It’s cool to see that your original gba mod has come full circle I wish this was the launch day gba but it’s amazing to see a dedicated modding community for a solid handheld
Put and go? No connecting? No nothing? Seems so interesting and easy to craft, thats awesome to someone who doesnt know anything about circuits. Thanks
I remember I was one that did say it hehe Still, frankly I would not do it anyway. Having the rechargeable AAs makes more sense to me, as you can literally swap a full charge in seconds, and they're a lot cheaper + if you really want, you can still use normal non-rechargeable ones for... well whatever the reason. It does have the advantages tho that if you run out of charge and you've got a power bank on the go with you (or any micro USB charger) you're good to go, instead of needing the AA cell charger, and it's likely a lot lighter than Ni-MH AAs. I remember that Nintendo did release a battery pack for the GBA that just slotted inside the place of the AAs too, and had it's dedicated charger, I have seen it for sale locally here (no idea on the condition tho).
It still isint, its called rechargeable double A's. Good thing about just buying those is like with all batteries even this one when they go bad and can't hold a charge, you can actually go to the store and buy replacements and it will work just fine again. Battery packs like this once they go dead, you're fucked.
I just completed this mod successfully thanks to your clear and understandable tutorial. It's by far the best one around in my view. Thanks very much indeed!! 🙂
Wish they had a USB-C option too. What's a rad alternative though is picking up those magnetic plugs and cables, which can save the port on that battery if you trip on the cable and still be used with your phone
the nice thing about this is it pops in nicely and makes it really look like it goes with the gameboy, and the idea of the light indication to let you know when its charged or not is great vs the sp battery mod which involves soldering and looks harshly built (in my opinion)
masterchief88 it is a 16 year old handheld and it is a niche market. If they were expecting to sell millions of these at the Nintendo Switch level, then sub 25 would be realistic.
You can check out a cheaper alternative here: ruclips.net/video/hQPx2BShKiM/видео.html It’s a kit you assemble, which allows the price to come down a bit.
TheRaellz Technically sure, but there are lots of details to figure out around native GBA warning light compatibility, play-n-charge, etc. You pay for quality and engineering time/effort.
Recently received and installed mine. This is a well-built kit and definitely a fair price for a custom small-quantity item at this quality level. Edit: I fully second Modmatic's commentary. This is more than just a battery. There are other features and this kit executes them all smoothly.
This can probably be applied to Wii remotes as well as afterglow ps3 controllers... further modifications will be necessary though... for now, I'll stick with my energizer rechargeable AA batteries since a 4 pack is around 10 bucks at Wal-Mart...
I agree. I Made this Mod with a 1000mah and was only getting 3.5hrs with everdrive on GBC, 7hrs w/Pokemon Silver. With Panasonic eneloop 1900mah each, i got more than 7-8hrs with ever drive and 15hours with pokemon silver. So yeah, rechargeable batteries cheaper and better. Mod is just convenient for plug and play, nothing else.
well, thats neat. But i like the fact that the GBA runs on regular AA batteries instead of a rechargable battery pack. AAs can be picked up on any shop for cheap (if you run out of juice) and rechargable AA batteries are cheap as well.
I'm surprised there is no existing "replace two AA batteries with a single rechargeable" device out there. The form factor of "two counter-facing AAs in the device with a door over the top" is EXTREMELY common, you'd think it would be possible to make a one-size-fits-all that has shaped batteries to avoid even having to cut the battery compartment of the device. (Since most do not have complete separation between the two AAs.)
If something like this was released for the Game Gear, I WOULD BUY this in a heartbeat. I have been looking for something like this for that system for a long time.
Nice product, but I'm not one who plays their GBA enough these days to spend $50 on a battery pack where I need to cut up my console to make it work. So I just use a pair of rechargeable Lithium AA batteries that have Micro USB ports on them, and came with a split cable that only takes up 1 USB port, or wall adapter, and they where only about $15 off eBay from Singapore.
Great video! this makes me want to mod my GBA! I like the form factor of the original GBA, it fits my hands properly. I thank that i'm going to buy a new shell so i don't have to cut my original case.
I'd totally pick it up... would I just live in America and if my well treated GBA wouldn't start having contact issues when pressing the B and A buttons. Could be dust or anything, I dunno, I haven't ever cleaned it from inside.
Seconding Simon's suggestion. A lot of time with Nintendo's silicone pads for handhelds and controllers you'll see some of the pad rub off and onto the contact itself, causing issues with gameplay, can be solved by regular cleaning or replacement of the silicone pad.
I have an idea: try installing the GBA SP's cell phone-style buttons (Directional, Select, Start, B and A) into your original modded GBA. Back when I played my original GBA, I wasn't impressed with the original buttons.
