Game Boy Pocket Backlighting Tutorial
Вставка
- Опубліковано 13 бер 2013
- Note: The backlight does NOT come with the wires frayed as they are in the video. I stripped them previously to test it.
This is the first backlight I've done in quite a while so I thought I'd share the steps with everyone.
Here is the backlight I use: www.nonelectronics.com/catalog...
And the following tutorial was a reference: mikejmoffitt.com/wp/?p=10
Please note that this post is a bit old so many of steps are no longer necessary with the modern lighting modules.
Please let me know if anything is unclear, or if you have advice on future videos. This is the longest tutorial I have done so far and the organization was a little crazy (lots of stuff cut out!) so any feedback is more than welcome.
Normal: www.nonelectronics.com/gallery...
Inverted: www.nonelectronics.com/gallery...
Thnaks for watching. - Навчання та стиль
Protecting the screen with sticky tape is such a good idea. Why did I never do this?
Thank you for that nice tutorial!
Well done video, stable camera, clear voice, time-lapse though boring parts, more UA-camrs should follow your lead.
Thanks a lot! I tried to look at other tutorials I thoght were decent and use the lit techniques.
you made your tutorial look so easy i had to try this. i ordered the same green screen but the v5. thanks to you all turned out well.thanks for the video.
Hey I'm glad to hear it! I love hearing it actually helped people out
Your voice soothes me
Great Step by step tutorial sir! The first one with a decent look on the actions taken for modding the screen. I only have one additional tip: While peeling of the layer off the screen, put the screen on a microfiber cloth push the screen down while peeling insted of holding it in the hand. That way you can prevent the screen from bending.
Just watched this video while installing this mod onto my green Gameboy pocket and it worked great! Thanks for the great video, man!
Well... I ruined my screen. I had a hell of a time getting the polarizer off the back of the screen. I accidentally pulled on that ribbon several times. When I put it back together, I hear sound and the screen lights up, but I get a bunch of lines on the screen.
Ah yeah I think that means some of the connections were severed. There is something you can try but its very tricky and sort of risky, and i cant guarantee that this is your problem. But its what I would do if i were you. If you have a soldering iron you can turn it on and rub it along the bottom edge of the screen. This is where all the vertical pixels are conected (its a white section right above the green triangle that hangs off the screen)., Anyway rub it semi-quickly just to heat it up and soften the glue. This will often allow those connections to settle again and reconnect. I use a gas iron so I can take the tip off and use it as sort of a hot air torch, it works well. Anyway, do a little research if this method appeals to you. Because it really works best on traditional gameboys and its been a little while since ive done it.
TrailBlazer5280 - Well it isn't risky since the screen is already FUBAR. However, I think the damage is where the two ribbon cables are soldered together. I can see where one or more of the traces is ripped off the cable. I'm wondering if next time maybe I should unsolder the two cables before removing the polarizer. I worked on that thing for 30 minutes trying to slowly peel it off. Normally, I would use a hair dryer to heat something like that up, but I was afraid I'd melt the solder on nearby joints (like the ribbon cables). Maybe next time I'll try a chemical approach and use WD-40.
The iBookGuy
Honestly man it just takes some practice, this method is pretty much standard procedure. Trust me ive ruined a couple screens myself doing this and not being careful enough. I've had to sacrifice a number of gameboys getting a lot of this stuff down. It just takes doing it a couple of times.
TrailBlazer5280 - OK.. Just tried another GBP. This time I peeled up the corner, then used WD-40 to weaken the adhesive and worked a credit card underneath until I got all the way to the end. I never had to touch the ribbon cable. Now I just need to solder everything and put it back together and pray it works.
The iBookGuy Oh nice man, I hadn't thought of trying WD-40. Good luck on the rest of the build, let us know how it goes
Thanks a lot for your tutorial. I've just modified my GB pocket. It works perfectly !!
Well I'm glad it helped you out! And I'm happy to hear its working well
Awesome dude! I'm happy to hear it helped
Thanks a lot! I highly recommend trying it. Its not terribly expensive and once you're done you'll have a sick game boy you can play any time you want :)
Great tutorial, just installed my v4 Envy with this guide! Thanks dood!
Thanks for the quick response!
Have a good one.
It turned out great! Took a bit to get the polarized screen off, I didn't notice it hadn't come up with the reflective screen until halfway getting it off, but other than that it was super easy. Now I can play Pokemon at night!
great tutorial- you have a good video voice.
Yeah I actually tried nonfinite's points as well not too long ago and it didn't really work. I'm not sure if it was my soldering or what, but I switched them (if i remember right) and that did work. It didn't seem that different though in brightness. So I'm not sure what to think.
