The Game Boy Color USB-C Charging Kit PRO is the new circuit for Nintendo Game Boy Color. This time is all in one circuit and includes not only the charging controller but also a boost converter and audio amplifier.
The modern IPS displays with background light require more energy than the stock display. Also, the flash cards to load tons of games consume the battery very fast. If you really want to enjoy the games, the best way to do it is using a rechargeable battery instead of AA batteries.
However, that is not enough because a higher consume is forcing the original electronic to strive more than it can. That may cause noise in the speaker or headphones.
Typical solution has been adding a charging circuit for the battery and a power converter to replace the old and not efficiently one which is included in the GBC. Some people also add an audio amplifier to hear better the speaker sound. All these things make the GBC perfect, however the installation require a lot of cables and can not be easy for some people without enough knowledge.
This board add all these features with a clean and easy installation:
The board includes the following ICs
TP5000
TP5000 is a switching buck single lithium battery charge management chip. Its QFN16 ultra-compact package making the TP5000 is ideal for portable equipment large current charging management applications. Meanwhile, TP5000 built-in input overcurrent, undervoltage protection, over temperature protection, short circuit protection, battery temperature monitoring, reverse battery protection. (datasheet)
MT3540
The MT3540 is a constant frequency, 5-pin SOT23 current mode step-up converter intended for small, low power applications. The MT3540 switches at 1.2MHz and allows the use of tiny, low cost capacitors and inductors 2mm or less in height. Internal soft-start results in small inrush current and extends battery life. (datasheet)
PAM8302A
The PAM8302A is a 2.5W Class-D mono audio amplifier. Its low THD+N feature offers high quality sound reproduction. The new filterless architecture allows the device to drive speakers directly instead of using low-pass output filters, therefore saving system cost and PCB area. (datasheet)
FEATURES
Exact shape for Game Boy Color.
Li-Ion battery charger by USB-C with protection for charging level and over-discharge.
DC to DC converter of 5V output. (The board doesn’t support original screen, only IPS screens supported)
Safe charge and play. (since v2.3) (Important: read the note section)
Audio amplifier for the speaker with a potentiometer called VR1 to setup the maximum volume.
Integrated LED indicators on the main board, next to the USB for charging battery (red) and full battery (green). It can be disabled by the jumper SJ1.
External LED indicators board for playing (white), charging battery (red) and full battery (green). Optional installation.
INCLUDED
1 frame panel which includes the two boards:
Main board.
Light board.
1 Battery cable.
1 Cable of 3 wires for connecting the light board.
1 Cable of 1 wire for connecting the board to the sound pad.
1 Light diffuser pipe.
REQUIRED (NOT INCLUDED)
Li-ion battery (for example 123048, perfect for an IPS V3 laminated screen shell)
New speaker 8Ω 1W (optional but recommended to avoid noise, for example this one)
New capacitors (optional but recommended to avoid noise)
2023-02-12: It recently has been detected a strange malfunction that can occur only in this specific situation and not always, it happens occasionally:
With the GBC turned off, you plug in the USB-C cable and then power on the GBC. Occasionally the red light will turn off just after the GBC is turned on, and then the charging circuit will get very hot until it is damaged.
It works properly when the GBC is already on and then the USB-C cable is connected. Or when the GBC is charging but it remains off. (Video showing it here)
However, I highly recommend not charging and playing at the same time to avoid any problem (like the previous version which didn’t support it).
The intro of some games: system sound 100%, audio amp 50% and speaker 8Ω 1W
Battery test
This video shows a GBC running for 6 hours and 30 minutes. It did it with an IPS V3 laminated screen with the brightness at 100%, the system sound at 100%, the amplifier sound at 50%, playing the games from a flash card and using a 1800mAh battery.
Charging and Playing test
This video shows a GBC charging and playing a game for about 2 hours. It did it with an IPS V3 laminated screen with the brightness at 100%, the system sound at 20%, the amplifier sound at 50%, playing the games from a flash card and using a 1500mAh battery.
Installing the board on the GBC
This video shows the installation progress of the board on the GBC.
This board is compatible with the following version boards of GBC:
CGB-CPU-01
CGB-CPU-02
CGB-CPU-03
CGB-CPU-04
CGB-CPU-05 (1)
CGB-CPU-06 (1)
(1) These boards do not have the EM4 electronic component, one of the kit’s pads must be soldered there to detect if there are headphones connected to the audio jack. An alternative pad can be used for it:
Some third party modules which people or I have tried and work well together this kit:
(2) This display has problems with charging kits and makes noise when you connect the power cable from the screen pad called “BAT” to the switch leg. Fortunately, if you use the “GB+5V” pad of the GBC PRO board instead of the switch leg, the noise will stop.
(3) This screen also needs a power cable from the flex cable to “GB+5V” pad, otherwise it won’t turn the screen on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the original screen?
No, you can not. This board is only compatible with screens which work at 5V (IPS screens). The original screen needs another voltage.
The speaker doesn’t sound
During the installation of the board, there is a green/blue cable that needs to be installed between the volume wheel to the board, you can find it inside the small bag.
If you have installed it, check the speaker is properly soldered and it is not broken.
The sound is too loud
The internal audio potentiometer, which is included in the board and is called VR1, is setup by default at 40%, you can decrease it a bit more if you need. See this picture.
Does the audio amplifier have a feature where audio is completely cut off or silent when the volume wheel is turned all the way down?
