GBP not powering on sometimes and battery issues

[faint ivy]

Hello, so I finally got this kit to work and it's great. However, sometimes the device won't turn on at all and I noticed that, if I reconnect the battery connector in the back, it turns on again with no issues. So I have ruled out at least a bad soldering point (I did some soldering here and there). Has anyone faced a similar issue? Right now I am talking to the seller and see if they can send a replacement.

Also, if the switch is on and I wiggle around the battery module, nothing happens (if it was a bas soldering, I would expect it to at least turn on for a fraction of a second).

Edit: typos.

[autumn compass]

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

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[faint ivy]

Update: if I leave the witch turned on for like 30 seconds and then i quickly turn off and on again, it works again...

[ebon fable]

Which seller sold you the system ?
Would you be able to test the system with AAAs instead ?
Would you be able to measure the voltage of the battery pack ?

I'm not familiar with that pack at all, so we'll see

[faint ivy]

the seller is called "21st GameCell Store"

the voltage is correct when measuring with multimeter and yes, it works with normal rechargable batteries (1.2V)

[faint ivy]

for now I've gone to AAA battery mode again, I just want to play it. But I'll come back to this and let you know what the seller said and whatever I can find online related to this

[faint ivy]

oh shoot, I was able to reproduce the issue even with AAA batteries... so that's progress I guess. I'll update later

[faint ivy]

so it looks like, given the behavior with the power switch, it might a bad cap (or caps). I'll replace those just in case and if that's not the issue, at least I'll have new caps (good thing I already had the kit laying)

[faint ivy]

ok, I changed the 4 caps but unfortunately the issue persists 🤔 I'll keep thinking I guess

[stray laurel]

Have you cleaned your power switch? Can you also post clear pictures of both sides of the motherboard?

[faint ivy]

I cleaned the switch with IPA but just by brushing it and sliding it many times, couldn't easily desolderit and didn't want to force it

here's the pics

I try to open the switch again tho, to do the proper cleaning there

[stray laurel]

You're going to need to desolder the shield to clean it correctly

[faint ivy]

trying right now 🤞🏽

dang, couldn't take only the shielding, the whole switch was coming up so I better desoldered all the 5 points

I'll clean it and resolder it

Didn't seem too dirty so I'm afraid this might not be the issue. But I cleaned it anyway

That also didn't fix the issue unfortunately. Right now I'm out of ideas but I'll come back to this if anything happens. Thanks.

I wanna try connecting this cable directly to one of the battery terminal, just to be sure (I'm guesing it's the same as connecting it to the switch tho?). It would be connected to the positive battery terminal?

[faint ivy]

hmm now that I think about it.. that doesn't make sense or does it? I'm mentioning it because I saw some mod that had instructions of tying or soldering a cable to one of the battery terminals...

[faint ivy]

Alright, now it is working, looks like the IPA was not completely dry after I assembled it again? Idk but now it seems to work consistently

I'll keep playing with it for today and mark this as solved if everything goes well