As far as your module goes I think it was just a dud because i haven't had any issues like that. I would email them if i were you and see what happens. include pictures too, maybe they will replace it. Good Luck!
I got them at Kitsch-Bent, they have the best selection of colored buttons Ive seen so far.
Thanks man.
I totally agree. I remember having to play at weird angles to get light from random lamps.
It is shorter but it actually last a pretty good while. I can't say how long though because I've never just it run down, or kept track of the increments i played in.
I think the batteries just don't have the power to damage them. I always hook the light directly to the batteries to test them. I believe the resistor is simply there to stop the flickering while you play.
Nice man, looks pretty sweet!
Unfortunately I don't know the type of resistor that is used for that, plus I believe they are different for each color. I would email them and just say you lost it, I'm sure they'll tell you what resistance it is. But I will see if I can find mine after work and let you know what the green one is at least. Maybe it could at least help dampen the flickering if not eliminate it.
Thats awesome, I'm glad this was helpful! How did it turn out?
Thanks a lot man! I love the GBP, probably my favorite model.
Thanks for sub too!
What value is the resistor? Maybe a lower value resistor would be better. The backlight is essentially a large diffused LED so it is probably best to have some kind of resistor there.
Ah yeah I've done that myself. Glad it worked out in the end though!
I don't know if the person who sold me the Gameboy had done the mod wrong like missing a resistor or wiring it up wrong or just using a power hungry LED? The light on it was fantastic and really bright green and made the Gameboy a pleasure to play but like I say, the light started to dim after around 10minutes even with brand new duracells, you were lucky if you could play a few levels of Super Mario! I brought LSDJ with it too but couldn't learn how to use it :0...
Does it really look that good with a white light? If so, I will be purchasing a Red pocket and a white backlight.
Also, I've never done a color lighting job. I don't really know anything about them and honestly they are one of my least favorite systems so I kind of doubt I'll ever do one. But maybe if I'm board one day. Or if there seems to be a demand for a good tutorial, so I appreciate the suggestion.
You don't technically need it. Without it, when the batteries get low, the screen will vary in brightness with button pushes and actions in game. For example, in LSDJ when i play a song it gets darker. So the resistors is supposed to take care of that. It only happens when the batteries are low though so it's not really been an issue.
Nonfinite recently posted a different way of soldering the wires on their website, though, so I can't speak to behavior with that configuration.
Good Luck!
Hey man. I'm a little unclear on the Polarization filter. When you explain the 90 degrees rotation, I wasn't sure which side is inverted. Which rotation means the pixels will be inverted?
Well ive never experienced the red eye thing and I almost exclusively use green on my personal GBs. But I have experienced the color difference and usually that means the polarizing filter isnt evenly flat against the screen. Sometimes it can be pushed on from the back by components (take a look at older tutorials for DMGs). I get splotches sometimes too, like at one specific point on the screen. I'm not sure why but it just happens.
Thanks a lot! I'm not sure why it would look like that. Does it seem to be a defect? It could just be the specific light. Do you have a link to where you got it? I'm curious.
I put the link in the description of the video since I can't put it in a comment. Its the V4 Envy though. And they recently added a helpful picture of where to solder, its different than where I did it though so I can't personally speak for any differences.
yeah I'm not sure either. If you have like instagram or some other way of uploading a picture I wouldn't mind seeing it. The only other thing I can think of is that the camera might be playing with the color of mine. It doesn't look quite as vibrant as it does in real life, so that neon quality you are talking about might be there with mine but you just can't see it, idk. I feel like a neon quality is something that I'd look for in a colored light though honestly.
Hi dear... i have a gameboy light, with broken screen... do you know if i do the same stepts that you do, but i use the original gameboy light back light, with a gameboy pocket screen, it will work? thanks for your help
Well the texture of the backlight is just many little circles and you can clearly see that when I turn the gameboy on. It makes the text even harder to read. I did put the polarizing filter in. I just uploaded a video to my profile it should be done processing soon.
I should also point out that a lot of soldering irons have pretty big tips, but the insides of game boys can be a bit tight. So just be aware of that. Thats partly why i like the gas soldering iron because it has a pretty pointy tip that you can take off if desired.
Ended up taking the Pro sound mod of it, soldering it into a normal gameboy then bundling it with a wormlight and the LSDJ Cart and making a quick video on here to show it and sell it for £70 and a guy from USA messaged me and wanted it and paypaled me the cash and I sent it him! Never heard from the guy again but I think he was happy. Don't even know if he ever actually received it but I guess he did as there was no comebacks on here or Paypal!
