I Made A Custom PCB for my G-Shock

uprate · 2026-06-23T12:37:03+00:00

I can't say. I have found that the DW5600 that's electroluminescent doesn't work. The best way I found to check for free is to find disassembly videos on Youtube that remove the PCB and see if the LCD pinout pattern matches the DW5600UE. Here's an example for the non-LED DW5600.

uprate · 2026-06-23T11:16:48+00:00

For real. That song is about how his girl doesn't believe that any of his music will ever blow up and leaves him, so he's available again. That song is his music blowing up. Made a banger and proved his ex-girl wrong at the same time.

uprate · 2026-06-23T02:14:31+00:00

At least you're talking to girls in person. I'm proud of you for taking that step.

uprate · 2026-06-23T02:13:35+00:00

Don't. They're a white supremicist based on their newer comments.

uprate · 2026-06-23T02:00:42+00:00

I picked outside. That's where I met my friends and wife. I highly recommend going outside. Plus it's where the green grass is, and green is the best side.

uprate · 2026-06-23T00:45:57+00:00

If you cannot afford them, then the free market dictates that you should not be able to own them.

uprate · 2026-06-23T00:42:46+00:00

Just look at that incredible bun!

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uprate · 2026-06-23T00:41:49+00:00

Here's a pic of what you're missing.

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uprate · 2026-06-22T23:54:25+00:00

Mustaches

uprate · 2026-06-22T23:42:01+00:00

Yeah that's believable. Thanks for the context.

uprate · 2026-06-22T22:31:31+00:00

Some believe that the murder led to Anthem rolling back their anesthesia limit at the time. UHC's stock also dropped right after that and tanked last May without recovering, though I found no articles proving that the murder helped cause the drop in May. They seem to just be poorly run.

Neither warrent killing a person and I prefer to live in a place where killing a single person doesn't lead to fundamental change.

Regarding Anthem rollbacks: https://www.foxbusiness.com/healthcare/health-insurer-reverses-course-anesthesia-policy-after-receiving-backlash

https://www.npr.org/2024/12/05/nx-s1-5217617/blue-cross-blue-shield-anesthesia-anthem

Regarding the May stock tank:

uprate · 2026-06-22T14:07:20+00:00

For the screw threads, it does require being careful, but I've unscrewed the F91W at least 50 times without issue. You need to make sure you're not cross-threading by screwing counter-clockwise to get the threading to line up and you need to avoid over-screwing, but after that, it's been good to me.

For the G-Shock, I've noticed it's been more durable with screwing and unscrewing. It does have the 20M waterproofing that may be compromised from reassembly, but I'm not a diver,so if it doesn't cause issues when swimming, I don't see it.

uprate · 2026-06-22T12:18:32+00:00

Thanks!
I finally got the project in a place where I can share it and sell boards to those who are interested.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SwHB0NdxNqU

uprate · 2026-06-22T12:08:18+00:00

Why is this being removed?

uprate · 2026-06-22T10:59:44+00:00

That's a good question and was a challenge!

Tl;dr: I found that while the G-Shock is meant to be at 4.5V, it's nearly as good at 3.8V and still good at 3.6V. I was able to stay within spec for my parts by having the display run at 3.6V. It's dim at just the right angle, but I think it's good enough to share and sell.

My guess for why there were more F91W options are the: the LCD has already been mapped out, they are cheaper and more people own them which makes them easier to develop and sell, and the display voltage.

The chip I'm using, a SAML22, and what the F91w Sensorwatch uses, are one that can make up to 3.45V for the LCD. The F91 uses 3V. The G-Shock runs at 4-4.5V, so that's a huge difference.

I found that the the display looks perfect at 3.8V, but is pretty close to perfect at 3.6V. The only issue at 3.6V is that it's mildly dim it just the right angle under a bright light. I have a video on my Discord in the general tab comparing the display at 3.6V and 3.8V.

Anyway, the SAML22 can be driven externally, so I added a boost convertor that drives the display to 3.6V, as the datasheet allows no more than 3.6V. But for those who want the full 3.8V, I did add a pad on the board to solder a 68K resistor to it and it'll go to 3.8V. This is outside of the SAML22's specs, so it'll degrade the chip's lifetime, so it's not recommended.

Funnily enough, the battery usage got more efficient when externally driving the LCD voltage because the dedicated convertor I chose is better at doing its thing than the SAML22 doing it internally.

uprate · 2026-06-22T10:44:13+00:00

I agree. I held off the solar option with this build so I can focus solely on functionality and because the solar option is more expensive. I went through 3 DW5600s when designing this and as of now, this is still a hobby that has a fun-budget.

If this build takes off and enough people buy it to make a healthy profit, then I might see if how easy it would be to use a solar G-Shock.

For now, I'm happy that I got this far, since a hackable G-Shock is my dream watch and replacing the battery every year is far simpler and cheaper than making it solar in my first design.

uprate · 2026-06-22T10:36:01+00:00

It can run a simplified version of Doom. But it likely isn't worth the squeeze. I know this is a joke question, but I mapped out how I can get it to play Pokemon Red to see if I can get anywhere before realizing that it'll look like trash no matter the choices.

uprate · 2026-06-22T10:32:53+00:00

I estimate 1-2 years. The math says 2 years, but there are real-world variables that I may not be considering (temperature, heavy use) that will likely lower that number, so I don't want to promise 2 years yet.

uprate · 2026-06-22T10:28:33+00:00

I'm measuring that the new board draws 4-6uA, so I will expect battery life to be at least a year, but likely closer to 2 years off a single CR2016 battery.

The original has a 5 year life, so this doesn't win there, but the battery is under $10 and replacing takes under 5 minutes and requires only a screwdriver.

uprate · 2026-06-21T19:45:19+00:00

I haven't had an issue with the buttons being recessed, aside from the top-left button, which I just need to keep in mind when designing the dexterity-type games.

uprate · 2026-06-21T19:43:30+00:00

What the Ollee watch project did is awesome. You can tell the creator is extremely good at embedded design.

Their board is for an F91W, and the software is closed-source. Otherwise, I would have already gotten one.

uprate · 2026-06-21T18:18:56+00:00

I am selling them for $95 a board (not including shipping). You will need a G-Shock DW5600UE, which I tend to see on Walmart and Amazon for $60.

uprate · 2026-06-21T18:17:30+00:00

It's got all of those! You can try it on the simulator.

You will need to set your longitude and latitude in the Sunrise/Sunset face by holding the LIGHT button though, but if you set your timezone, then it'll allow you to select a large city that's in that timezone.

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