u/Fl4m3Ph03n1x

Background

I have a Game boy color which I am modding. I picked up soldering skills to do it and as a result I am now also training on random soldering diy kits, like radios and flashlights and such.

I don't know much about electronics, I am learning by watching youtube videos of schematics in general and how other people fix their retro stuff.

My ultimate goal would be to buy a busted game boy color and fix it with all the things I learn along the way (but I am quite afraid of that tbh).

To that end I know I need specific tools, one of them being a magnifier of some sorts - I cannot afford a microscope nor do I have a bench big enough for one.

Question

I have been reading a lot of guides, and I saw this:

https://www.ifixit.com/en-eu/products/head-magnifier

A head magnifier sounds like a good idea as a replacement for a microscope - I can be hands free and still have some magnification to work with small components such as capacitors and resistors if need be.

1. Given my goals and activities, would this be a good investment?
2. Would you recommend a different brand or type of magnifier?

Background

I am was trying to clean an old gameboy cartridge that barely loaded. I found this black marks on the pins, and tried to clean them, and not the game wont even load.

I am not sure if the black marks are corrosion or if my attempt at removing said mark damaged the pin.

Fix?

Is there a way to know if the problem is in the pin specifically? I was thinking about measuring continuity between the pin and a trace, but I don't know if this makes sense.

If the damage is in the pin, is there a way to fix this? Perhaps using some wire and soldering it to a trace?

If someone knows any content creator that is knows how to fix this kind of stuff please let me know. It would be a huge help if I could get advice on the items to buy as well.

Background

I live in Europe and I would like to mod my Gameboy Color with a Led buttons kit.

For waiting purposes, I would like any kit I buy to be from within Europe, but I don't mind buying from outside if I feel confident enough.

Research

Thus far, these are the LED button kits I found for GBC (2026):

- CleanLight GBC (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukOWkB7LgrY) The kit is no longer available in seller's page.

- FunnyPlaying kit (https://funnyplaying.com/products/gbc-button-led-kit) When playing, it is easy to activate the LED settings, so you will mess up you configuration (see comments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aGCXr1hc7w)

- HandheldLegend RetroGlow (https://handheldlegend.com/en-es/products/game-boy-color-rgb-led-button-kit?_pos=2&_sid=178f77e60&_ss=r). Several people report issues with the buttons after installing the kit (see comments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8DN1CGnsyI)

- Natalie the Nerd LED kit. Not currently in production, not sure when/if it will be back (https://nataliethenerd.com/collections/all).

Bonus features I would like

- I would like to be able to change intensity of LEDs

- I would like to be able to turn LEDs on/off

- I would like for the kit to have a battery sensor, for AA batteries

Questions

This was everything I could find.

- Do you have experience with any of these kits? Was it positive or negative?

- What other kits do you know that are still available to buy?

When soldering a new battery in this Pokemon cartridge, a spec of solder flew into the blue area. I tried removing it with some solder wick, but the pin is now silver colored instead of gold colored.

Questions

- Did I accidentally remove the gold coating on that area? Or is this just the solder that I was not able to remove?

- Can this affect the game in the long term?

I have a gameboy color pokemon game, and I replaced its battery. This is my first soldering job.

Tools used

I used lead free solder: https://www.ifixit.com/en-eu/products/lead-free-solder

This is my current iron: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B093FHW6JN?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

And this is the soldering paste I used: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0FPCNM7KD?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Process used

I set the iron above 400C for the solder I was using and I followed instructions in these video as close as I could:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK38rpUy568

Questions I have

If you look closely into the image, you can see that the solder on the battery ends has some dark/brown spots. I am not sure why this is:

- Is this because of the soldering paste I was using (it has a very dark grey color)?
- Is this because my iron was too hot (no lead solder requires > 375C to melt properly according to what I found)

- Is this because the tip of my iron was not properly tinned and oxidized as a result?

To be clear, the battery has continuity with the board and after assembling everything back together it works. But I am genuinely worried I may have done something wrong and I just don't know.

Are this spots normal? What did I miss?
Please help me improve!