[Tutorial] Solar Powered Gameboy Pocket

[Tommo]

Kinda gonna jump right into this with my first post
Truth is i have been into modding and generally messing about with electronics for ages now, this forum seems like the best place for me to share stuff and learn then

Anyway, i made a solar powered Gameboy Pocket! Been using it for weeks now and it works just great! Anyway, here is a lovley picture:



It was really cheap and easy to make, so i am happy to share the tutorial for anybody who wants to try it out, it is really perfect for beginners.
I will refrain from repeating details here that are already available in the tutorial.
http://www.GameboyRetro.co.uk/?page=tutorial&sub=solar

[64M320N3]

That. Is. AMAZING!
Harnessing free power for games = WIN. (Batteries are pretty expensive these days).
It looks really clean. Not too much hot glue.
Good job.

[Skyone]

Beautiful! Very nice tutorial, I might have to try it. Moved to News forums, as this is a completed project.

[thewizdawg]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing!

[Zeturi]

Reminds me of that gameboy game that charges your character with the sun. Boktai...? Awesome system, btw. ETERNAL POKEMONZ!

[limpport]

I just discovered a few of those walkway lights while cleaning out the basement. Only two of the boards are still good out of the four, so now I have a new project! Looks really great, nice job!

[Tibia]

Very clean work! There is something I'm wondering, though.

it takes 3-4 days of full bright sun to fully charge the batteries for 13 hours of Gameplay.

What kind of play time do you get on three or four hours of sunlight?

[gumbyx84]

O_O

I am very tempted to try this even with my limited modding skills. So little to solder to reap a large reward.

Thanks for posting this! I may have finally found an easy mod for me to do (baring I find another GBP; I lost a button and damaged the plastic screen cover while trying to paint one this weekend, so the other one has become a donor system).

[schmellyfart]

Is it able to charge as you play?

Very nice, add a backlight and that gameboy will be even more awesome!

[Tommo]

Thanks for the comments everyone!

Is it able to charge as you play?

I can't see why not hah, it is feeding power to the batteries only when the solar panels are giving over a certain voltage thoughMy knowledge of electronics isn't good enougth to give a proper answer though

What kind of play time do you get on three or four hours of sunlight?

I don't know for certain, i just leave mine by my window all the time and it works for however long i am playing it when i decide to pick it up, i am from the UK however so seeing that it is cloudy pretty much all the time here that is saying something

[gumbyx84]

Is it able to charge as you play?

One thing I just thought of: While playing, wouldn't your hands be covering the solar panels? So while it might be possible, it wouldn't be practical.

[schmellyfart]

Is it able to charge as you play?

One thing I just thought of: While playing, wouldn't your hands be covering the solar panels? So while it might be possible, it wouldn't be practical.

True. I was just curious though

[eagle5953]

i am from the UK however so seeing that it is cloudy pretty much all the time here that is saying something

Darn it - you messed up my opportunity to make a quip about your lousy weather! I was going to quote Shanghi Knights...

Edit:

Throw whatever you want at me! Your terrible weather! Your perverted killers! Your Spotted D***!

[bacteria]

Excellent guide. 3 days to recharge is quite a time, but free power! Nice!

[SonyPortableizer]

Awesome, want that on a deserted island, or if the zombie apocalypse would happpen