Guides
Free, always-up-to-date install and restoration guides for the hardware I build and sell. Anyone can read them. You don’t need to have bought anything. Each guide lives here on the site so it stays current; when I improve a build or a process, the guide updates with it.
Install Guides
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Game Boy DMG Headphone Jack Board: Install & Use
How to install the DMG-01 headphone jack replacement board: desoldering the old harness, the hidden internal case trim, the Pro line-out wiring, testing, and the BOM source.
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SNES Buttersoft/Torapu RGB Mod: Assembly & Install Guide
The complete guide to my 2-chip SNES RGB amplifier board: how to assemble a bare board (full BOM with every resistor position), and how to install it in a SHVC-CPU-01, GPM-01/02 or RGB-01/02 console. Wiring maps per revision, the optional cap refresh, bench test procedure and troubleshooting.
Dongle Manuals
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Game Boy DMG Lite USB-C Power Dongle: Setup & Use
How to power your original Game Boy (DMG-01) with the CA-DGBL1 5V USB-C Lite dongle: the critical center-negative polarity, why 5V is safe, and troubleshooting.
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Game Boy DMG USB-C Power Dongle: Setup & Use
How to power your original Game Boy (DMG-01) with the CA-DGB1 6V USB-C dongle: the critical center-negative polarity, which USB source to use, and troubleshooting.
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Game Gear Lite USB-C PD Power Dongle: Setup & Use
How to power your Sega Game Gear and the center-positive Sega family with the CA-DGGL1 9V USB-C PD Lite dongle: choosing a PD source, reading the status LED, and troubleshooting.
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Game Gear USB-C Power Dongle: Setup & Use
How to power your Sega Game Gear and the center-positive Sega family with the CA-DGG1 9V USB-C dongle: plug-in steps, which USB source to use, and troubleshooting.
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Prototype USB-C Power Dongle: Setup & Use
The prototype dongles are cosmetic seconds of the Game Gear (9V) and Game Boy DMG (5V) units, electrically identical, with full setup instructions on the production guides.
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TurboExpress Lite USB-C PD Power Dongle: Setup & Use
How to power your NEC TurboExpress or PC Engine GT with the CA-DTEL1 9V USB-C PD Lite dongle: choosing a PD source, reading the status LED, and troubleshooting.
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TurboExpress USB-C Power Dongle: Setup & Use
How to power your NEC TurboExpress or PC Engine GT with the CA-DTE1 7.5V USB-C dongle: what to plug in, which port to use, and how to troubleshoot.
Explainers
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How I Restore & Test Every Item
What I do (and don't do) when restoring and testing the consoles and hardware I sell, from rust neutralization to real-world gameplay testing.
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Getting Started in Electronics Repair: A Starter Kit & Buying Guide
Everything I'd buy to get into electronics repair as a hobby, learned the expensive way: I'm on my third hot air station and fourth soldering iron because I didn't do the research. Soldering, hot air, microscope, meters, scope, thermal camera, bench supply, mains-safety gear, consumables, where to buy each thing, and who to learn from.