Sadly, that wouldn't work. the SP's buttons are directly soldered to the board. although, you probably COULD buy some tactile buttons and solder them to the GBA!
I like the fact that you can use AA batteries OR RECHARGABLE ones much more! Like what do you do, when your only permanent battery can't be easily replaced when you are travelling? What the hell? Also it is so hard to find safe, replacement batteries for the GBA SP, the DSLITE and so on. In fact, IF you can build me a powerbank that fits into those slots for GBASP or DSL, that can even run on AA batteries, I will give you all the money I have. So far you need an extra usb charger, and a powerbank if you want to run on AA rechargables. I don't know, they should just have built in a charging station for those AA rechargables, so you can use that omnipresent battertype, buy and carry as many as you need while still saving the environment, that was the reason behind this. AA battery powered ones can easily have rechargable ons, but the other way around, like I said, not so much. Also, if the battery is completely dead, you canNOT play, at all. Change that, too. It ALWAYS runs through the battery, so you cannot even save battery at HOME!
to keep long time my console,i tend to stay on regular battery just because in case of rechargeable failure,they are easier to find and replace. i even moded my psp to use 18650 rechargeable...
For everyone who doesn't know, Wii batteries and the third party solutions have a limited charge, meaning they only last so many years and so many times before they become unusable completely. Keep in mind the GBA was released before 2001. Would you really want to buy a battery and go through the hassle of fixing the charge? When these die, you can swap the lithium ion battery out for a new one, because they are still being manufactured.
eBay is selling used AGB-008 battery packs for about less than half of the RetroModding battery pack. The former is an official drop in replacement but uses the proprietary AGB-009 charger while the latter is micro USB but requires cutting. Pick your poison.
This should work with the Wii remotes and Wavebirds too, as they have the same battery slot. I'm not sure you would want to cut into a wavebird though.
Damn, 40 bucks for a battery, you can archive the same results with a micro usb charger port from china and a Gba sp battery (but you need to solder) and ends up like 5 bucks... but yeah depends on everyone than wants the convenience of not needed to do much or put some effort on doing it
Two advantages of the RetroModding solution over that approach: the RetroModding board adjusts output voltage to make the GBA's low battery light function properly, and the RetroModding battery has 43% more capacity than a stock GBA SP battery.
im not trying to win an argument in here but you can fit 2 batteries in parallel connection by removing the plastic frame from the replacement batteries of 850mAh giving you more than the RetroModding one and using a safe charging module from arduino would be enough or just like a lot of people out there like me than have a battery pack always with me would be enough to charge it if i need to though everything have pros and cons in this life
not really, a regular battery output up to 3.6 to 4.2v the gba use only 2.4 to 3V... resistive or diode dropper reduce battery life and tend to get hot.. anyway to keep long time my console,i tend to stay on regular battery just because in case of rechargeable failure,they are easier to find and replace. i even moded my psp to use 18650 rechargeable...
I have actually tried this mod from scratch with off-the-shelf 3.7v battery with generic usb charging circuit board... and it did not work at all. I kinda figured out that the voltage GBA needs are less than those 3.7v battery outputs and it seemed quite sensitive with the output voltage and does not even turns on with it. Since I am in no way of knowing this sort of electricity sorcery, I ended up sticking with eneloop but my point is, this product is actually not really bad idea for retro gamer like me who is willing to pay for something nicely packaged, ready-to-use product that enhances the experience overall.
they are a few micro usb charger ports with a voltage regulator than you can set to output the right amount to the device without risking it... but to be honest the Gba is a fairly common handheld, and you can often find them dirt cheap, beat up ones at the flea markets and swap meets and use them as a donor, just in case you kill it by putting a extra voltage from a battery, even though when they die with a voltage higher than they need is just to replace a transistor which are cheap
I used to have a rechargeable battery pack for it that just plugged into the battery port without modification. It plugged into the wall for charging. The batteries died some years back. Maybe could have replaced the cells in it.
I still stand by rechargeable AA batteries. I bought an 8pack for $13 at Walmart. Takes 5 seconds to swap them and you don't have to wait for it to charge if you keep keep 2 of them already charged in Advanced B) also they last like 5 years I've been using the sames 4 batteries for 3 years. you will need a AA/AAA battery charger which is about $10 by itself.