No, it doesn’t have that option, and if you have the volume wheel of the audio amplifier at 100% and the GBC volume wheel at 0% you can still hear a bit the sound… however it’s crazy to have the internal volume wheel at 100% because is too loud. My recommendation is 50% or less.
The unique way to have 100% disconnected the sound is connecting the audio jack because it makes sleep the audio amplifier.
Why are there two red and green lights?
The board include lights next to the USB-C and in the small light board. This small board is optional, you don’t need to install it if you don’t want or it’s too difficult for you. But if you do, my recommendation is removing the small resistance called SJ1 with your solder iron, that is going to disable the lights next to the USB-C. If in the future you want to active it again, you just need to put a drop of tin because the resistance has a value of 0, it’s just a jumper/cable.
Does the white led indicate the battery level?
Yes, it works as before, when the battery is decreasing the capacity, the light is going to be less brightness. However, I think this effect is more appreciable with the original led because the red color. You have a video demonstration in the “Additional content (videos)” tap.
Can you use type-c to type-c cables with this board?
Yes, you can. Except the GBA SP board, the rest accept USB-C to USB-C cables and charge with any charger, fast chargers too but a normal speed.
Can I play and charge the battery at the same time? (Safe charge-and-play)
The electronic board doesn’t have support for it. You shouldn’t play and charge at the same time. I will try to make space on the board for adding this feature in future versions.
Do I need to solder the extra power cable of my IPS screen?
I don’t know sure, for my screen that I guess it’s a copy I don’t need to solder any cable to the screen, just connect it and works perfect. However, I have seen someone who needed to solder it otherwise the backlight doesn’t work. So, you can try first without that cable and if it doesn’t work follow the instructions of your screen and solder the cable.
Changelog
2022-02: v1.0 (Not commercialised)
Initial version, it was made with Texas Instruments ICs, worked well except the audio didn’t turn off when the earphones were connected.
2022-03: v1.1 (Not commercialised)
Fixed the problem with the audio, however I needed to cancel it because the out of stock of ICs and expensive price.
Improved the way to solder the board, it’s easier now.
2022-05: v2.0 (Not commercialised)
Modified the charging and DC converter ICs for another ones with more stock.
Changed the place where the Qi pads were because was in the middle of a screw hole
2022-06: v2.1 (8 units)
Modified the audio ICs for another one with more stock.
2022-07: v2.2
Added extra vias to be sure the V_BATT and SDN pad connection are correct because depending on the castellated hole quality can make the installation a bit tricky.
Other minor changes (separating a bit some components from the SJ1, changed the URL of the quick guide, etc.)
2023-01: v2.3
Added safe charge and play feature.
Gallery of customer's installation
If you are happy with your installation result, you can send me the photos and I can publish here, other clients will see the result!
3 reviews for Game Boy Color: USB-C Charging Kit PRO
Rated 5 out of 5
coreyosaur (verified owner)–
Excellent! Thank you so much for your dedication to design and manufacture this!
1) No more power issues w. Funnyplaying Q5 2.0 IPS laminated display! Woohoo! Any brightness is OK! Everdrive X7 OK!
2) Audio is clear, headphones work, I don’t dare touch 100% vol hahah! (New caps + FP speaker)
3) Li battery setup is perfect! The battery LED mini board is challenging to install but worth it. White fades as power is low. Able to plug-in/unplug while playing. (Stock GBC can’t do that!) SOOO convenient. Battery life is fantastic on a 103048 cell and there is still room for a thicker battery.
Removing components is difficult for beginners. I had to trim my funnyplaying shell to clear the new PCB in a few spots. That may be difficult with an opaque shell. I milled the USB-C slot with a dremel and tiny ~3mm endmill by eye since I forgot to buy the template in my first order. It took a lot of adjusting to get right. I recommend the template.
Immediately bought another to make a GBC for a family member. Thank you!
Rated 5 out of 5
Leon Hill (verified owner)–
Work great and I have all ready order another one
Rated 5 out of 5
asdf.tgz (verified owner)–
Awesome little quality board. Super easy to install, and the instructions are easy to follow. Giltesa also personally helped me debug an issue I was having, that was totally my fault. Highly recommend getting one of these for your Game Boy Color.
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
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coreyosaur (verified owner) –
Excellent! Thank you so much for your dedication to design and manufacture this!
1) No more power issues w. Funnyplaying Q5 2.0 IPS laminated display! Woohoo! Any brightness is OK! Everdrive X7 OK!
2) Audio is clear, headphones work, I don’t dare touch 100% vol hahah! (New caps + FP speaker)
3) Li battery setup is perfect! The battery LED mini board is challenging to install but worth it. White fades as power is low. Able to plug-in/unplug while playing. (Stock GBC can’t do that!) SOOO convenient. Battery life is fantastic on a 103048 cell and there is still room for a thicker battery.
Removing components is difficult for beginners. I had to trim my funnyplaying shell to clear the new PCB in a few spots. That may be difficult with an opaque shell. I milled the USB-C slot with a dremel and tiny ~3mm endmill by eye since I forgot to buy the template in my first order. It took a lot of adjusting to get right. I recommend the template.
Immediately bought another to make a GBC for a family member. Thank you!
Leon Hill (verified owner) –
Work great and I have all ready order another one
asdf.tgz (verified owner) –
Awesome little quality board. Super easy to install, and the instructions are easy to follow. Giltesa also personally helped me debug an issue I was having, that was totally my fault. Highly recommend getting one of these for your Game Boy Color.