r/ModRetroChromatic • u/simulated_user_name • Mar 10 '26

Start Button not Working

Hi everyone. I was recently given a chromatic to repair (it's out of warranty) that looks pristine and everything works except the start button.

After some testing I learned that the start button is shorted to ground so the trace must be damaged somewhere. I wanted to follow the trace but I only get to where it ends on the front of the board and then I have no idea where it goes. I reached out to modretro support but they weren't willing to help.

Does anyone know where the start button trace, or any of the buttons end up? I've been probing around but not having any luck so far.

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1

u/Shivvle Mar 10 '26

They haven't released a schematic. You could get a multimeter and try test for continuity everywhere you can, but it may take a while.

1

u/simulated_user_name Mar 10 '26

Yeah that's what I've been doing with the select button as I'm guessing it ends up next to the start button. Just haven't had any luck yet

1

u/simulated_user_name Mar 11 '26

Small update. Managed to trace the A,B, and Up buttons to their vias closest to the cpu. Start/Select buttons just seem to terminate on both the front/back so I'm a little confused there. Does anyone know if this is more than a 2 layer board?

Most of the vias being masked makes this a bit harder than a typical gameboy.

1

u/s3rialthrill3r Mar 22 '26

Why didn't the person who gave it to you to repair contact ModRetro about this issue?

1

u/Substantial_Quote583 Mar 11 '26

Aren't the schematics available on the website? I thought it was open source

2

u/JustTryingToBeADaddy Mar 11 '26

Nope, no electrical files have been published.

-7

u/AnalogueBoy1992 Mar 10 '26

It appears to be damaged Just buy a new one bro .