Purple/Red combo is pretty sweet. The purple is probably the most subdued brightness of the different color selections. And looks nice in my clear purple shell. The red is pretty bright, but there’s only 10 to 15 minutes of battery left on my LADDAs when it gets there. So I should change batteries then anyway. This mod is pretty great and easy to install for anyone with modest soldering skills.
It's not so efficient, but my usual method before I got a solder sucker was to use a third arm to hold the board straight, then heat the joints on the back while wiggling and pulling the LED out from the front.
I received this kit today and it only came with one light pipe and no wire. Hopefully this light pipe fits my funny playing shell. I'll update after installation
The latest kits don't require a wire -- the VCC half pad in the top middle should line up with a via on the motherboard, and should be soldered there -- and I recently switched to a single pipe that should fit all shells. Hit me up on Etsy if you need any assistance!
So you switched to 2.2k ohm resistors for the LEDs? Are the clear LED or diffused? Default red on a stock GBC is too bright for me, so would rather have something less intrusive.
I have one suggestion, perhaps a more opaque defusing "light pipe", I went with Green/Red for my LEDs, and the green is so bright it's distracting to the eye, even with a max brightness backlight kit, the green LED is brighter by a long shot. I plan on disassembling and sanding the light pipe a bit to make it more opaque and hopefully to diffuse it a bit more. If that doesn't work, I'll likely end up finding a different type of plastic to use instead. To be clear, this isn't really an issue with the mod. It functions exactly as intended, just perhaps a consequence of the colours I chose, and the brightness of the LEDs.
This can be fixed by choosing a different resistor value for the LED as well. When did you order? I started using higher resistor values for some colors recently because of this.
I'm probably not gonna make a new video, but I have a written guide on my new site: froggocustoms.com/blogs/installation-guides/game-boy-color-battery-indicator
Do you think it would be possible to have a kit that measures the power draw by the screen to give a more constant time remaining regardless of the screen settings, and then a pot to adjust the length of the warning time?
Monitoring power draw and coming up with a number of minutes left would complicate the circuit, and you'd be putting a lot of faith in different batteries being similar enough that your estimates are accurate beyond a tiny selection of batteries. That said, I designed an adjustable version that has a pot for adjusting the low battery threshold voltage. I'll put it on the todo list to share that on OSHPark at some point.
The battery life indicator does not warn you of a dying battery when having a Lithium Ion battery mod by Funny Playing. basically turns red for 1 second and shuts off/resets. Its prolly because the battery mod is designed to output a constant voltage.
Yeah, LiPo mods won't play nicely with this, especially if they output a constant voltage to VCC. In that case, you'd need to run the VCC wire on the mod to the positive terminal of the lipo, and tune the low voltage threshold appropriately.
Is that the HHL button LED kit? You should be able to just cut off the power LED part of that mod -- or fold it out of the way -- so this one will fit.
It will technically work with the Pocket, but shape and LED positioning aren't quite right. I'm just finishing up testing on a pocket version that should be available in the next few weeks.
@@Bruno-tt6cf downloading gerbers is disabled on that project, so you need to order from OSHPark. By far your cheapest option in any case since they need to be flex.
@@leggomyfroggo I know, but my soldering skills ain't good enough for smd. I'd like tonget it assembled from pcbway. Any estimate when it'll be back in stock at your etsy store?
Only a couple possible interactions I'm aware of: 1. Button LED mods that also include a replacement power LED(e.g. from Natalie the Nerd), but the power LED portion can be cut off there. 2. GBAccelerator. The actual speed mod will work fine, but since it's a totally different power LED circuit, the indicator wiring they indicate would not work. I think I devised alternate wiring for that, but don't have one to test at the moment.
Hi, have you started using a higher resistor value for the white LED? I heard it’s a bit too bright and I’m wondering since I purchased your led indicator last week. Please let me know and thanks for this mod!!
Purple/Red combo is pretty sweet. The purple is probably the most subdued brightness of the different color selections. And looks nice in my clear purple shell. The red is pretty bright, but there’s only 10 to 15 minutes of battery left on my LADDAs when it gets there. So I should change batteries then anyway. This mod is pretty great and easy to install for anyone with modest soldering skills.
It's not so efficient, but my usual method before I got a solder sucker was to use a third arm to hold the board straight, then heat the joints on the back while wiggling and pulling the LED out from the front.
What LED voltage would be most appropriate? My blue LEDs are 3.1V but my reds are 2V
Is there a way to use this indicator with the Giltesa USB-C mod?
It comes with a battery indicator too, but I always thought that one was too bright
Im using a lithium battery is it the same way to install this mod as regular double a batteries
Just finished installing mine, it rocks. Thanks man, good product. (Especially after I fucked up a led replacement and damaged the contacts lol)
I received this kit today and it only came with one light pipe and no wire. Hopefully this light pipe fits my funny playing shell. I'll update after installation
The latest kits don't require a wire -- the VCC half pad in the top middle should line up with a via on the motherboard, and should be soldered there -- and I recently switched to a single pipe that should fit all shells. Hit me up on Etsy if you need any assistance!
@@leggomyfroggo Thanks! I'm excited to install it this evening
So you switched to 2.2k ohm resistors for the LEDs? Are the clear LED or diffused? Default red on a stock GBC is too bright for me, so would rather have something less intrusive.
I'm curious to know how well these work with something like the the funny playing lipo kit or (shutter) CleanJuice Air
The updated version on my Etsy shop has a switch that lets you choose between AA and LiPo voltage thresholds. Works great for the FP kit.