Have you tried their solder configuration? Are you using the resistor? It seems like a lot of people are having problems like that and I'm not sure if its because of the GBs, the lights, the solder points, or what.
The only thing you can really do is double check your soldering, try their solder points and put in/take out the resistor. Beyond that I really don't know what the issue could be.
will this same method work for the new v5 backlight?
can I use these same connection points?
And I appreciate the comment! If you're able to, you should post a pic or vid when you're done
Great Tutorial! I followed it and installed a white backlight and resistor using the same solder points and it works great! I got the kit on ebay and the resistor it came with is 100 OHM I saw some people had questions about what resistor to use. Do you recommend using the resistor? It does dim the backlight as the batteries drain to save power, but evenly without any flicker. It is always the brightest with fresh batteries or when using the ac adapter in which it never dims. I have the same style backlight except green and resistor in an DMG Game Boy and it is much brighter, but that is due to the difference of the sytems. I will probably just leave the resistor on I was just wondering what would you recommend? Thanks for the tutorial I am really happy with the results.
Its hard to say honestly. I think if you're happy with how it is just leave it. Don't change anything unless you feel compelled. I took mine out and while it does flicker in some games, its not bad enough to make me change it. But I'd probably leave it in there next time. In the past ive always used them and its never been an issue
And thanks for the comment!
Whats noticeable about the texture? Did you put the polarizing filter in? The resistor should make it dimmer, but I don't think that much. I'd say its worth a try though, you could always take it out later. Can you post pics or a video?
Great video! Subbed
Ok i found some and I went to their website. Does your light look the way their pictures do? Because I think that is just how back lights look. What were you hoping they would look like? Maybe a different color would be better
nice, at least you got something out of it.
I would guess the wiring was wrong somehow or there was a crossed connection or something. I don't know of any leds that could drain it that fast lol
LSDJ is a lot of fun but it took me a while to get it down, I'm still no expert though. It just takes time screwing around and reading about it.
No, the resistance can only be as low as the most resistant part of the circuit. Are you using the resistor now? If so try taking it out. Then maybe try the solder points from their website and see if that does anything. I'm not sure the difference exactly, electronically speaking, but if nothing helps maybe the screen is a dud. I always hook them straight to the batteries before an installation to make sure they turn on properly. And it never hurts to double or triple check your soldering.
Cool video! What value is the resistor?
If I solder in the resistor will that reduce the brightness? Do you think it could be the polarized film by chance? Thank you for your speedy reply.
Oh, is it possible you have the screen inverted? like are all the lines that are black on mine lit up on yours? Is that what you mean by neon? Could be the polarization filter is in wrong (in which case all you need to do is rotate it 90 deg), or that you bought an inverted model. I'm going to put links in the description so you can see a comparison, just in case.
Well the resistor is there to get rid of that flickering. So i would put it back in the new configuration. Did you try that and then remove it? Like did you use my set up with the resistor and then it was too dim?
I actually installed a 47ohm 1/4th watt resistor like the one included in the package and it did not help. Still went dim within a half hour of use and was too dim to even play soon after. I will be resoldering the wires to make sure it's secure. If it doesn't alleviate the problem, I'll probably try one of the backlighting kits from ASMRetro, and throw this one into an original DMG. Thanks!
If you have an interest in doing so, please post a tutorial of installing a frontlight into the Color.
oh ok just making sure and thank you very much
Thanks man!
yeah usually the kits are supposed to come with a resistor, unless your particular one doesn't for some reason. Where did you get it from?
Hi i recently did this mod with the v4 envy white. I soldered the points (with the resistor) the way the nonfinite picture shows, but the brightness is so high that the games barely visible even while tweaking the contrast. I then discovered your tutorial and tried the points you soldered and did exactly as your video showed. I also removed the resistor for better brightness. It works great with games like dr mario and tetris, but the screen flickers when playing pokemon. Any suggestions?
ok it actually looks like you may have put the light in backwards. I can't remember what brand it was but I've used some where the back had a dotted texture like that. See if you can get in and turn it around, or at least take a look at the back while its on. If it isn't in backwards i honestly have no idea whats wrong.
Did you put the resistor in? I believe that is the flicker that a resistor is supposed to prevent.
yeah they didn't have any info on where to solder when I was making this video, and never responded to my email... So i used the tutorial in the description.
I'm not sure how they differ in terms of the circuit. I don't really understand the specifics of the game boy's circuit board. Both should work though so hopefully it wont make too big of a difference whichever way you go.
