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2 layers72 × 121.9 mmLoCo, the printed circuit board in 3D

Full Light Color PCB using the original parts

Size
72 × 121.9 mm
Copper layers
2
Thickness
1.6 mm
Parts
97
Nets
188
Pads
536
Tracks, vias
955, 139
Pours
31
Routed
Yes
KiCad
KiCad 9.0 (file 20241229)
Created
22 Dec 2024
Updated
1 Jan 2026

Overview

LoCo is an open-source printed circuit board by nataliethenerd, from the nataliethenerd/LoCo-Light-Color repository on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board of 72 × 121.9 mm with 97 parts on 188 nets, routed with 955 tracks and 139 vias.

It is built around the 1SS355 and 2SC4081-R. Its parts include 35 capacitors, 9 switches, 7 resistors, 6 ICs and 6 connectors.

Main components

2

README

README.md

LoCo (Light Color)

IMG_1983

IMG_1987

LoCo = Light Color. This project allows you to put a Game Boy Color in a Game Boy Light shell. Full Light colour PCB using the original parts. This board is made with modern screen kits in mind meaning it does not have the voltage rails for the original screen.

ORDER AT 1MM WITH ENIG

You can support me on Ko-Fi or by buying the board directly from me my store

I also occasionally sell pre built PCBs on my store.

ko-fi

Building

locoboardview

[!WARNING] I am not responsible for your skill issues!

This board uses all the parts of an original Game Boy Color minus the IR and original screen circuit. Most parts are in the same spot, however if you are having trouble you can check the interactive BOM

The thumbwheel circuit can be connected to an OSD screen to control brightness. The two touch pad wires and be connected to the pads labelled ↑↓ on the back top left side of the board. The select, A and B pads are easy connection pads for the screen also.

screenguide

My recommendations

New parts

Update log:

Jan26: changed the CPU footprint to be a bit more forgiving

BeforeAfter
old footprintnew footprint

Thanks

  • Hozy for the pushing me to do the first ever Light Color
  • Console and Casks for the thumbwheel circuit

Follow me

If you are into Game Boy modding or retro gaming, please consider using code "NatalieTheNerd" at:

• Retro Modding

• Retro Game Repair Shop

• Extreme Rate

My socials

• Twitter

• BlueSky

• Instagram

• Modded Gameboy Club - a club dedicated to the modification of Game Boys, freely sharing resources

License

Please do not remove my logo, website and name.

License: CC BY-SA 4.0

The CC BY-SA 4.0 (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International) license allows you to:

  1. Share - Copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
  2. Adapt - Remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.

Conditions:

  • Attribution - You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
  • ShareAlike - If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.

Parts

97
QtyValueFootprintReferences
8, , , , , , ,
710nFCapacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608MetricC9, C10, C13, C29, C33, C41, C45
71uFCapacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608MetricC17, C18, C19, C25, C26, C27, C39
6BLM11B102SResistor_SMD:R_0603_1608MetricEM1, EM2, EM3, EM4, EM5, EM9
5100nFCapacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608MetricC24, C28, C40, C43, C44
3100pFCapacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608MetricC5, C6, C7
347nFCapacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608MetricC14, C15, C16
3BLM21PG221SGResistor_SMD:R_0805_2012MetricEM6, EM7, EM8
21SS355Diode_SMD:D_SOD-323_HandSolderingD2, D5
227pFResistor_SMD:R_0603_1608MetricC3, C8
2750Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608MetricR1, R7
2ICP-S1.0TNFuse:Fuse_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.42x1.75mm_HandSolderF1, F2
2R_Pack02_SIP_SplitResistor_SMD:R_Array_Concave_2x0603RA1, RA2
11.5MResistor_SMD:R_0603_1608MetricR25
1100RResistor_SMD:R_0603_1608MetricR27
1100uFCapacitor_SMD:CP_Elec_5x5.3C38
1100uFCapacitor_SMD:CP_Elec_6.3x5.4C32
1150pFCapacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608MetricC47
118KResistor_SMD:R_0603_1608MetricR3
118pFCapacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608MetricC1
122pFCapacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608MetricC4
1270Resistor_SMD:R_Array_Concave_4x0603RA3
127pFCapacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608MetricC2
12SC4081Package_TO_SOT_SMD:SOT-323_SC-70Q2
14.7uFCapacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608MetricC31
147KResistor_SMD:R_0603_1608MetricR8
14W601Resistor_SMD:R_Array_Concave_4x0603FB1
15.6KResistor_SMD:R_0603_1608MetricR26
1ACGB:AB CGBSW6
1ACM4532-801-2PCrystal:Crystal_SMD_EuroQuartz_MJ-4Pin_5.0x3.2mmEM10
1BCGB:AB CGBSW7
1BatteryCGB:Battery CGBBT1
1CGB CPUCGB:CPU CGBU1
1Cart ConnectorCGB:Cart CGBP1
1Conn_01x04customsym:Thumbwheel toggle switchJ1
1Conn_01x05POCO:HPjackP5
1Conn_01x05CGB:Volume wheel CGBVR1
1Conn_01x06CGB:Serial CGBP3
1Crystal_SmallCGB:Crystal CGBX1
1DC-DCPOCO:DCU5
1DownCGB:Dpad CGBSW3
1Jumper_2_OpenJumper:SolderJumper-2_P1.3mm_Open_RoundedPad1.0x1.5mmJP1
1LeftCGB:Dpad CGBSW5
1MGB AMPCGB:Amp MGBU3
1PST9135NPackage_TO_SOT_SMD:SOT-23-5U6
1REDLED_THT:LED_D3.0mmD4
1RightCGB:Dpad CGBSW2
1SelectCGB:Select CGBSW8
1SpeakerTestPoint:TestPoint_2Pads_Pitch2.54mm_Drill0.8mmSP1
1StartCGB:Start CGBSW9
1UpCGB:Dpad CGBSW4
1~POCO:DCJACKP4
1~Package_SO:TSOP-I-28_11.8x8mm_P0.55mmU2
1~CGB:Screen CGBP2
1~Package_TO_SOT_SMD:SOT-23-5U7
1~CGB:Switch CGBSW1
1~Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608MetricC46

The 96 most common of 97 parts.

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Questions

How big is the LoCo PCB?

It measures 72 × 121.9 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.

What parts does the LoCo use?

97 parts, built around the 1SS355 and 2SC4081-R. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.

Where can I download the LoCo KiCad files?

From the nataliethenerd/LoCo-Light-Color repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is KiCad/LoCo/LoCo.kicad_pcb and its schematic KiCad/LoCo/CGB_IR.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.

Can I use the LoCo design in my own project?

Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask nataliethenerd before reusing the design.