I have one suggestion, perhaps a more opaque defusing "light pipe", I went with Green/Red for my LEDs, and the green is so bright it's distracting to the eye, even with a max brightness backlight kit, the green LED is brighter by a long shot. I plan on disassembling and sanding the light pipe a bit to make it more opaque and hopefully to diffuse it a bit more. If that doesn't work, I'll likely end up finding a different type of plastic to use instead.
To be clear, this isn't really an issue with the mod. It functions exactly as intended, just perhaps a consequence of the colours I chose, and the brightness of the LEDs.
This can be fixed by choosing a different resistor value for the LED as well. When did you order? I started using higher resistor values for some colors recently because of this.
@@leggomyfroggo Around Mid September is when I ordered.
Did you think about adding a pot to accommodate for different power options like lipo mods and different batteries?
Under consideration for a V2. The lack of required calibration I think is good to keep things simple.
Such a easy and cool mod! Received it today and took no more than 10 mins to install. Easy Peezy. Thanks for this cool mod!
Any thoughts on making a tutorial for the v2?
I'm probably not gonna make a new video, but I have a written guide on my new site: froggocustoms.com/blogs/installation-guides/game-boy-color-battery-indicator
You don't sell these anymore? I was just purchasing a clicky buttons mod from your shop and only saw this mod for the pocket.
Working on an updated design, so out of stock at the moment. Should be back in a few weeks.
Such a great project! Do you know when you'll next have stock on Etsy?
Thanks! Didn't realize I had sold out again, haha. Will probably be about 2 weeks or so until I have the parts for more
Do you think it would be possible to have a kit that measures the power draw by the screen to give a more constant time remaining regardless of the screen settings, and then a pot to adjust the length of the warning time?
Monitoring power draw and coming up with a number of minutes left would complicate the circuit, and you'd be putting a lot of faith in different batteries being similar enough that your estimates are accurate beyond a tiny selection of batteries.
That said, I designed an adjustable version that has a pot for adjusting the low battery threshold voltage. I'll put it on the todo list to share that on OSHPark at some point.
The battery life indicator does not warn you of a dying battery when having a Lithium Ion battery mod by Funny Playing. basically turns red for 1 second and shuts off/resets. Its prolly because the battery mod is designed to output a constant voltage.
Yeah, LiPo mods won't play nicely with this, especially if they output a constant voltage to VCC. In that case, you'd need to run the VCC wire on the mod to the positive terminal of the lipo, and tune the low voltage threshold appropriately.
@@leggomyfroggo right
Do you know what changes have to be done to get the indicator working for the funnyplaying lipo mod?
Requires swapping a couple resistors out. R2 and R5 on the current version in my shop. Might be a good topic for a future video.
will this work if i have a retroflex rgb board on my gbc? my gbc keeps shutting off without warning b4 dying the leds dont even get dim ;-;
Is that the HHL button LED kit? You should be able to just cut off the power LED part of that mod -- or fold it out of the way -- so this one will fit.
So would I be able to use this, if I wanted to do the gameboy pocket color mod or would this take up more space?
You would want to use the Game Boy Pocket version of this mod to make sure the LEDs line up correctly with the hole in the lens.
Will this work with the AMOLED display?
Yup!
Does this only work for Gameboy Color? I’m interested in using it with a pocket if it works.
It will technically work with the Pocket, but shape and LED positioning aren't quite right. I'm just finishing up testing on a pocket version that should be available in the next few weeks.
@@leggomyfroggo Thanks for the quick response! I’m so excited for this mod I use my pocket almost everyday, so this would be a huge help 👍🏽
@@leggomyfroggo Nice.
I have game boy pocket with no battery indicator. Im hoping to find a way to add it back in. Would it be possible with this mod?
@@trashdee7973 yes! I plan to do a video at some point showing this
Will you be restocking this mod anytime soon?
Will be back tomorrow
awesome video as always, thanks.
Great project! Will you release the gerber files for it?
Already did, just not on GitHub! Check out my OSHPark link in the video description.
Unfortunately I couldn't find a way to download the gerber from OSHpark. Looks like the option is disabled on this project :(
@@Bruno-tt6cf downloading gerbers is disabled on that project, so you need to order from OSHPark. By far your cheapest option in any case since they need to be flex.
@@leggomyfroggo I know, but my soldering skills ain't good enough for smd. I'd like tonget it assembled from pcbway. Any estimate when it'll be back in stock at your etsy store?
@@Bruno-tt6cf should be back around the end of the month
Any problems with this mod clashing with others? Not a critisism just want to know.
Only a couple possible interactions I'm aware of:
1. Button LED mods that also include a replacement power LED(e.g. from Natalie the Nerd), but the power LED portion can be cut off there.
2. GBAccelerator. The actual speed mod will work fine, but since it's a totally different power LED circuit, the indicator wiring they indicate would not work. I think I devised alternate wiring for that, but don't have one to test at the moment.
@@leggomyfroggo Thanks
i dont see it on your etsy page
Sorry, out of stock at the moment! I'm working to get more in the next few weeks.
Awesome! I just ordered one.
Hi, have you started using a higher resistor value for the white LED? I heard it’s a bit too bright and I’m wondering since I purchased your led indicator last week.
Please let me know and thanks for this mod!!
Yes, I've increased values for all colors.
Taking the LED off my pocket was insanely hard lol
A good solder sucker goes a long way, but they can indeed still be tricky!