Game Boy Advance SP USB-C Repair Torn Traces

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[@burgulize]

A lesson to myself: never try to solder delicate wires late at night! Thankfully found your routing and was able to connect the Vcc to the transistor at the back and get the orange charging light! Thank you!!!

[@marvindobslaw4527]

Thank you so much for that. I didnt really use the right tools and soldering tips trying to desolder that port and ripped a few contacts of. But was able to salvage it with your help. Just tested and charged it!

[@DataBait]

Thank you for this tutorial. I just ripped out a pad trying to remove the old charging port, and I was looking everywhere for answers on how to fix it. Not only did this video present a relatively easy fix, but it also helped me learn to read the schematics, which I wasn't able to fully wrap my head around. Thank you again!

[@mr.flex3017]

Nice as always ❤️👍🏻

[@DavidBevan87]

What an idiot I am 😅. I didn't even think of folding the enamel wire over the top of the Motherboard 🤦🏽‍♂️ I tried poking them through the VIA's to keep it hidden. No wonder the wire kept snapping when I tried this. Thanks for fixing my GBA SP!!! Nice to know I traced them back to the correct test pads at least 😁. Great Video this. This thing will help me in future for USB-C mods. And I'll keep an eye out for yours in future. Thanks again.

[@Chimp_Assassin]

Hi, I did this repair, plug in charger and battery but just getting the light come on for a second then turns off, checked continuity, no shorts, can't figure out what's going on, any ideas?

[@NandoGriffiths]

Thank you

[@troycordova3587]

I’ve done this mod a few times and recently I tried it with a headphone jack mod that I’ve also done and I can’t get any audio. Could the usbc built in audio option be interfering with the headphone jack? Great video!

[@colicpizza4168]

Can I repair the em 6 and em5 fuse if I ripped the pads

[@Hedrfc2]

is this kind of repair able to be done on the FunnyPlaying Game Boy Advance SP USB-C w. Audio Mod?

[@crazycompsci]

Any update on your usb-c mod for the sp?

[@SuperPixelRich]

Really helpful tutorial! What is the thickness of the enameled wire that you use or would recommend? I want to make it as flat as possible to the board so that I can still use the 3D printed cover. Cheers

[@RetroSix]

You can use 0.1mm to 0.2mm

[@SuperPixelRich]

@@RetroSix brilliant, thank you so much for the quick response!

[@ScottFix]

Great video. Can you please let me know what size/brand of enamelled wire you are using? Many thanks.

[@RetroSix]

We sell it on our site under tools section. 0.2mm in this case

[@ScottFix]

@@RetroSix Many thanks 👍

[@RG-Zeldaplayer]

Had an idea for a mod I don't think anyone else has thought of. I was watching another modder adding bluetooth audio to the SP, but I was wondering if this was something that could be added via a modified version of the wireless transmitter adapter than came with games like pokemon leaf green and fire red. The wireless adapter plugs into the Link cable port (ext 1) but I don't see why you couldn't replace the internal parts with a bluetooth transmitter connected to a male connector for the ext.2 port (with a bit of shell trimming). You'd then have a plug in bluetooth transmittter for your audio.

[@RetroSix]

Sure it could be done but it's easy enough to just embed the ability inside the console

[@mannynegron3588]

So im repairing a board that had a botched usb c port, however it looks like when the original GBA charging port was removed, all the traces that were underneath of the port were ripped out. Im also missing p34, that appears to have been broken off as well. could I solder directly to the top of EM6 for the analog ground connection and then connect the 5v to EM8 as shown? And If I’m not concerned with headphone audio are those the only 2 wired connections I’d need to make?

[@RetroSix]

You need to restore pin 6 to EM8 also for ground

[@mannynegron3588]

Ok, so if I’m understanding you correctly, pin 2: 5v to EM8, and pin 6: to ground and also to EM8. Is analog ground to EM6 required if I’m looking to do charging only?

