GBA Micro Batteries (in the UK)

[Bovrillor]

I need a new battery for my treasured GB Micro.

I've had two of those cheapo chinese ones fail on me in 2 years despite barely using them (currently back to using the OG Nintendo battery!)

Apparently I missed the boat on these wonderful Mahko batteries? Is there anywhere I might still find one?


Footnote: I came across this on ebay, I'm puzzled because it's a Li-Po battery rather than Li-Ion. I don't know anything about battery tech, would that even be safe to use?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/375484052973

 

[Bovrillor]

In case anyone's researching the same thing, these were the results:

All of the batteries on eBay were garbage. Like on-par with a 15 year old OEM at best.

Retrogamerepairshop.com are based in the US but they do ship to the UK and they have Mahko batteries in stock (750mah, can get you 10 hours of gameplay). Since the shipping was expensive, I figured it was best to buy several batteries - I'll thank myself one day lol

 

[Jaxom]

If you don't have plans to help some friends or reselling them, I'd advertise again excessive ordering of batteries, especially since the Li-Ion batteries' compound tends to crystallise faster when they reach certain temperatures thresholds and also when discharged/fully charged. It reduces their available and theorised charge cycles (if I remember well an article I read some months ago).

Maybe complete your order with other components that'd age better rather than overstocking batteries.

 

[Bovrillor]

If you don't have plans to help some friends or reselling them, I'd advertise again excessive ordering or batteries, especially since the Li-Ion batteries' compound tends to crystallise faster when they reach certain temperatures thresholds and also when discharged/fully charged. It reduces their available and theorised charge cycles (if I remember well an article I read some months ago).

Maybe complete your order with other components that'd age better rather than overstocking batteries.

The heads-up is much appreciated, thankfully Mahko had warned me about this in a YT comment.

Since I can't access the marketplace here, I'll be putting any spares on eBay at cost price so I'll effectively just be splitting the shipping bill.

 

[Jaxom]

Indeed, wiser approach.

It's pretty sad iFixit doesn't have stock for these, I usually visit them first when I need an official spare part.

 

[Bovrillor]

Indeed, wiser approach.

It's pretty sad iFixit doesn't have stock for these, I usually visit them first when I need an official spare part.

Their toolkits are lovely, as are their guides, but they seem to have abandoned retro systems entirely. I imagine it's not a steady earner.

Annoyingly they don't have a battery for the Dualsense Edge either (the Pro PS5 controller). I physically require the rear paddles to play, but I can't afford a £200 controller every time the battery dies (basically every year). I'm hoping I'll stumble across an indie service for it someday.

 

[Jaxom]

Their toolkits are lovely, as are their guides, but they seem to have abandoned retro systems entirely. I imagine it's not a steady earner.

Annoyingly they don't have a battery for the Dualsense Edge either (the Pro PS5 controller). I physically require the rear paddles to play, but I can't afford a £200 controller every time the battery dies (basically every year). I'm hoping I'll stumble across an indie service for it someday.

Totally agreeing, I've paired some of their toolkits with a Xiaomi electric screwdriver to avoid over-tightening (my main issue when doing fixings) and since then everything is going as smooth as butter... Sorry, bu'er.

Well, they have the New 3DS (not XL) batteries in stock, for instance, so I'm not sure how they determine which ones they stock or not. Maybe visiting their shop from time to time will lead you to a good surprise.

 

[hippy dave]

Since I can't access the marketplace here, I'll be putting any spares on eBay at cost price so I'll effectively just be splitting the shipping bill.

Let me know when you do

 

[Bovrillor]

Let me know when you do

Will do! Might offer a wee discount for anyone that can find me an undamaged faceplate. I've got the OG black one but it's a little beat up

 

[Jayro]

This is the Li-Po battery you need, and you just re-use the old JST connector from the original cell:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116217019531

(It's the same battery Makho uses, and that Retro Game Repair Shop sells.)

 

[hippy dave]

Will do! Might offer a wee discount for anyone that can find me an undamaged faceplate. I've got the OG black one but it's a little beat up

Original faceplates are indeed hard to find, and most third-party ones aren't great. The only one I know that is worth getting is the Boo (ghost from Mario) one, it's well made and has no flaws in the screen area unlike some other third-party ones. I haven't looked recently but hopefully it's still widely available on AliExpress and elsewhere.

I'd love an unscratched green original one to go with my green Micro, but it seems like the only way to get a good original faceplate is to buy an unused Micro, which isn't cheap.

 

[Bovrillor]

This is the Li-Po battery you need, and you just re-use the old JST connector from the original cell:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116217019531

(It's the same battery Makho uses, and that Retro Game Repair Shop sells.)

This is some excellent intel - the only part I'm sketchy on is "just re-use the connector" ... I'd need to see a demo of how this is done, because I'm stupid and any time I attempt electrical work without instructions I destroy something

 

[Jayro]

This is some excellent intel - the only part I'm sketchy on is "just re-use the connector" ... I'd need to see a demo of how this is done, because I'm stupid and any time I attempt electrical work without instructions I destroy something

Just cut the wires off the old battery, but one wire at a time so they don't short the battery out. Then solder them one at a time to the new battery, and use heatshrink tubing so they (again) don't short together. The JST connector the battery uses I'm afraid is proprietary to the GB Micro, so harvesting it from the original is the best choice.

 

[Bovrillor]

Just cut the wires off the old battery, but one wire at a time so they don't short the battery out. Then solder them one at a time to the new battery, and use heatshrink tubing so they (again) don't short together. The JST connector the battery uses I'm afraid is proprietary to the GB Micro, so harvesting it from the original is the best choice.

Kicking myself for not harvesting the connectors from all the crap chinese batteries I've binned over the years. Somehow they were all good fits.

I was hoping you'd say something like 'just yank the wires out of the old JST and push the new ones into it' lol. Soldering is a no-go for me as I have tremors *and* had an accident so severe I'm now terrified of the irons. I'll see if any of my mates can do it, though.

With that said, with some careful sanding/filing (things I *can* do) I was able to make the RGR batteries fit smoothly. Not quite as cool, but good enough for a walking safety hazard like myself

 

[Jayro]

Well you could always commission someone to do the batteries for you, I suppose. You could try reaching out to TheRetroFuture on YouTube, he lives in the U.K. and might be able to help.