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USB Rechargeable LiPo Pack for Original Gameboy

This is a DIY LiPo pack for the original Gameboy (DMG-01) that requires zero modification to the console itself.

senSen
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Inspired by the replaceable USB-rechargeable LiPo batteries inside the Ring doorbells/cameras, I wanted something similar for my original gameboy. There's plenty of LiPo mods that require cutting up the Gameboy and/or soldering to the boards inside, but I wanted to leave the console all-original.

It's a very simple build, and most of the effort was in iterating (and iterating, and iterating) the case/chassis design until it fit perfectly inside the battery compartment. I wanted it to utilise the existing battery springs to hold it stable enough to play on the go, and also use the original battery contact points so there was no modification required to the Gameboy itself.

Parts required

- Polymer Lithium Ion Battery (LiPo) 3.7V 1100mAh
- Adafruit Micro Lipo w/MicroUSB Jack
- 3D printed chassis/case
- 1mm brass wire
- 22AWG wire

Instructions

Bend some small pieces of the 1mm brass wire and glue them into place as per the photos. Solder wires from the the positive brass wire piece (right side, check battery compartment markings to be sure) to the BAT point on the LiPo breakout, and the negative side (left side) to the GND point.

The photos should sum it up, it's not a very complex build.


When you're putting the new battery pack into the Gameboy, you want to lower the bottom edge in first and push it against the lower springs to compress them, then the top part with the brass contacts should lower down in without scraping anything. When you let go, the lower springs push the new battery up against the contacts at the top, holding it in place.

GB DMG01 LiPo Pt A - v6.stl

The main chassis/case for the LiPo battery and charger board

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 289.73 kB - 07/22/2021 at 01:39

Download

GB DMG01 LiPo Pt B - v6.stl

The little cover that holds the charger board in place

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 28.40 kB - 07/22/2021 at 01:39

Download

  • Wireless charging coming soon.

    Sen • 08/20/2021 at 07:43 • 0 comments

    My wireless charging coil has arrived so I'll be working on a second version soon that will include that, and I'll also be iterating on the original version to make some improvements too, so you'll get a choice between the simple USB version or the USB + Wireless version.

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Discussions

PixJuan wrote 08/15/2021 at 13:41 • point

Nice job!
I'd like to use it on my Gameboy alarm clock project.
One cool feature to add for a V2 would be to be able to charge it while it is in the Gameboy, either by allowing some room to plug a bent usb connector, or by having the usb connector put vertically on the board. But if you already planned to do wireless charging it would also be great!

  Are you sure? yes | no

Sen wrote 08/20/2021 at 07:41 • point

Yeah my wireless coil just arrived so I'm going to work on that soon, but I do like your idea of trying to get the USB port facing up. The breakout board is too big to just turn it upright and still be able to close the lid, but I'll try your bent-connector idea or try figure something else out like that.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Austin wrote 08/04/2021 at 17:59 • point

Awesome, definitely gonna have to build myself a handful of these then, thanks for confirming (and giving me a project to keep busy with!)

  Are you sure? yes | no

Max Marín wrote 08/02/2021 at 19:29 • point

What are the dimensions for the Lipo battery? Sorry if this is too basic, there seem to be a lot of different sizes for that.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Sen wrote 08/04/2021 at 00:59 • point

The LiPo itself is 51x34x6mm. There's a few mm spare on the first 2 measurements but 0mm spare on thickness for it to all still fit together and still be able to put the battery cover on.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Francis Ak'enamé wrote 08/01/2021 at 12:37 • point

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32995630744.html or similar (Qi charge board) may let you charge wirelessly without issue.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Sen wrote 08/04/2021 at 00:57 • point

I've got some coils on the way to add wireless charging for v2 :)

  Are you sure? yes | no

Austin wrote 07/31/2021 at 21:26 • point

This is awesome! As a collector who’s main passion and focus is on the Gameboy, this is everything I could ever want in a project. My only question (since the pictures didn’t answer it conclusively) is can the original battery door be put back on with the battery pack installed?

  Are you sure? yes | no

Alexander wrote 08/01/2021 at 02:13 • point

It *looks* like it might fit over top from the photos. If not, modifying the 3D print to get it to fit shouldn't be *too* hard.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Sen wrote 08/04/2021 at 00:58 • point

Yup the original door fits perfectly on top.

  Are you sure? yes | no

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