Gaming DS Lite flickers and turns off

[Haloman800]

The top screen on my DS Lite broke, I took it apart and removed the upper LCD (was going to use it solely for GBA Games), now when I turn it on, the screen flickers and it turns off.

Is there any way around this?

 

[Foxi4]

Did you bridge the connection on the screen ribbon to fool the system into thinking that it has two screens?

zeello might help you with this problem, he's sort of known for removing the top screens from Nintendo systems.

 

[Haloman800]

Did you bridge the connection on the screen ribbon to fool the system into thinking that it has two screens?

No. How do I do this?

 

[Foxi4]

zeello will help you out with this one, I don't know the specifics since to me this is crazy and I'd never go for it. Anywho, the system won't work without both screens unless you close the circuit so that it thinks both screens are there.

 

[Cartmanuk]

 

[Haloman800]

Dangit. I have no soldering skills :c oh well.

 

[Foxi4]

Dangit. I have no soldering skills :c oh well.

The points aren't all that small and it's really just one wire - you don't need a whole lot of skill to pull this off. Frankly, you might be able to do this with a well-placed piece of tape and one resistor by the looks of it, although that kind of a contraption would probably be dodgy in terms of reliability. You know what they say - there ain't nothin' that can't be fixed with duct tape.

 

[Cartmanuk]

Just leave the broken ribbon cable in the wires are for the sound, Just use the headphone jack.

 

[Haloman800]

Just leave the broken ribbon cable in the wires are for the sound, Just use the headphone jack.

I was planning on it. I have the entire top LCD completely removed, but the DS won't stay powered on because it knows the top half isn't connected, which really sucks.

 

[Cartmanuk]

 

[Haloman800]

So apparently the top LCD ribbon cable has to be in working order, and I have to solder a "1K resister" onto two of the contact points in order to trick the DS Lite into thinking the top display is connected..

Only problem is, the whole reason I started this project was because the top ribbon cable was busted.. if I have to replace that I might as well just replace the top screen :c.

 

[Foxi4]

So apparently the top LCD ribbon cable has to be in working order, and I have to solder a "1K resister" onto two of the contact points in order to trick the DS Lite into thinking the top display is connected..

Only problem is, the whole reason I started this project was because the top ribbon cable was busted.. if I have to replace that I might as well just replace the top screen :c.

You can always try to make the connection lower down the way, on the nearest available solder point or connector. People connect the resistors to the ribbons simply because it's convenient - you don't have that option, so you'll have to travel down the ribbon and find a different suitable spot.

 

[Haloman800]

You can always try to make the connection lower down the way, on the nearest available solder point or connector. People connect the resistors to the ribbons simply because it's convenient - you don't have that option, so you'll have to travel down the ribbon and find a different suitable spot.

My ribbon cable is pretty effed up, it looks like I can get a replacement from China for $1.20, http://www.miniinthebox.com/replace...hreads/ds-lite-flickers-and-turns-off.373469/

I'm gonna try & contact zeello and see if I can get him to do the soldering for me : D.

 

[Foxi4]

If you can grab a replacement cheaply, get a replacement. Removing the top screen really works to the detriment of the system in my opinion. Unless you only care about the GBA functionality, I'd keep the top screen.

 

[Haloman800]

If you can grab a replacement cheaply, get a replacement. Removing the top screen really works to the detriment of the system in my opinion. Unless you only care about the GBA functionality, I'd keep the top screen.

I've got two other working DS Lites, a DSi and a 3DS XL.. I really wanted to make this into a fun project, but for the time/money invested I could buy a used DS Lite >_<.

This is only the 2nd time in about 3 years soldering skills would come in handy, not sure if I should buy a kit and learn soldering.

 

[Foxi4]

I've got two other working DS Lites, a DSi and a 3DS XL.. I really wanted to make this into a fun project, but for the time/money invested I could buy a used DS Lite >_<.

This is only the 2nd time in about 3 years soldering skills would come in handy, not sure if I should buy a kit and learn soldering.

Oh. Well, in that case you might want to keep it just for spares, but yeah - go nuts with soldering, it's fun!

 

[Haloman800]

I'm assuming you know how to solder, when has it been useful for you?

 

[Foxi4]

I'm assuming you know how to solder, when has it been useful for you?

I do a lot of small repairs around the house and occasionally on my retro systems and gamepads. I'm not terribly good at it (my hands shake a bit) so I'm not very precise, but I make-due. It's a useful skill and the tools of the trade are really cheap unless you want a superb soldering station (you really don't need one - my soldering iron cost me about $5-10, if I recall correctly ).

 

[Haloman800]

Just browsed eBay, less than $20 should give me everything I need for soldering + the parts to finish my project

http://i.imgur.com/HPPs3lC.png

 

[Foxi4]

I suggest grabbing some flux and a small dry tip cleaner - they'll come in handy if you want your soldering to be solid and your kit clean.