It's ok, but at that price, I still prefer the mod I made on my GBA, with 2 NDSL batteries in parallel to give 2000mAh (tested on my HC hobby charger), inline diode to reduce voltage to GBA power requirements (which always reduces the battery voltage a set amount, making the front power indicator work properly rather than using a power regulator that gives a constant voltage independently of the voltage going into the regulator... when the light goes red, the Li-Ion battery is at 3.4V), which is a method we've (RC enthusiasts) been using for years to power Turnigy 9X transmitters with 3S Lipos, LiPo charge circuit with built in protection circuit, NDSL charge port behind the right shoulder button, and added a charge circuit indicator on the left of the screen in mirror image of the power indicator on the right, using the original round LED defuser the GBA uses on the right hand LED. Total cost of the mod was about €15 with the shipping of all the parts, and eventhough it took a lot longer to put together than an almost slot in solution, I enjoy modding and soldering, so I got jut as much fun from the mod as I did playing the end result. Also, it cost me more than expected because I wanted decent NDSL batteries and not those aftermarket ones that say "2500mAh" on it and you're lucky if they have 400... so I got 2 broken NDSL consoles from Japan that always include the batteries in them, and they are always Nintendo brand batteries, and almost always in good condition. Strip away the external plastic and circuit board to make them smaller, put 2 together, and you have a 2000mAh hard shell Li-Ion battery with the same form factor as 2xAA batteries!!
Here's the thing with it though. as far as I can tell, could you not use this for like... anything that uses 2 AA batteries? at least a Wii remote or... a GBC? I know for certain a Wiimote would work because the battery compartment is EXACTLY THE SAME. if this is the case, they should really advertise this thing to work with more than just the GBA...
Joselo Aero i have 2 soft modded psp slims running GPSP Kai 64mg & neither of them hold a candle to legitimate gba hardware. The Gpsp emulation is speedy but there are still compatibility issues with quite a few games.
Just get a pair of these USB AA batteries, and yes I can vouch for them as I have a Halo light modded GBA, and have also used them in Xbox 360 controllers, Wii motes, and Intec Wireless GameCube controllers(poor man's Wavebird controllers) with no issues to speak off unless you count overnight charge times of 8 hours or so off a single USB cable for a pair. goo.gl/e5jYc Edit if you want them cheaper for 1,000 mAH, then here ya go. goo.gl/ztZZqM
Could probably do like I did with my Wiimote an just power it using a usb cable with the red an black wires hooked to the +/- terminals on one side then just plugging the other end into a usb port or using a outlet charger, that device looks like it would also work in a Wiimote or I guess any of thing that has side by side AA compartments
Its a cool mod though I will stick with NiMH AA batteries. I have GBA and GBA SP handhelds and for long term collecting I think that my GBA units will have less issues to keep running in the future. The battery in my GBA SP units will eventually fail so if SP battery replacements get hard to find then I might not be able to keep any SP units in a working state. Similar to my console controllers - I dread when I will need to start tracking down replacement Dualshock 3 controller batteries.
I had to google this to sure, and I might still be a bit wrong, but the GBA SP, DS (original), DS lite, and DSi use different batteries. I saw a mostly physical case mod for the GBA SP that would allow to fit NDS and DSi batteries, so it appears with some choppin' the SP can use the newer handheld console batteries.
Longer probably. Good AA's hold a charge up to 2600mah or something. (there's fake labelled batteries that go higher like 3000 but trust me they are rubbish). A smart charger and good AA'S is the way to go imho.
@@jonathanmsantos5405 You should get the 2550mAh Low Self Discharge AA's from Hobbyking. They're the best and also some of the cheapest batteries I've ever used. I swear by them.
someone thinking about this probably has already dropped 100 on a everdrive so the biggests problem with it would be the amount of actual physical modding required.
Wait. At 3.7Wh in the pouch pack and about 4.8Wh for 2x2000mAh Eneloop cells, didn't you actually lose some capacity? This is not counting electronics, which do consume power due to power consumption and inefficiencies.
Someone check my math; a 1000 mAH lipo @ 3.7V nominal gives you 3.7Ah of power. A standard eneloop AA is 2000 mAh @ 1.2V nominal. Using 2 eneloops you get 4.8Ah of power. If you go an XX eneloop at 2500mAh, that goes up to 6Ah. So you could get almost twice the capacity just using eneloops. The only gain here is the charging /powering when still in the GBA, but you give up capacity. I think i'll probably stick to eneloops for now.
40$? In germany you geht 48 aas for 10€, assuming you get at least 20 houres oft playtime out of a pair, you get 1920 houres oft playtime out oft 40€ wortg of batterys...
Can't order via retromodding. Getting an error page that this product is not available in my country. :( Any other sources where i can buy this kit in Germany?
Christian Ivarsson those certainly exist, but usually come with the downside of having much shorter lifespans than the 1900-2000 mAh variety. And the higher capacity cells are usually ever so slightly larger, which means they won’t fit in certain devices.