[@RetroSix]

@@mannynegron3588 Correct, only 5V and GND onto EM8 are needed, not analog ground

[@mannynegron3588]

Wanted to let you know that I got my GBA-SP back up and running! Ended up going with a replacement original style power connector (I found it was easier for me to solder my wires onto the longer legs) then wired in + and - from connector straight to the EM8 chip bypassing the damaged traces where the old connector was torn off. Dropped in a fresh battery and good as new! I appreciate you taking the time to respond, really helped me out!

[@GigaExile]

Hi there. so out of curiosity, say that the mod isn't grounded and I would need to use the 6th pin. Where would I need to solder to? I am still wrapping my head with the graph and it is making sense to me, but I wanted your opinion. My concern stems bechase the type c mod i have is from funny playing. While it looks almost identical, the holds used to anchor on both sides aren't fully circled and are instead half circled. I'm wondering if that may throw off potential grounding if I am correct. Thanks!

[@RetroSix]

Best jumping on discord.gg/RetroSix and sharing images etc we can help much easier there

[@GigaExile]

​@@RetroSixawesome thank you 😊

[@willybezz]

Thanks for the help. After completing this repair and putting it on the charger, I have found that the orange LED light that indicates charging comes on right when I plug it in and then disappears. I put in a new battery, which is the funny playing battery mod. It is strange, because when I put in my old original battery, the charging indicator light remains on.

[@RetroSix]

I wouldn't trust their batteries they are already fake labelled 950mA. Ours is 900mA true and certified by the battery factory. Stick with your stock one for now

[@ZERONI7]

@@RetroSix Thank you, I replaced the funnyplaying one with the stock battery and it started charging and booted up. I'll pick up your guys battery for sure.

[@Jimmysajbel]

Hi, as I was working on this mod I accidentally melted off the inductor under p33. Could this be problematic?

[@RetroSix]

Bridge it with solder otherwise you will lose a channel of audio in headphones

[@Jimmysajbel]

@@RetroSix Thank you!!!

[@jellord]

Did this mod for a friend, I didn't have any problems with pads but the issue I ran into was after the fact. The USB-C port kept detaching from the board after prolonged use, gonna have to reattach it for the second time, hoping we didn't lose a pads but I know what to do thanks to you. . I'm wondering how I can secure it to the board with more than just solder on those two holes?

[@RetroSix]

The board is poorly designed. I'll design a proper one with mechanical contraints soon

[@jellord]

@@RetroSix awesome I look forward to it, thank you for the zippy response 😀

[@NandoGriffiths]

What’s the exact enamel wire used here?

[@RetroSix]

retrosix.co.uk/Enamel-Wire-0-2mm-p479740775

[@ricardomedrano7780]

What size enamel wire do you use ??

[@RetroSix]

0.2 for most work. 0.1 if need really fine

[@Josephlandon1]

Lost my C56 cap while installing one of these. Is it super important?

[@RetroSix]

No it's just a decoupling cap. Won't harm it just make sure the empty pad isn't shorted together

[@Josephlandon1]

@@RetroSix Awesome thank you so much! My tweezers sent that little cap to the 9th dimension.

[@Josephlandon1]

@@RetroSix Think a 10V .1uF 0402 ceramic cap would be fine for replacement?

[@RetroSix]

@@Josephlandon1 yep

[@rasc8]

How thick is the copper wire?

[@RetroSix]

0.2mm enamel wire. Sold on RetroSix.co.uk

[@rasc8]

@@RetroSix thank you

[@SimplyWrex]

I tried this but the usb c doesnt charge it just light up orange for a second

[@mr.spokesman5849]

Need to have battery inserted aswell

[@kekoawailehua6831]

Did you ever find the source of the problem? I have this same issue. I'm thinking it's the ground wire. But I'm not sure

[@JosephLSSimpson]

You from Stoke, buddy?

[@RetroSix]

Sure am

[@DeadGyro]

I could have used this video a tiny bit sooner I think I threw away my motherboard that had the broken traces