u/Fl4m3Ph03n1x

Background

I live in Europe and I would like to mod my Gameboy Color with a Led buttons kit.

For waiting purposes, I would like any kit I buy to be from within Europe, but I don't mind buying from outside if I feel confident enough.

Research

Thus far, these are the LED button kits I found for GBC (2026):

- CleanLight GBC (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukOWkB7LgrY) The kit is no longer available in seller's page.

- FunnyPlaying kit (https://funnyplaying.com/products/gbc-button-led-kit) When playing, it is easy to activate the LED settings, so you will mess up you configuration (see comments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aGCXr1hc7w)

- HandheldLegend RetroGlow (https://handheldlegend.com/en-es/products/game-boy-color-rgb-led-button-kit?_pos=2&_sid=178f77e60&_ss=r). Several people report issues with the buttons after installing the kit (see comments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8DN1CGnsyI)

- Natalie the Nerd LED kit. Not currently in production, not sure when/if it will be back (https://nataliethenerd.com/collections/all).

Bonus features I would like

- I would like to be able to change intensity of LEDs

- I would like to be able to turn LEDs on/off

- I would like for the kit to have a battery sensor, for AA batteries

Questions

This was everything I could find.

- Do you have experience with any of these kits? Was it positive or negative?

- What other kits do you know that are still available to buy?

When soldering a new battery in this Pokemon cartridge, a spec of solder flew into the blue area. I tried removing it with some solder wick, but the pin is now silver colored instead of gold colored.

Questions

- Did I accidentally remove the gold coating on that area? Or is this just the solder that I was not able to remove?

- Can this affect the game in the long term?

I have a gameboy color pokemon game, and I replaced its battery. This is my first soldering job.

Tools used

I used lead free solder: https://www.ifixit.com/en-eu/products/lead-free-solder

This is my current iron: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B093FHW6JN?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

And this is the soldering paste I used: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0FPCNM7KD?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Process used

I set the iron above 400C for the solder I was using and I followed instructions in these video as close as I could:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK38rpUy568

Questions I have

If you look closely into the image, you can see that the solder on the battery ends has some dark/brown spots. I am not sure why this is:

- Is this because of the soldering paste I was using (it has a very dark grey color)?
- Is this because my iron was too hot (no lead solder requires > 375C to melt properly according to what I found)

- Is this because the tip of my iron was not properly tinned and oxidized as a result?

To be clear, the battery has continuity with the board and after assembling everything back together it works. But I am genuinely worried I may have done something wrong and I just don't know.

Are this spots normal? What did I miss?
Please help me improve!