Game Gear with DS backlight

Hello all, I got stuck in today with doing this, it looks better than the 2 LED trick, but costs more. I got the screen from the store I do repairs for, it came from a dead DS, where someone had stabbed the screen and it also had a dead board. For the 12v supply I used a LM2577 pre-fabbed board I got from ebay for about $6 or $7AU.

First pic is of DS lite Backlight, the screen here has been removed
Attachment 3221

I replaced all the caps to get it going 100%
Attachment 3223

The usual LED mod parts removed, having a de-solder gun is the key
Attachment 3222

I added leads to the DS Backlight
Attachment 3225

Here is the DS backlight attached to the Game Gear screen, I left the white backing plate on. I just used tape as this is just a test unit to see if it all works.
Attachment 3227

Here I have fitted the LM2577 DC DC step up converter and am adjusting it. Counter clockwise first to get the lowest voltage, then slowly wind it up.
Attachment 3224

I went for 12.5 volts to try
Attachment 3226

Here is the first pic with side by side shot of a standard GG. Left is standard, Right is with DS Backlight. It is not as bright and the colours don't seem as vivid.
Attachment 3230

Same as above
Attachment 3229

I tried to modify the backing plate on the Game Gears screen, thinking it would make the screen brighter....I was wrong
Attachment 3228

As you can see here, with the backing plate partly on, where it isn't the screen is pitch black.
Attachment 3231

Unfortunately I must have bumped something as wehn I went to take it back to how it was originally, I now have a black line at the bottom of the screen....damn.

Anyway tomorrow (have had enough today) I want to do a battery test side by side with the standard Game Gear. Both have had the capacitors replaced. I will be using Energizer AA 2500 NiMh rechargeables. I have done the 2 LED trick and got 4.5 hrs which isn't bad considering the batteries are 1.2v vs 1.5v so you are essentially down a battery.

What do you mean by backing plate ?
The dark/black films are polarization filters and you need them

The white plate, as you can see in the final picture where it is partially on. I used a dremel to cut the white backing plate down one side. Luckily I could re-use it, unluckily I now have a black line at the bottom. Ah well I can transfer it over to another GG.

Update

I had this on for over 6hrs with the re-chargeable batteries. I thought it was weird because when I tested it with the dual LED's the batteries only lasted 4.5-5hrs. Maybe they weren't charged fully. I don't have that GG anymore as I had done that one for the shop and it's gone now.

Anyway, I turned it off as I remember I had some mylar sheet here. I cut a piece the same size as the GG screen. I found where I had damaged the GG screen, there was a crack in the glass. Damn, I will have to be more careful next time when removing the white back plate. I will try to gently heat the area to loosen the double sided tape.

Pics
Mylar sheet

Attachment 3233

I fixed this to the screen and turned it back on, it is much brighter than before, maybe comparable to the standard backlight. But as you can see, the outside edge of the DS can be seen as a faint black outline.

Attachment 3232

With pulling this thing apart so many times I have damaged a few things (the GG screen and the DS backlight now looks weird- not even lighting). I don't really mind as it was trial and error to see if it was do-able and what it would look like. I might revisit this mod later on to see what can be done to get it better.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by omp

I have done the 2 LED trick and got 4.5 hrs which isn't bad considering the batteries are 1.2v vs 1.5v so you are essentially down a battery.

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I don't think that the voltage is so important because there is a voltage converter which is converting the 9 V (6 x 1.5 V) to 5 V I guess. So feeding 7.2 V (6 x 1.2 V) won't change anything.
What's important is the mAh that can provide batteries... the more the longer the console will play.

For the mod, it's nice. I've thought too about using NDS backlight to lightup some console like GameBoy or Wonderswan.

Hmmm yes you are right on the voltage of the battery, wasn't thinking.... I am going to have an actual test to see what voltages are there, I used a seperate power supply for easy adjustability.

I am going to try a DSi screen since they are bigger, once I am happy with it I will transplant it all into another GG. This one (pictured above) will become something else I have planned for it.

There is a website somewhere that shows how to use a DS backlight in a Game Boy. I am at work at the moment I will post it up tonight.

EDIT

website with Gameboy and DS backlight.
http://mikejmoffitt.com/tut/tut_mgb_backlight2.html

Yep. DSi backlight is bigger and more powerful, so go for it!

Ok got my DSi replacement bottom screen today and chucked it in to my test Game Gear for this mod. I have well and truely stuffed the bottom part of this screen, so when I feel energetic, I will have to transfer it over to another GG. This Game Gear will be destined for other experiments.

