diff --git a/variants/lilygo_tdeck_pro/TDeckBoard.cpp b/variants/lilygo_tdeck_pro/TDeckBoard.cpp
index cf1ddf9..12bfc0a 100644
--- a/variants/lilygo_tdeck_pro/TDeckBoard.cpp
+++ b/variants/lilygo_tdeck_pro/TDeckBoard.cpp
@@ -6,15 +6,23 @@ uint32_t deviceOnline = 0x00;
 
 void TDeckBoard::begin() {
   
-  ESP32Board::begin();
-  
   Serial.println("TDeckBoard::begin() - starting");
   
-  // Enable peripheral power (keyboard, sensors, etc.)
+  // Enable peripheral power (keyboard, sensors, etc.) FIRST
+  // This powers the BQ27220 fuel gauge and other I2C devices
   pinMode(PIN_PERF_POWERON, OUTPUT);
   digitalWrite(PIN_PERF_POWERON, HIGH);
+  delay(50);  // Allow peripherals to power up before I2C init
   Serial.println("TDeckBoard::begin() - peripheral power enabled");
 
+  // Initialize I2C with correct pins for T-Deck Pro
+  Wire.begin(I2C_SDA, I2C_SCL);
+  Wire.setClock(100000);  // 100kHz for reliable fuel gauge communication
+  Serial.println("TDeckBoard::begin() - I2C initialized");
+  
+  // Now call parent class begin (after power and I2C are ready)
+  ESP32Board::begin();
+
   // Enable LoRa module power
   #ifdef P_LORA_EN
     pinMode(P_LORA_EN, OUTPUT);
@@ -41,5 +49,57 @@ void TDeckBoard::begin() {
     rtc_gpio_deinit((gpio_num_t)P_LORA_DIO_1);
   }
   
+  // Test BQ27220 communication
+  #if HAS_BQ27220
+    uint16_t voltage = getBattMilliVolts();
+    Serial.print("TDeckBoard::begin() - Battery voltage: ");
+    Serial.print(voltage);
+    Serial.println(" mV");
+  #endif
+  
   Serial.println("TDeckBoard::begin() - complete");
+}
+
+uint16_t TDeckBoard::getBattMilliVolts() {
+  #if HAS_BQ27220
+    Wire.beginTransmission(BQ27220_I2C_ADDR);
+    Wire.write(BQ27220_REG_VOLTAGE);
+    if (Wire.endTransmission(false) != 0) {
+      Serial.println("BQ27220: I2C error reading voltage");
+      return 0;
+    }
+    
+    uint8_t count = Wire.requestFrom((uint8_t)BQ27220_I2C_ADDR, (uint8_t)2);
+    if (count != 2) {
+      Serial.println("BQ27220: Read error - wrong byte count");
+      return 0;
+    }
+    
+    uint16_t voltage = Wire.read();
+    voltage |= (Wire.read() << 8);
+    return voltage;
+  #else
+    return 0;
+  #endif
+}
+
+uint8_t TDeckBoard::getBatteryPercent() {
+  #if HAS_BQ27220
+    Wire.beginTransmission(BQ27220_I2C_ADDR);
+    Wire.write(BQ27220_REG_SOC);
+    if (Wire.endTransmission(false) != 0) {
+      return 0;
+    }
+    
+    uint8_t count = Wire.requestFrom((uint8_t)BQ27220_I2C_ADDR, (uint8_t)2);
+    if (count != 2) {
+      return 0;
+    }
+    
+    uint16_t soc = Wire.read();
+    soc |= (Wire.read() << 8);
+    return (uint8_t)min(soc, (uint16_t)100);
+  #else
+    return 0;
+  #endif
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/variants/lilygo_tdeck_pro/TDeckBoard.h b/variants/lilygo_tdeck_pro/TDeckBoard.h
index ac820e3..980e478 100644
--- a/variants/lilygo_tdeck_pro/TDeckBoard.h
+++ b/variants/lilygo_tdeck_pro/TDeckBoard.h
@@ -39,50 +39,10 @@ public:
   }
 
   // Read battery voltage from BQ27220 fuel gauge via I2C
-  // Returns 0 silently if fuel gauge not present/responding
-  uint16_t getBattMilliVolts() {
-    #if HAS_BQ27220
-      Wire.beginTransmission(BQ27220_I2C_ADDR);
-      Wire.write(BQ27220_REG_VOLTAGE);
-      if (Wire.endTransmission(false) != 0) {
-        return 0;  // I2C error - fuel gauge not responding
-      }
-      
-      uint8_t count = Wire.requestFrom((uint8_t)BQ27220_I2C_ADDR, (uint8_t)2);
-      if (count != 2) {
-        return 0;  // Read error
-      }
-      
-      uint16_t voltage = Wire.read();
-      voltage |= (Wire.read() << 8);
-      return voltage;  // Already in mV
-    #else
-      return 0;
-    #endif
-  }
+  uint16_t getBattMilliVolts() override;
 
   // Read state of charge percentage from BQ27220
-  // Returns 0 silently if fuel gauge not present/responding
-  uint8_t getBatteryPercent() {
-    #if HAS_BQ27220
-      Wire.beginTransmission(BQ27220_I2C_ADDR);
-      Wire.write(BQ27220_REG_SOC);
-      if (Wire.endTransmission(false) != 0) {
-        return 0;
-      }
-      
-      uint8_t count = Wire.requestFrom((uint8_t)BQ27220_I2C_ADDR, (uint8_t)2);
-      if (count != 2) {
-        return 0;
-      }
-      
-      uint16_t soc = Wire.read();
-      soc |= (Wire.read() << 8);
-      return (uint8_t)min(soc, (uint16_t)100);
-    #else
-      return 0;
-    #endif
-  }
+  uint8_t getBatteryPercent();
 
   const char* getManufacturerName() const {
     return "LilyGo T-Deck Pro";
diff --git a/variants/lilygo_tdeck_pro/target.cpp b/variants/lilygo_tdeck_pro/target.cpp
index 04653ae..e24d424 100644
--- a/variants/lilygo_tdeck_pro/target.cpp
+++ b/variants/lilygo_tdeck_pro/target.cpp
@@ -32,15 +32,12 @@ bool radio_init() {
   Serial.println("radio_init() - starting");
   
   // NOTE: board.begin() is called by main.cpp setup() before radio_init()
-  // So we don't call it here to avoid duplicate initialization
+  // I2C is already initialized there with correct pins
   
   fallback_clock.begin();
   Serial.println("radio_init() - fallback_clock started");
   
-  // Initialize I2C with correct pins for T-Deck Pro
-  Wire.begin(I2C_SDA, I2C_SCL);
-  Serial.println("radio_init() - I2C initialized");
-  
+  // Wire already initialized in board.begin() - just use it for RTC
   rtc_clock.begin(Wire);
   Serial.println("radio_init() - rtc_clock started");
 
diff --git a/variants/lilygo_tdeck_pro/variant.h b/variants/lilygo_tdeck_pro/variant.h
index 36b0877..7853171 100644
--- a/variants/lilygo_tdeck_pro/variant.h
+++ b/variants/lilygo_tdeck_pro/variant.h
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@
 #define I2C_SDA 13
 #define I2C_SCL 14
 
+// Aliases for ESP32Board base class compatibility
+#define PIN_BOARD_SDA I2C_SDA
+#define PIN_BOARD_SCL I2C_SCL
+
 // I2C Device Addresses
 #define I2C_ADDR_TOUCH      0x1A  // CST328/CST3530
 #define I2C_ADDR_GYROSCOPE  0x28  // BHI260AP