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Multimeter Readings for GBZ Button Trace Inputs

Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 6:04 pm
by wpnxPHOENIX
Hi all! Very new to the gameboy modding forums, and relatively new to modifying electronics/soldering/etc.

Took this on as a project to get more experience in those areas and have something fun at the end.

I'm using wermy's GBZ instructions and am just about to start soldering the GB PCB for the button inputs.

His guide on the controls says the following:

"These connections are pretty delicate, so first check and make sure they are solid (you can use a multimeter to measure resistance across one end of each wire to the corresponding black button pad and make sure it’s a good clean connection). There is a great thread in the forums with links to guides/videos about using multimeters if you’ve never done that before. "

However, it looks like that post is no longer available.

Although I own a multimeter I don't think i've ever actually used it before.

Can anyone walk me through what I'm looking for exactly, once I've scraped the traces and soldered the wires, as far as a multimeter goes?

Re: Multimeter Readings for GBZ Button Trace Inputs

Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 6:19 pm
by wpnxPHOENIX
For anyone finding themselves in a similar situation, I was able to find an archived version of the thread here:

https://web.archive.org/web/20160501020 ... ultimeter/

And the video from that thread here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPGoMbVSUu8

I think I'm just supposed to be checking for resistance from the soldered wires to the buttons.

Re: Multimeter Readings for GBZ Button Trace Inputs

Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 7:35 pm
by rodocop
Does your multimeter have a continuity setting with an audible beep? If so, that will be helpful.

If you have that, place one probe from the multimeter on one side of the wire you want to test (actually place the multimeter on the pad the wire is connected to), and place the other probe on the other side of the wire (where it's connected) if it beeps you know you have a solid connection. The beep tells you that there is continuity between those two solder points.

If no beep then you don't have a solid connection and you'll need to either resolder or investigate other sources for the problem .

Re: Multimeter Readings for GBZ Button Trace Inputs

Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 7:37 pm
by rodocop
Continuity mode will have a symbol like this, see link, or something similar


https://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/i ... RfnWP.full

Re: Multimeter Readings for GBZ Button Trace Inputs

Posted: Mon May 11, 2020 11:03 am
by wpnxPHOENIX
It does have that! Thank you, I looked up a couple of videos based on your suggestion and then went back to wermy's guide. That actually makes perfect sense. Thanks again!

Re: Multimeter Readings for GBZ Button Trace Inputs

Posted: Mon May 11, 2020 2:52 pm
by rodocop
wpnxPHOENIX wrote:
Mon May 11, 2020 11:03 am
It does have that! Thank you, I looked up a couple of videos based on your suggestion and then went back to wermy's guide. That actually makes perfect sense. Thanks again!
Glad I could help!