This is the DSi screen pulled apart, it is easier than the DSlite screen as it is not glued together, just all clipped into place.
Attachment 3262

The DS backlight in. I had to completly remove the remainder of the GG's screen white backing plate to fit this. Fun was had in trying to re-align the screen with no locating screws (the 4 that locate the screen into place). But got there in the end. Note I had to chop out the top screw post that the security screw resides in so that the whole shit fight would fit.
Attachment 3261

I reckon this is as bright as the standard backlight. I had too adjust the voltage to the backlight, 12.5 volt wasn't enough, the backlight didn't even turn on. I bumped it up to 15v and all was good. No faint black outline as before (yahoo).
Attachment 3263

Not to bad looking for a GG screen (apart from my clumsiness in breaking the screen)
Attachment 3260

I haven't done a battery test yet, I have the batteries on charge and will give it a crack later in the week when I have enough batteries charged as I can only do 4 at a time. I will report back.

Now that I have done this anyone have any reccomendation on how to safely remove the white plate from the back of the Game Gear? I am thinking heat from a hair dryer may damage the ribbon cables.

5 hours

I am very interested in this. How has it progressed?

Not very far lol. I got a new dsi screen and game gears but that is as far as it got. Been busy having a baby etc. I plan on re-visiting this soon.

How's this going?

Not well with this one, been busy with family (looking after/playing with my son) and other things, such as repair work for a shop. Also I work in the mining industry, so can work long hours.

A few guys on smspower (posted same guide thingy there) have pulled it off successfully. The parts are there, just need time to do it. Got a mate who wants a few modded consoles so I guess it gets pushed back again..... I also want to re-visit my consolised game gear, but time is lacking.

Also wow over 3000 views, not bad....

so all i mainly need is a DSi bottom screen and a DC-DC converter/transformer?

Checkout DealXtreme http://dx.com/c/video-games-699/nint...-and-tools-635

SWEET! this is what i sourced, http://www.ebay.com/itm/121189271432...84.m1423.l2649

also this > http://www.ebay.com/itm/370545104319...84.m1423.l2649

but, i wonder if there are ways to clean and polish the lenses already on it. also i wonder if there are aftermarket battery packs.

EDIT: wow the DX is selling the DSi XL bottom screen for the same price and normal DSi bottom screen for 8 USD, that's way cheaper!!! i could use the other ten for the DC-Dc converter and a new lense or maybe a game.

EDIT: you think this will work?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LM2577-DC-DC...item20c4db07bc

How do i install it?

Cool thinking of doing this is better to use the top or bottom dsi screen to get the backlight ??

Either or is fine, whichever is cheapest. You only want it for the backlight itself.

what manner of black magic was involved here ?!

and better yet where can i get one ?

my GG stopped powering on after doing the LED mod, the part before hooking up the DC-DC converter.

I just logged in for the first time in years to say how much I love this mod! I saw your video on Youtube and I started searching around for discussions about how to do it, and I stumbled across this thread. Sadly my Game Gear's caps died a while back so I won't be able to fiddle with the screen until I get them replaced, but I'd definitely like to take a stab at putting a DS backlight in it. It sounds like the playtime gained isn't massive but still significant over the original bulb, and the image quality speaks for itself. It looks about as good as we can ever hope to see a Game Gear screen look unless someone does a kickstarter for full replacement Game Gear LCDs. Thanks for blazing the trail, and I hope we see more from you.

Woah this is awesome.

Tweaked my interest on the videos, had a look at a few, good to see other people trying it.

You sure you don't mean "piqued"?

If that is what you say in Canadia:D

Maybe we are less refined "down under".

awesome post omp! I'm gonna try one with this newer micro step-up board:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MT3608-DC-DC...item1e9c6bec55

and an DSi screen. I hope it goes well, I'm excited :) how did you end up removing the back plate from the GG btw?

-Segasonicfan

OK, it came off with a hot air station (used along the right side on the back only). I cut away the 2 plastic clips on the sides and then pushed on the back plate gently to get the screen off. If done this way its pretty safe, and I didn't damage anything *whew*

however Be Warned people, this hack is a major pain in the ass. The glued DS screen is definitely not the way to go and aligning everything like omp mentioned, is nasty difficult. Be prepared to spend at least 1-2 hours doing this mod. I'm using a DS screen until my DSi comes in the mail, then I will post pictures and results.

EDIT: found a good mylar sheet from an old laptop LCD. BUT I had a piece of tape holding in the screen and when I lifted it it RIPPED OFF the right angle ribbon cable on the side of the LCD :daze: I dont think its repairable once its removed from the glass...&#*@. This modification is a pain...