Have you used the ags-101 lcd screen they sell? wanted to do the backlit mod you mentioned but wasn't sure if i should invest in a gba sp or just buy the screen from retro modding to do it
I have purchased one of the 101 screens from Retro Modding, but I used it in the BennVenn backlit Game Boy Color video, not on a GBA. Regardless of where you get the parts, I think the biggest factor in deciding whether to do the mod is which form factor you prefer. It seems pretty evenly split to me -- plenty of people saying "just get a 101!" while others say they prefer the ergonomics of the original model.
Again amazing retro add-ons but price it's too high for casual users. These guys should look into getting over seas team to make these products for 3x less the price and still work the same way.
I think AA batteries are much more convenient and make fore more independent gameing than a rechargeable battery. I'd rather mod a GBA SP the other way around.
as an SP user, I agree. If I could use, say AAAs on it, it would rock. Their rechargeable versions are WAY easier to find, and cheaper, than the GBA SP batteries, and the SP batteries I've not had much luck with. To begin with the device is a decade plus old already so originals are a no-go. The replacements are a very mixed bag, some pretty bad quality cells more often than not. I've had luck with buying a Motorola phone battery and replacing only the Li-Ion cell inside the GBA SP battery.
A great mod, your back lit and rechargeable GBA is like the perfect version of that handheld.
It’s cool to see that your original gba mod has come full circle I wish this was the launch day gba but it’s amazing to see a dedicated modding community for a solid handheld
Put and go? No connecting? No nothing? Seems so interesting and easy to craft, thats awesome to someone who doesnt know anything about circuits. Thanks
ULTIMATE GBA MOD:
Backlit Screen
Modded Speaker
Custom Shell
Glass Screen
And Rechargeable Battery Pack
*drops mic*
add a gba flashcart
There’s modded speakers? I should look this up.
Proamp, rgb, wireless charging and a USB C tp4056 module.
Plus everdrive gba 5x
Add cooking and washing
Oh, look. What I asked for in the backlit video and everyone told me I was asking for something not necessary....
I remember I was one that did say it hehe
Still, frankly I would not do it anyway. Having the rechargeable AAs makes more sense to me, as you can literally swap a full charge in seconds, and they're a lot cheaper + if you really want, you can still use normal non-rechargeable ones for... well whatever the reason.
It does have the advantages tho that if you run out of charge and you've got a power bank on the go with you (or any micro USB charger) you're good to go, instead of needing the AA cell charger, and it's likely a lot lighter than Ni-MH AAs.
I remember that Nintendo did release a battery pack for the GBA that just slotted inside the place of the AAs too, and had it's dedicated charger, I have seen it for sale locally here (no idea on the condition tho).
I've always wanted to see this
It's good to see, as I imagine a lot of people who mod gbas will enjoy this. However, I think a lot of people like the AA power of the original gba.
Lmao
It still isint, its called rechargeable double A's. Good thing about just buying those is like with all batteries even this one when they go bad and can't hold a charge, you can actually go to the store and buy replacements and it will work just fine again. Battery packs like this once they go dead, you're fucked.
I have a GBA that has been gatherings dust for the past, maybe 18 years. This is a nice mod, subscribed.
Never realized how easy this mod is, will definitely consider it if they restock.
I just completed this mod successfully thanks to your clear and understandable tutorial. It's by far the best one around in my view. Thanks very much indeed!! 🙂
I've been waiting for a rechargable GBA battery like this for some time. Thanks for bringing this to my attention
Thanks Colin, you've got the best videos. Just gotta say I really appreciate the time and effort you put into production quality.
Wish they had a USB-C option too. What's a rad alternative though is picking up those magnetic plugs and cables, which can save the port on that battery if you trip on the cable and still be used with your phone
the nice thing about this is it pops in nicely and makes it really look like it goes with the gameboy, and the idea of the light indication to let you know when its charged or not is great vs the sp battery mod which involves soldering and looks harshly built (in my opinion)
Very nice looking. I can't get behind the price though. Was expecting $19-$25
masterchief88 it is a 16 year old handheld and it is a niche market.
If they were expecting to sell millions of these at the Nintendo Switch level, then sub 25 would be realistic.
You can check out a cheaper alternative here: ruclips.net/video/hQPx2BShKiM/видео.html
It’s a kit you assemble, which allows the price to come down a bit.
TheRaellz Technically sure, but there are lots of details to figure out around native GBA warning light compatibility, play-n-charge, etc. You pay for quality and engineering time/effort.