I just use my game boy pocket, but I did do a front lite mod for my gameboy color, and have an advance sp screen in my gba
Nice soldering iron! Mine only works sometimes...
hey, thx for your tutorial. but i have one problem - after soldering everything right (im a professional welder) de display is way to dark. i also tried with new batteries.. same
is it possible to ad a resistor with less ohm to make it brighter ?
Would that kit work for a gameboy color as well? and if so would the modding process be almost the same?
Yeah check your solder points and make sure the solder isn't touching any other point, it sounds like the battery is getting drained really fast. That is just really weird for it to dim like that. Sorry I haven't responded, I haven't been able to find the resistor. I think I threw it out or lost it... If you try it in a DMG or find a solution let us know. I'd be interested to see what happens.
I'm not sure actually I don't have them anymore. They have different ones for DMGs and GBPs also. And possibly for each color? The website might say
Hm that is really weird that it wouldnt even work in their configuration. I'm honestly not sure what else you can do. Maybe like search online for some slightly different solder points. Something has to work. That is really frustrating if you just have to deal with it being dim. Oh, I just thought of something. Did you make sure to buy the Pocket version of the light? I think resistors might (not sure) be different. If you accidentally bought the DMG version that could be the problem.
Oh and I will say that aligning the screen can be one of the more frustrating parts of this. Sometimes it takes FOREVER to get it straight. Because you have to adjust it and look at it before you attach the case and hope it hasnt moved. So just know that that is pretty normal.
I did this with my v4 backlight, however one of the LEDs burnt out a few days later while playing a game. Think it was a dud or because I was running it without a resistor? I found it too dim as well with it on....and frankly had NO luck with nonfinites solder points shown on his site.....or the secondary tutorial under tutorials section by moffitt.
Have you had this problem? Please let me know. I would like to order a replacement but I dont want it to happen again!
Thanks!
Hm, that sounds more like a problem with the screen itself. Can you see the image at all? If you adjust the contrast does it still get darker and lighter? I think the light would have to be pretty damn bright to completely over power the image so I'm guessing its something else. Check your soldering and make sure nothing touches other solder points, something may be shorted. The resistor may help, but i really don't know. Sorry i can't be of more help. Let me know what happens though
Hey man, just wondering if this tutorial can also be used to install the backlight in dmg?
I've never modded before. What is biverting because I hear about that all the time when it comes to backlighting. And so is the GB Pocket the easiest to mod? Modding a DMG looks more complicated.
help I accidentally did something wrong as when I turned on the gameboy the backlight lit up for a quick second and then it stopped.
im going to mod my gameboy pocket soon and i was going to ask do you need the resistor?
I'm not sure the value of the resistor that it comes with, I don't have it anymore. If i find it randomly I'll post the specs though. However, I believe each color may have a different one so my specific resistor may be different from other's.
Good tutorial! The big guys are called capacitors. If you ever do more soldering I recommend a hakko or something with a regulated temperature.
Thanks a lot man! And for the recommendation, I'll look into that.
As for the resistor I'm not sure what the rating is. But I'd agree, it is best to have one. The kits are made that way for a reason and it will get rid of bad flickering in the screen if you have it. The only reason I took mine out is because of my batteries I mistakenly thought it limited the power too much.
Hi there, great tutorial so far, I was just wondering how to get rid of the sticky bits on the glass. The layer on my display didn't come of that smooth as yours. I can use my fingers on the outer parts, but I can't reach under the contacts to get rid of the glue. What are you sayin at 08:10 ? (Googarn???) I didn't get that part, thanks for your reply in advance! Cheers, Attila
Ah i was saying Goo Gone. Its this solvent that takes off sticker glue and things like that. if you find something like it just soak the tip of a cue tip and rub the area, maybe soak it for a sec. It should come off. Then the issue is working the debris to the edge. beside that maybe rubbing alcohol. Honestly the best way to do it is peel off the back in one smooth go, so that only the corner has sticky stuff on it. Maybe next time :) anyway good luck and let me know if you have other questions.
TrailBlazer5280 Thanks, haha took me hours to clean of the glue, and I guess I damaged the cable doing it. Light works, but the screens shows fixed pixels and doesn't show any moving pixels. Gonna get me another pocket and try again.
Attila000The000Hun Dont kill all the pockets for me!
Attila000The000Hun just go on ebay and buy some screens for like 6 bucks much cheaper then a pocket and you can get a lot of like 10 for cheap. link if requested,
hottechtalk link?
Well I've got an gba sp at my disposal to take the light out of, dissapointing there isn't a simpler solution, but thanks for your help anyway.
Will the v5 backlight kit work with this tutorial?
Great tutorial! Thanks ;) I'm going to try a.d do this with my friends purple gameboy colour :D
Jason Foon It dones't work with a Game Boy Color.
