank you, that makes sense.

grim ember Apr 18, 2024, 11:32 PM

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like this (pic stolen from mike)

austere summit Apr 18, 2024, 11:35 PM

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@grim ember Do you recommend a brand of Kapton tape in particular?

grim ember Apr 18, 2024, 11:40 PM

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kapton is technically a brand, but whatever cheap heat resistant tape on amazon or aliexpress or whatever is probably fine - especially in this case where it's just being used as insulation

austere summit Apr 19, 2024, 12:36 AM

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Progress on cleaning...

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worldly gale Apr 19, 2024, 1:49 AM

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I just noticed your cartridge slot looks melted too, what are you soldering with?

austere summit Apr 19, 2024, 1:58 AM

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worldly gale I just noticed your cartridge slot looks melted too, what are you soldering with...

I'm very embarrassed about that too, I realized I was letting the soldering iron touch it occasionally. It doesn't look as though I did enough damage to affect anything though...at least on my own beginner judgement.

worldly gale Apr 19, 2024, 2:05 AM

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i think it would be a good time to slow down -and order a practice soldering kit. do you have flux/solder/experience outside of this?

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from what i can see it appears salvageable but your iron is either too hot or you're using too little solder. a practice board will help ya get a feel for your tools without knocking this GBC dead for good. I know you're eager to play with the OLED, but it'll be worth it to slow down and get it right.

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also, get the board out of the shell completely and disconnect the screen, never solder while its still in the shell or on top of the screen - heat can damage both (as you've seen)

austere summit Apr 19, 2024, 3:24 AM

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worldly gale i think it would be a good time to slow down -and order a practice soldering kit...

I've replaced a few batteries in gameboy color/advance carts and always found it pretty easy. That's where my false confidence came in...

worldly gale Apr 19, 2024, 3:36 AM

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I've been there, almost destroyed my playstation 2 lol

austere summit May 11, 2024, 7:31 AM

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Update! Success! I got a Gameboy Color with a busted screen to replace the motherboard of the one that I massacered. I was far more careful this time, and had success 😄

#AMOLED screen mod - soldering advice