@@am_0x2a Also this... ruclips.net/video/xUQKAWbxvlE/видео.html (Shamless Plug..)
Recently received and installed mine. This is a well-built kit and definitely a fair price for a custom small-quantity item at this quality level. Edit: I fully second Modmatic's commentary. This is more than just a battery. There are other features and this kit executes them all smoothly.
I just got mine in the mail amd I LOVE IT!!!!! Its a really well put together board
These videos are the reason I subscribed to your channel. Keep it up!
Love the GBA. Keep it alive!
Love these videos. One of these days I'll get around to decking out my Gameboy Advance
I love the quality of life this product offers. The price to entry is just too much for my needs.
This can probably be applied to Wii remotes as well as afterglow ps3 controllers... further modifications will be necessary though... for now, I'll stick with my energizer rechargeable AA batteries since a 4 pack is around 10 bucks at Wal-Mart...
Funny enough (on the flip side) I have used my rechargeable Wii remote battery pack in my GBA in a pinch! lol
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT!
I get like 20 hours out of my rechargable 2550mah AA's and I have plenty of those. I don't see the point of this. 🤷♂️
I agree. I Made this Mod with a 1000mah and was only getting 3.5hrs with everdrive on GBC, 7hrs w/Pokemon Silver. With Panasonic eneloop 1900mah each, i got more than 7-8hrs with ever drive and 15hours with pokemon silver. So yeah, rechargeable batteries cheaper and better. Mod is just convenient for plug and play, nothing else.
Not to mention i know have Ikea Ladda 2450 batteries that are giving me more than 20hrs play time lol
well, thats neat. But i like the fact that the GBA runs on regular AA batteries instead of a rechargable battery pack. AAs can be picked up on any shop for cheap (if you run out of juice) and rechargable AA batteries are cheap as well.
I'm surprised there is no existing "replace two AA batteries with a single rechargeable" device out there. The form factor of "two counter-facing AAs in the device with a door over the top" is EXTREMELY common, you'd think it would be possible to make a one-size-fits-all that has shaped batteries to avoid even having to cut the battery compartment of the device. (Since most do not have complete separation between the two AAs.)
If something like this was released for the Game Gear, I WOULD BUY this in a heartbeat. I have been looking for something like this for that system for a long time.
Nice product, but I'm not one who plays their GBA enough these days to spend $50 on a battery pack where I need to cut up my console to make it work. So I just use a pair of rechargeable Lithium AA batteries that have Micro USB ports on them, and came with a split cable that only takes up 1 USB port, or wall adapter, and they where only about $15 off eBay from Singapore.
Great video! this makes me want to mod my GBA! I like the form factor of the original GBA, it fits my hands properly. I thank that i'm going to buy a new shell so i don't have to cut my original case.
I'd totally pick it up... would I just live in America and if my well treated GBA wouldn't start having contact issues when pressing the B and A buttons.
Could be dust or anything, I dunno, I haven't ever cleaned it from inside.
MegaManNeo open up your Gba and clean off the contacts on the board and on the silicone pads with isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and a q tip.
Seconding Simon's suggestion. A lot of time with Nintendo's silicone pads for handhelds and controllers you'll see some of the pad rub off and onto the contact itself, causing issues with gameplay, can be solved by regular cleaning or replacement of the silicone pad.
Dude you got batteries for days.
I have an idea: try installing the GBA SP's cell phone-style buttons (Directional, Select, Start, B and A) into your original modded GBA. Back when I played my original GBA, I wasn't impressed with the original buttons.
Dustin Nunn Good idea, Dustin.
Sadly, that wouldn't work. the SP's buttons are directly soldered to the board. although, you probably COULD buy some tactile buttons and solder them to the GBA!
I like the fact that you can use AA batteries OR RECHARGABLE ones much more! Like what do you do, when your only permanent battery can't be easily replaced when you are travelling? What the hell? Also it is so hard to find safe, replacement batteries for the GBA SP, the DSLITE and so on. In fact, IF you can build me a powerbank that fits into those slots for GBASP or DSL, that can even run on AA batteries, I will give you all the money I have. So far you need an extra usb charger, and a powerbank if you want to run on AA rechargables. I don't know, they should just have built in a charging station for those AA rechargables, so you can use that omnipresent battertype, buy and carry as many as you need while still saving the environment, that was the reason behind this. AA battery powered ones can easily have rechargable ons, but the other way around, like I said, not so much.
Also, if the battery is completely dead, you canNOT play, at all. Change that, too. It ALWAYS runs through the battery, so you cannot even save battery at HOME!
Oh, very nice mod! Nice and simple!
to keep long time my console,i tend to stay on regular battery just because in case of rechargeable failure,they are easier to find and replace.
i even moded my psp to use 18650 rechargeable...