:( that's sad with i could :/
Jason Foon Yeah, it would be a cool mod. You can add a frontlight to it though :)
Oh, I did find a video doing that with a bubble gum gameboy custom
Ok just dont rip the frontlight from the Gameboy advance sp. get a frontlight online. It is going to save your life
mine or theirs? Whichever one you did I would try soldering it on the other's points and see what happens
Ah that sucks man. Does it just not turn on? Try re-soldering everything and maybe try their connection points too.
And honestly there can be a learning curve with this kind of stuff. I've trashed a couple GB myself in the past and have had to do a lot of trouble shooting. I can't tell you how many times Ive screwed and unscrewed those damn cases. If i were you, and can't figure out whats wrong, id look around for one that still works but has a crappy shell, so you can get it for cheaper.
I agree the shadows between the LEDs aren't ideal, but on the ones Ive bought they haven't really been too blatant that it ruined the experience for me.
Sometimes things vary from unit to unit. I bought a light from another company that is unbelievable dim, it ridiculous. So you can get duds, and I think some stuff can vary from color to color. Shadows may be more prominent or blacks and whites on screen may not be as vivid. Idk why, but from the colors Ive used this can be the case.
How is the battery life for you because I brought a backlit (Green) Pocket Gameboy a couple of years ago and honestly even with the best new Duracell batteries I was getting like 10 minutes if lucky then the batteries were flat! It was really pointless! I gave up with it in the end and brought a regular non backlit gameboy! Honestly that thing was eating batteries! I would be interested in trying this mod again if the battery actually lasted a half decent amount of time like 2 or 3 hours...
So is the resistor not mandatory to have in???
I'm not actually sure of the resistance. They do not tell us when we buy the kit, but you can look up how to read the colored bars online.
here you go man. You just select the system and button color from the menu. I think their stock changes from time to time so check in if they don't have what youre looking for.
storeDOTkitsch-bentDOTcom/product/custom-buttons
Ah ok ive seen these guys. It has a built in resistor so you won't need an external one. you should look at this page on their site for picture tutorials and look at the last one: asmretroDOTcom/mgb-backlight-tutorial
I honestly havent tried this hook up before, or their lights yet, so I don't know the differences of where the points are coming from on the board. But I'd try it out. if it doesn't work then there is probably something up with the light.
Well, I wouldn't consider this an absolute beginner project, but pretty close. My previous experience mostly included re-soldering my guitar components a couple of times, which were rather large wires/connections and are pretty damn easy to do. Honestly if you learn like some beginner basics for electronics (like tinning wires and basic technique) and maybe doing some practice solders on random wires you should be fine.
awesome TUTORIAL i have a backligth gameboy pocket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can see if image but its like the light overpowers the image.. If I adjust the contrast I can make it better some but it's still not really playable.
No, unfortunately the Colors can only be front lit. Not exactly sure why, I've never looked too much into it.
There are a few tutorials for lighting a Color though if do some digging.
Your contact points differ from nonfinites. What is the difference? I'm getting ready to backlight my GBP.
Hi, I just used your guide and installed my snow v4 envy and I am having a problem. My backlight is so bright that I can't really see the game .. Even if I adjust the contrast something not right. Please help.
That is pretty strange man. I would definitely try it again if i were you because normally that doesn't happen. It will naturally eat more battery but I get at least a few hours, probably a lot more, before the screen starts to dim. I've never played in long increments though so I'm not sure exactly. But if that one was only lasting ten minutes there was something wrong.
I soldered it like their instructions
does the backlight also works if you're using an ac adapter for the Game Boy?
Yes
Can i use frontlight from GBA SP?
Actually I just noticed a problem, I was playing Pokemon Blue and I noticed that when I press certain buttons or open menus the contrast fluctuates, it's really annoying. Have you seen this problem before? Do you know what can cuase it?
Sorry for spamming the comments but another thing that is really noticeable is the actual texture of the backlight itself.
Oops sorry. Accidentally clicked send. But i did it with the resistor using nonfinites config, but the brightness was too bright, the doing it without the resistor, backlight doesnt light. Then using your config with the resistor is dim(with fresh batteries too) and without with resistor is bright like in your video.
does the resister come with the kit.... pls respond
Sorry for the late reply. That really sucks though. Ive definitely been burned a couple times from ebay. I'm sorry to hear about your wife's gameboy, especially one form Japan. I would be pretty pissed myself. I mean honestly though these sorts of projects are kind of like that. Ive had to learn so much through trial and error. It can be very discouraging sometimes when everything goes wrong at once.. But thats how you learn you know. it just sucks it had to happen with that one.
more videos soon?