Gaming DS Phat power issues

[Portza]

Hi everyone!

I received an untested original DS (NTR) yesterday in the hopes of repairing it.
I did the usual, check the fuses, clean the board etc. but I still get nothing.
I don't have a charger so I temporarily soldered a usb plug on so I could charge it.
The charge light is lit when I plug in the charger, so that seems to be fine, but still no power.
I found that leaving it charging for an extended period of time (15 minutes or so) would allow me to push the power button and the power LED would come on for about a split second.
I would have to wait another period of time before I can get the power LED to come on again.

Now, after doing an inspection of the board and finding no faults (fuses are fine, no physical damage that I've noticed) I reassembled the device and threw the battery back in, to no avail.
After 5 minutes of it sitting there, the speakers started making some ungodly crackles. They weren't super loud, but definitely noticeable. Unplugged the battery, and now we here.

I've come across some weird issues on the Lites before, but the speaker randomly going zeep zorp? that was somewhat concerning.

Some things to note:
-The battery is a bit swollen. Yes, I do plan on getting a new one.
-This is my first NTR, and as such I don't have any spare parts for it (other than parts compatible with the DS Lites such as fuses)

Thanks in advance!

 

[IC_]

I had a similar issue with a broken original DS, it would just make a pop in the speakers whenever you press the power button. It really was a weird issue, usually when there is a problem with one of the system components, the DS would turn on with the power light for a few seconds and only later shut off with the speaker pop.
The issue was with the top screen part (including the top screen connection board and the cable that goes through the hinge), I'm guessing there was some kind of short circuit in that part. It worked fine with a top screen from a different DS. First of all you should probably get a working fully charged battery, but I'd recommend getting another fully working unit so you can swap the parts and figure out which one is the issue.

 

[Portza]

I had a similar issue with a broken original DS, it would just make a pop in the speakers whenever you press the power button. It really was a weird issue, usually when there is a problem with one of the system components, the DS would turn on with the power light for a few seconds and only later shut off with the speaker pop.
The issue was with the top screen part (including the top screen connection board and the cable that goes through the hinge), I'm guessing there was some kind of short circuit in that part. It worked fine with a top screen from a different DS. First of all you should probably get a working fully charged battery, but I'd recommend getting another fully working unit so you can swap the parts and figure out which one is the issue.

Thanks for the info. in the short term I'll investigate the top screen, as I didn't even separate it from the bottom face plate.
By the sounds of it the battery is almost certainly an issue as well.

 

[eyeliner]

My original gives a pop when shutting down. It always has.

Check the flat cables for the screens. I think the system does a health check and if it fails, it won't boot.
As for the sound from the speakers maybe the contacts are fused?
That also means that there is power flowing.

 

[Portza]

Alright everyone, my new battery came in today. I can't seem to charge it (not that I could charge the other one), the charge light comes on for a second and shuts off. The battery is only ready 3.5v, so definitely on the low end. as for powering on, sometimes it will and sometimes work. very rarely will the displays even turn on. I can't find a pattern or anything of what causes me to be able to power on.

When I do get power, either it only sustains for a second or so (time isn't always the same) or if it lasts a bit longer I noticed the the led gets bright momentarily before dimming a bit for 1 second or so. could it be boot looping or something? really wish there was more documentation on the original DS haha.

TIA

 

[eyeliner]

Alright everyone, my new battery came in today. I can't seem to charge it (not that I could charge the other one), the charge light comes on for a second and shuts off. The battery is only ready 3.5v, so definitely on the low end. as for powering on, sometimes it will and sometimes work. very rarely will the displays even turn on. I can't find a pattern or anything of what causes me to be able to power on.

When I do get power, either it only sustains for a second or so (time isn't always the same) or if it lasts a bit longer I noticed the the led gets bright momentarily before dimming a bit for 1 second or so. could it be boot looping or something? really wish there was more documentation on the original DS haha.

TIA

There's a fuse in the DS Lite that sometimes gets shorted, and provides your predicament. Try to check for continuity in the fuses, trying to find the culprit.

 

[Portza]

There's a fuse in the DS Lite that sometimes gets shorted, and provides your predicament. Try to check for continuity in the fuses, trying to find the culprit.

I'm late to this...

both fuses are fine

 

[eyeliner]

I'm late to this...

both fuses are fine

Are the ribbon cables of the screens properly seated?
I'd bet my non-existent fortune that it was a fuse, but alas...
Do try and watch one or two videos of repair guys on YouTube, and where they start the troubleshoot process.
Some of them, if you contact them, and trust them, will receive your trusty console and try a repair making a video.

Don't you give up on it.

 

[Portza]

Are the ribbon cables of the screens properly seated?
I'd bet my non-existent fortune that it was a fuse, but alas...
Do try and watch one or two videos of repair guys on YouTube, and where they start the troubleshoot process.
Some of them, if you contact them, and trust them, will receive your trusty console and try a repair making a video.

Don't you give up on it.

I've reseated the screens countless times. this is definitely not a textbook problem haha, I have two DS lite boards that also have some whacky issues.
I shall continue my journey across the internet to find potential solutions!