For everyone who doesn't know, Wii batteries and the third party solutions have a limited charge, meaning they only last so many years and so many times before they become unusable completely. Keep in mind the GBA was released before 2001. Would you really want to buy a battery and go through the hassle of fixing the charge? When these die, you can swap the lithium ion battery out for a new one, because they are still being manufactured.
eBay is selling used AGB-008 battery packs for about less than half of the RetroModding battery pack. The former is an official drop in replacement but uses the proprietary AGB-009 charger while the latter is micro USB but requires cutting. Pick your poison.
Looks pretty cool. Though, for $40, I think I’ll just stick with my GBA SP.
lol, same. if mine wasn't lost somewhere in my room...
@@aspookyladmusic4954 Or Panasonic/Ikea Ladda rechargeable batteries, 20hrs plus play time lol
Well its a good alternative if you cant find a gba sp anywhere if you wanted to play it
Great upgrade to the nyko power pak I had for the GBA before the sp came out.
This should work with the Wii remotes and Wavebirds too, as they have the same battery slot. I'm not sure you would want to cut into a wavebird though.
Damn, 40 bucks for a battery, you can archive the same results with a micro usb charger port from china and a Gba sp battery (but you need to solder) and ends up like 5 bucks... but yeah depends on everyone than wants the convenience of not needed to do much or put some effort on doing it
Two advantages of the RetroModding solution over that approach: the RetroModding board adjusts output voltage to make the GBA's low battery light function properly, and the RetroModding battery has 43% more capacity than a stock GBA SP battery.
im not trying to win an argument in here but you can fit 2 batteries in parallel connection by removing the plastic frame from the replacement batteries of 850mAh giving you more than the RetroModding one and using a safe charging module from arduino would be enough or just like a lot of people out there like me than have a battery pack always with me would be enough to charge it if i need to though
everything have pros and cons in this life
not really, a regular battery output up to 3.6 to 4.2v
the gba use only 2.4 to 3V... resistive or diode dropper reduce battery life and tend to get hot..
anyway to keep long time my console,i tend to stay on regular battery just because in case of rechargeable failure,they are easier to find and replace.
i even moded my psp to use 18650 rechargeable...
I have actually tried this mod from scratch with off-the-shelf 3.7v battery with generic usb charging circuit board... and it did not work at all. I kinda figured out that the voltage GBA needs are less than those 3.7v battery outputs and it seemed quite sensitive with the output voltage and does not even turns on with it. Since I am in no way of knowing this sort of electricity sorcery, I ended up sticking with eneloop but my point is, this product is actually not really bad idea for retro gamer like me who is willing to pay for something nicely packaged, ready-to-use product that enhances the experience overall.
they are a few micro usb charger ports with a voltage regulator than you can set to output the right amount to the device without risking it... but to be honest the Gba is a fairly common handheld, and you can often find them dirt cheap, beat up ones at the flea markets and swap meets and use them as a donor, just in case you kill it by putting a extra voltage from a battery, even though when they die with a voltage higher than they need is just to replace a transistor which are cheap
I used to have a rechargeable battery pack for it that just plugged into the battery port without modification. It plugged into the wall for charging. The batteries died some years back. Maybe could have replaced the cells in it.
Whoa thanks bro!!!
Crap, they ran out of the glacier blue modded battery door
Wish I would’ve had this back in the day
I still stand by rechargeable AA batteries. I bought an 8pack for $13 at Walmart. Takes 5 seconds to swap them and you don't have to wait for it to charge if you keep keep 2 of them already charged in Advanced B) also they last like 5 years I've been using the sames 4 batteries for 3 years. you will need a AA/AAA battery charger which is about $10 by itself.
Awesomesauce as usual brother!
I really enjoy your mod video.
Have u ever considered making your own mod to a handheld that you designed ?
It's ok, but at that price, I still prefer the mod I made on my GBA, with 2 NDSL batteries in parallel to give 2000mAh (tested on my HC hobby charger), inline diode to reduce voltage to GBA power requirements (which always reduces the battery voltage a set amount, making the front power indicator work properly rather than using a power regulator that gives a constant voltage independently of the voltage going into the regulator... when the light goes red, the Li-Ion battery is at 3.4V), which is a method we've (RC enthusiasts) been using for years to power Turnigy 9X transmitters with 3S Lipos, LiPo charge circuit with built in protection circuit, NDSL charge port behind the right shoulder button, and added a charge circuit indicator on the left of the screen in mirror image of the power indicator on the right, using the original round LED defuser the GBA uses on the right hand LED.
