Issue with New build

[Jakeup]

Hello I have recently started working on my first Gameboy Zero build, many thanks to those on the forum and Wermy for the detailed instructions.

To start off the main electrical components used are:

Gearbest 3.5 inch screen (new version)
TinkerBOY v3
Adafruit Powerboost
Helders megabat
Raspberry pi zero
eBay power switch (will add exact link)

I first put it together and turned it on and made it to the retropi boot logo before it restarted twice and then turned off entirely.

At this point the Powerboost started flashing the red low voltage light, when the power switch was turned on the Powerboost would heat up. I also tried charging the battery and it would turn on the yellow charging light but never made it to fully charged after spending hours charging.

I have spoken with adafruit and was sent out a replacement board to try and see if that resolved the issue. No luck.

With the new board I have tried to reduce the components to see what might be causing the issue.
The battery seems fine and was able to charge until full and The micro usb works to charge it so I’m thinking my issue is either the switch or the tinkerBOY controller?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I will include some pictures of the build. Thanks!

[infinitLoop]

if i had to guess, i'd say the problem is the screen, or the battery.

that looks like a gearbest, so maybe just try hooking the power into the normal spot, instead of trying the 5v workaround. it should work fine from that original pad. where is the power going into that from btw?

maybe run the power from the 1000c direct to the pi, and another one to the board and screen (there is a second 5v out on the pb where you could mount the usb).

the boot-reboot is normal the first boot up. and the pb can get pretty hot just normally, but also reversing the polarity on the battery can cause something similar to what you describe.

you should get a multimeter and check the voltages everywhere.

[Jakeup]

if i had to guess, i'd say the problem is the screen, or the battery.

that looks like a gearbest, so maybe just try hooking the power into the normal spot, instead of trying the 5v workaround. it should work fine from that original pad. where is the power going into that from btw?

Thanks I will try to rewire it like that and see if it helps.
The screen is powered from the tinkerboy controller board, I’ll include a picture of the spot.

maybe run the power from the 1000c direct to the pi, and another one to the board and screen (there is a second 5v out on the pb where you could mount the usb).

Okay I will also try this to see if it’s the board causing issues

the pb can get pretty hot just normally, but also reversing the polarity on the battery can cause something similar to what you describe.

Adifruit originally suggested that but after talking to them they told me it looked good, I’m not sure but thankyou very much for your help.

you should get a multimeter and check the voltages everywhere.

I just picked one up today and will be trying it out after making your suggested changes. Iv never used one before but i think I’m looking for voltage somewhere it shouldn’t be? Any tips?

[infinitLoop]

I just picked one up today and will be trying it out after making your suggested changes. Iv never used one before but i think I’m looking for voltage somewhere it shouldn’t be? Any tips?

well, if you haven't used a multi meter before, i'd say familiarize yourself with that with some tutorials fist, but with power issues, you should check the positive/negative at the various spots where the wires connect, and make sure the voltage is what you'd expect, which should be ~5.1v after the powerboost, and anywhere between 3.2 and 4.2 at the battery in there. if you get a negative reading, then your polarity is wrong.

[Jakeup]

Thanks so much for the help, I have it rewired directly to the Powerboost and everything is powered and working.

Would it be fair to say the problem is the tinkerBOY board? Any tips on troubleshooting the board or is it possible it is just defective?

[infinitLoop]

Thanks so much for the help, I have it rewired directly to the Powerboost and everything is powered and working.

Would it be fair to say the problem is the tinkerBOY board? Any tips on troubleshooting the board or is it possible it is just defective?

congrats! that's good.

sure, it's possible it's the tinkerboy board that is causing issues, but i couldn't say that for sure. i have heard people run into power issues when using that, but there also doesn't really appear to be a lot going on on the board that should point to power problems either, so it's difficult to pin down. you'd have to do a lot more in-depth multi-meter checking to know that for sure probably.

it seems like if it's working now after you rewired the power, then maybe you had something bridged or swapped in the wiring, and now it's been corrected.

but if it's working, then just enjoy it

[Jakeup]

It is working for the screen and pi, but without power to the tinkerBOY the controls aren’t working so I think I’ll have to keep digging into it. Again thankyou very much for the advice.

[infinitLoop]

a couple more suggestions...

use heavy gauge wires for power. 22 or 24awg - as short as possible.

not sure if it matters, but typical hookup on that v3 board is the power in goes to the 5v and G on the right-side of the board, under the L1,L2,R1,R2 pads, and then your to the screen and pi from the 5v and G holes at the top. but, keeping a direct connection from the pi to the power (and then another from the power to the v3 board then to the screen) might still help if it's pulling a lot of current on startup for some reason.

[Jakeup]

To clarify do you mean
Wire the pi to the Powerboost.
Wire the 2nd output on the Powerboost to the tinkerBOY.
And then wire the screen and pi to the tinkerBOY?
So the pi is hooked up to both the tinkerBOY’s 5v and directly to the Powerboost ?
Sorry if I misunderstood

[infinitLoop]

To clarify do you mean
Wire the pi to the Powerboost.
Wire the 2nd output on the Powerboost to the tinkerBOY.
And then wire the screen and pi to the tinkerBOY?
So the pi is hooked up to both the tinkerBOY’s 5v and directly to the Powerboost ?
Sorry if I misunderstood

yep, that's basically what i meant, but you do not need a second power signal from the tinkerboy to the pi.

just
powerboost -> pi 5v

powerboost -> tinkerboy 5v

tinkerboy 5v -> screen 5v

i just meant that i think its supposed to work by routing the 5v through the tinkerboy board first as well, and then to the screen and pi from there, but if you bypass the tinkerboy board for the pi, it might help with startup current issues.