Photo credit: Bangooh
Bangooh stunned the internet with a Game Boy Advance SP carrying a DeWalt power-tool battery on its back. The setup claims 404 hours of playtime—enough to finish many RPGs without needing to recharge.
A standard Game Boy Advance SP has a tiny 650 mAh lithium-ion cell. That pack keeps the screen on for about 10 hours until the console shuts down. Bangooh replaced the original battery with a DeWalt 20-volt pack rated at 162,000 mWh. Simple math says the new pack is about 250 times the stock cell. Voltage differences require caution as the GBA SP needs 3.3 volts from its battery. DeWalt packs have a nominal output of 20 volts which drops to about 18 volts when full. Direct connection would fry the console’s circuits in seconds. Bangooh fixed this by buying a $1 converter online. The small board replaces the original battery, lowers the high voltage to safe levels and provides power through the existing connectors.
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The cabling is straightforward, with positive and negative wires connecting the DeWalt pack to the converter’s input pads. The converter’s output wires connect to a dummy battery, a plastic shell that replicates the shape of the stock cell and ensures proper contact with the terminals on the GBA. A custom plate secures the heavy pack to the back shell of the console, matches the yellow and black color scheme of DeWalt. Bangooh removed the original battery cover and installed a 3D printed holder which holds the DeWalt pack. Since this is a proof of concept build, the shoulder buttons are missing in the early pictures. The final build will have them back without obstructing the power switch or cartridge slot.
Battery life estimates start with established benchmarks, a new 650 mAh cell powers an AGS-001 (front-lit screen) for about 10 hours at moderate brightness, that’s 65 mA per hour. When converted to the same voltage the DeWalt pack has 45,000 mAh. 45,000 / 65 = 692 hours, that’s more than 28 days if the screen is on constantly. Bangooh claims 404 hours, which is likely based on real-world testing with the backlight turned on full power and periodic interruptions. Ergonomics are also different because the extra pack weights more than 2-pounds, transforming the handheld into a brick. Grip surfaces can expand to accommodate larger hands, but prolonged sessions still require a table or lap. However, swapping packs takes seconds: take out the old one, insert the new one, and start playing.
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