Total cost of the mod was about €15 with the shipping of all the parts, and eventhough it took a lot longer to put together than an almost slot in solution, I enjoy modding and soldering, so I got jut as much fun from the mod as I did playing the end result. Also, it cost me more than expected because I wanted decent NDSL batteries and not those aftermarket ones that say "2500mAh" on it and you're lucky if they have 400... so I got 2 broken NDSL consoles from Japan that always include the batteries in them, and they are always Nintendo brand batteries, and almost always in good condition. Strip away the external plastic and circuit board to make them smaller, put 2 together, and you have a 2000mAh hard shell Li-Ion battery with the same form factor as 2xAA batteries!!
Very very nice!
Also please make more DIY videos.
Here's the thing with it though.
as far as I can tell, could you not use this for like... anything that uses 2 AA batteries? at least a Wii remote or... a GBC? I know for certain a Wiimote would work because the battery compartment is EXACTLY THE SAME. if this is the case, they should really advertise this thing to work with more than just the GBA...
I’ve been thinking about modding a gba to run directly from usb. Just don’t know the exact electronics
save time, get a psp and softmod it. I love the gb's but the psp saves me time and money
Joselo Aero i have 2 soft modded psp slims running GPSP Kai 64mg & neither of them hold a candle to legitimate gba hardware. The Gpsp emulation is speedy but there are still compatibility issues with quite a few games.
Astrid's Action RC I do
Just get a pair of these USB AA batteries, and yes I can vouch for them as I have a Halo light modded GBA, and have also used them in Xbox 360 controllers, Wii motes, and Intec Wireless GameCube controllers(poor man's Wavebird controllers) with no issues to speak off unless you count overnight charge times of 8 hours or so off a single USB cable for a pair.
goo.gl/e5jYc
Edit if you want them cheaper for 1,000 mAH, then here ya go.
goo.gl/ztZZqM
Could probably do like I did with my Wiimote an just power it using a usb cable with the red an black wires hooked to the +/- terminals on one side then just plugging the other end into a usb port or using a outlet charger, that device looks like it would also work in a Wiimote or I guess any of thing that has side by side AA compartments
Man I sure hope a cheap alternative that is just as user-friendly is made.
Its a cool mod though I will stick with NiMH AA batteries. I have GBA and GBA SP handhelds and for long term collecting I think that my GBA units will have less issues to keep running in the future. The battery in my GBA SP units will eventually fail so if SP battery replacements get hard to find then I might not be able to keep any SP units in a working state.
Similar to my console controllers - I dread when I will need to start tracking down replacement Dualshock 3 controller batteries.
I had to google this to sure, and I might still be a bit wrong, but the GBA SP, DS (original), DS lite, and DSi use different batteries. I saw a mostly physical case mod for the GBA SP that would allow to fit NDS and DSi batteries, so it appears with some choppin' the SP can use the newer handheld console batteries.
How long do your rechargeable AA batteries last compared to the Retro mod one?
Longer probably. Good AA's hold a charge up to 2600mah or something. (there's fake labelled batteries that go higher like 3000 but trust me they are rubbish). A smart charger and good AA'S is the way to go imho.
@@NicB-Creations I agree, Panasonic/Ikea Ladda rechargeable batteries, 20hrs plus play time lol. I have both mod and AA's rechargeable, and AA FTW
@@jonathanmsantos5405 You should get the 2550mAh Low Self Discharge AA's from Hobbyking. They're the best and also some of the cheapest batteries I've ever used. I swear by them.
@@NicB-Creations thank you, ill check them out :)
I just put in a tp4056 with a 600mah that fits without trimming that I got from a disposable phone charger.
i may buy one eventually
You should do one for the GBC
Everything on retro modding is priced at crack dealer prices.
But changing AA batteries feels soooooooooooooooooo gooooood!
Considering most AA Ni-MH batteries are rated at upwards of 2000 mAh I don't really see what the point of this is.
So in theory this should work in anything that takes AA? I mean, it just goes to the battery contracts.
If you could get it to fit securely in the battery compartment, then I don't see why it wouldn't work.
someone thinking about this probably has already dropped 100 on a everdrive so the biggests problem with it would be the amount of actual physical modding required.
My dad had a gba and it had a grip that uses the DC input for the dmg gb
How is this better than the cleanjuice version that has a USB C and precut battery covers as well?
Great review! Did you ever find a way to fix the back lit screen noise problem?
Ty, was looking for a vid explaining how to remove the battery contacts. 👍
Wait. At 3.7Wh in the pouch pack and about 4.8Wh for 2x2000mAh Eneloop cells, didn't you actually lose some capacity?
