USB-C batteries

The USB-C batteries and replacement packs on this page give retro handhelds their runtime back: Game Boy Advance and Color, Game Boy Advance SP, DS Lite, PSP 2000 and 3000. You will also find the TP4056 charging module, the silicone wire and the double-sided tape needed to wire a pack cleanly inside an original shell.

8 items8 available right now
Batteries USB-C 8 Modules de charge 9 Condensateurs & recap 3 Piles & sauvegarde 3

Choosing a replacement battery and charging it over USB-C without damaging the original shell

Capacity, format and compatibility: the three figures to check

Each console has its own battery format. The Game Boy Advance SP uses an 850 mAh AGS-003 pack, the DS Lite a 2000 mAh pack supplied with its screwdriver, the PSP 2000 and PSP 3000 a 3.6 V lithium pack. For an original Game Boy Advance or Game Boy Color, designed for disposable batteries, the 1500 mAh pack fits in the battery compartment and is then recharged through a module.

A pitfall: a USB-C port does not make a regulated charge

Soldering a USB-C connector onto two wires regulates nothing at all. It is the TP4056 module that manages the charge of a 1S lithium cell, cuts off at the end of the cycle and protects the cell. Without it, a pack charged directly swells or loses capacity within a few months. The flexible 20 to 30 AWG silicone wire and the 1 mm double-sided foam tape are there to hold everything in place without mechanical stress on the solder joints.

What it doesn't do

A new pack does not repair a faulty original charging circuit, nor a modified screen that draws too much. Only the DS Lite battery comes with a screwdriver; the other models assume you have your own tools. And none of these packs can be fitted without opening the console.

Charging modules · Soldering irons and stations · Disassembly kits · Spare parts · Workshop and modding

Questions fréquentes

Do you need to solder to replace a handheld console's battery?
It depends on the model. The 2000 mAh pack for the DS Lite drops into its bay and the screwdriver is included. Fitting a 1500 mAh pack into a Game Boy Advance or installing a TP4056 module, on the other hand, calls for a few solder joints.
What is the difference between the USB-C, micro and mini versions of the TP4056 module?
Only the input connector changes: the charging electronics for a 1S lithium cell are the same. USB-C is the most convenient today, as it is reversible and works with recent cables. Choose the version that matches the opening you are able to cut in the shell.
How many hours of play does a 1500 mAh battery give?
That depends entirely on the console and on the screen fitted. An original Game Boy Advance draws little power, a backlit IPS screen draws noticeably more. We do not quote a figure for runtime, because it varies too much from one build to another to be honest.