Reddit mentions of XCSOURCE 5 pcs 1A 5V Micro USB TP4056 Lithium Battery Power Charger Board Module TE420

I've used these with success, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DRT4PWY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qxBpzb6P6QZ4N

I was a total amateur prior to doing the battery mod on my GBC last month. I learned everything on YouTube and had the help of a Game Boy modding discord. Check out EsotericSean's YouTube channel. Particularly the video where he puts a battery in his green GBC, and the one where he refurbishes the Pokemon GBC. I learned the most from those two. He links the discord in the descriptions.


A lot of people are asking about parts and cost and stuff, so here's the full list. (Sorry that Reddit makes such a mess of the paragraph format.)


Retromodding.com - Screen and enclosure (A lot of this is optional.)


$49.99 - Game Boy Advance IPS LCD

$4.99 - Game Boy Advance IPS LCD Glass Screen Lens

$11.99 - Game Boy Advance Shell (black)

$5.59 - Game Boy Advance Buttons (black)

$2.99 - Game Boy Advance Start-Select Silicone Pad (black)

(Shipping $6.00 + $0.98 insurance)

Total: $82.53


Amazon.com - Rechargeable battery


$9.59 - Battery (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BTV3MXQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

$6.89 - Micro USB charging board (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DRT4PWY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)


I also had to salvage a diode from an old garbage power adapter. If you don't have one you can get them for cents on electronics parts websites or eBay. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F182714565793 If not you can order just one on Amazon for about $6. https://www.amazon.com/NTE-Electronics-1N270-Germanium-Optimized/dp/B008UG12M6/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=1N270+diode&qid=1564894452&s=gateway&sr=8-4 I was told that they're in most electronics or power adapters though, so good chance you can salvage one.


If you were doing this from scratch you'd also need the tools and miscellaneous little things. I bought mostly the cheapest stuff I could find. The soldering iron I used was $3 from Harbor Freight. You can also get the screwdriver set there, and a little Dremel with tons of bits for $10. For this mod I did most of the trimming with a sharp chisel, because I'm a woodworker. The USB hole was cut with that Dremel and an xacto knife. Then you need the solder, and some kapton tape. You can salvage the wires from anything as well. Old landline phone cord works. I ordered a bunch of wire connection things from eBay just to get the wire, but that also let me make the battery disconnect-able, which was extremely handy. https://www.ebay.com/itm/20-Pairs-Micro-JST-1-25-2-Pin-Male-and-Female-Connector-plug-with-Wires-Cables/361418912735?epid=1083311732&hash=item54263ef3df:g:kOYAAOSwmrlUrPoE

I think that covers just about everything. :)

I use lipo's with these. Provides protection and an easy way to charge them.

I am looking for the same thing but I couldn't find one so I'm going to make one out of a few 18650 batteries and one of these: XCSOURCE 5 pcs 1A 5V Micro USB TP4056 Lithium Battery Power Charger Board Module TE420 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DRT4PWY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_I17Fyb5D8CDC7

It does require some sodering and I haven't done it yet so idk how well it will work. For a pi 3 it will probably require a couple other things to regulate the voltage and such but there are probably some guides that can explain it better

I know I might be doing this a little over the top but I can (probably) fit in 3 cells (the Nitecores with 3400mAh).

I have to admit that 3 cells is a strech but with a little sanding I could get them in just barely. The real question now is the charge and discharge circuit.

These things are expensive, clocking in at around 15 bucks each. Therefore I dont want to break them (obviously).

I am planning to charge them with a micro usb, so I am planning to get some circuit that can do that. Also charge balancing might be something to be concerned about. Will the inbuild protection circuits of the cells handle that (if I put them all in parrallel would it damage to charge all of them until the protection cuts the cord on all of them?).

I saw one of these cheap boards on amazon:

https://www.amazon.de/XCSOURCE-St%C3%BCck-Micro-USB-TP4056-Lithium-Batterie-Charger-Brett-Modul-TE420/dp/B01DRT4PWY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1505306549&sr=8-2&keywords=18650+micro+usb


I am sure you have seen these everywhere, since all of them look the same. In its description it states:

"It has been designed for voltage: 3.6 3.7 V, usw., 18650, polymer and other lithium battery charge and discharge protection."

However it also says

"This module is used for single cell – Lithium or Lithium with multiple sections of parallel ports able to charge your Power from USB."


If I put them all in parrallel, this wouldnt be a problem, right? (since the cutoff voltage is always the same and they are also protected)

Lastly, If I put them in parrallel (which I am going to do to maximise runtime) I dont have to get a regulator that gets them down from 9v but rather that gets them up from ~3v (to 5v).
Any suggestions for a small and cheap board?

( I have a tight space budget. If possible no heatsinking. )

That's what I'm starting to lean toward, yeah. I'm looking into 18650 lithium ion batteries for the first time. I'd hate to have this much circuit for something that seems so simple to me, but here's what I've got:

Switching LM2596 power supply to take 9 - 40V down to 5V

TE420 lithium battery charger

18650 flat top battery 2500mAh

5V 2A boost supply

Those things all put together basically form a 5V battery pack with the option to charge with 9 - 40VDC.

What do you think?

The one you posted doesn't have the "OUT" pins like this one does. If your circuit can handle the charge voltage, you should be able to connect it to the BAT+ and BAT- points.

There are TP4056 boards with a cutoff transistor for this too if you're on a budget :-)

For instance this