This is not counting electronics, which do consume power due to power consumption and inefficiencies.
yeah he did. I have both mods, rechargeable batteries are way way way better. Specially, Ikea Ladda rechargeable batteries, 20hrs plus play time lol
Someone check my math; a 1000 mAH lipo @ 3.7V nominal gives you 3.7Ah of power. A standard eneloop AA is 2000 mAh @ 1.2V nominal. Using 2 eneloops you get 4.8Ah of power. If you go an XX eneloop at 2500mAh, that goes up to 6Ah. So you could get almost twice the capacity just using eneloops. The only gain here is the charging /powering when still in the GBA, but you give up capacity. I think i'll probably stick to eneloops for now.
I think i'll wait for a GBA classic edition
now if I could get one of these for the gameboy color..
Awesome! now this is going into my xbox 360 controllers
40$?
In germany you geht 48 aas for 10€, assuming you get at least 20 houres oft playtime out of a pair, you get 1920 houres oft playtime out oft 40€ wortg of batterys...
Have you thought of trying a somewhat similar mod with a DMG?
shipping from Canada? it usually works the other way around for us
You can get a used gameboy advance on amazon for less than 40.
Damn that's bitchin! Now if there were other rechargeable devices for other Handhelds.
Can't order via retromodding. Getting an error page that this product is not available in my country. :( Any other sources where i can buy this kit in Germany?
Wonder if you could fit this into a Gameboy Color
I want this for my Gameboy Color Mod. Wonder if it’d work.
Was it really necessary to take the back shell off to trim it?
A good pair of NIMH AA's should laast a lot longer than that thing. Just calculate the number of watt hours of both types :)
Longer, yes. Not that much longer.
RetroModding battery pack (this product): 3.7 Wh
2x Eneloop AA: 4.5 Wh
We have 2.5 Amp hour batteries over here. ~6 Watt hours with the two of them.
Christian Ivarsson those certainly exist, but usually come with the downside of having much shorter lifespans than the 1900-2000 mAh variety. And the higher capacity cells are usually ever so slightly larger, which means they won’t fit in certain devices.
The only mod we need now is a switch to fake sleep mode aka turn off the screen/speaker/button input.
Just invest in a bigger battery for the gba sp. 1000+ should last almost a full day of gaming (for me at least)
Review the GBAmp V3 mod for the GBA!
What can you say about the gba third party battery rechargable battery pack?
Umm where’d you get that Yoshi ??? 😳😳😳
can you backlight mod a AGB-001
The only thing I can seem to find is backlights for the AGS model
Could also just use rechargeable double A batteries
My question is since the Gameboy Color also uses AA batteries could I use this in a Gameboy Color?
What's the tool called that you used to cut thru the battery divider
I tried playing gba games on my 3ds and it’s terrible. The games don’t fill the screen.
Kevinb1821 hold start or select when the game boots up. :)
I liked this video!
Need this for the dmg-01 gameboy
you can get that battery+charging board for under 5$
i found that my wireless sega genesis controllers often leak the double A's. is it possible to replace double A's in any application with this?
When are these things gonna be available without preorder?
It’s expensive but it’s a good idea. I prefer use AA recharge.
Have you used the ags-101 lcd screen they sell? wanted to do the backlit mod you mentioned but wasn't sure if i should invest in a gba sp or just buy the screen from retro modding to do it
I have purchased one of the 101 screens from Retro Modding, but I used it in the BennVenn backlit Game Boy Color video, not on a GBA. Regardless of where you get the parts, I think the biggest factor in deciding whether to do the mod is which form factor you prefer. It seems pretty evenly split to me -- plenty of people saying "just get a 101!" while others say they prefer the ergonomics of the original model.
Again amazing retro add-ons but price it's too high for casual users. These guys should look into getting over seas team to make these products for 3x less the price and still work the same way.
I think AA batteries are much more convenient and make fore more independent gameing than a rechargeable battery. I'd rather mod a GBA SP the other way around.
as an SP user, I agree. If I could use, say AAAs on it, it would rock. Their rechargeable versions are WAY easier to find, and cheaper, than the GBA SP batteries, and the SP batteries I've not had much luck with. To begin with the device is a decade plus old already so originals are a no-go. The replacements are a very mixed bag, some pretty bad quality cells more often than not.
I've had luck with buying a Motorola phone battery and replacing only the Li-Ion cell inside the GBA SP battery.
Outside of the custom PCB, this looks like a rather simple project if you have the time and soldering skills.
You didn't explain the part of wiring it into the main board.
You don’t have to. It has contacts that press against the console’s original battery terminals.
Could you do it for a Game Boy Color too? XD