I was able to remove the MCP73831 charger with my hot air rework station and it seems that the LDO is working fine. I got the power on beeps and everything turned right on, however I seem to have a problem with the boost circuit heating up. I assume it is due to my lack of knowledge with boost circuits in general, but hopeful you can shed some light on it.
Using a less that reliable laser thermometer I am reading the boost IC, inductor and possibly the flash breaking 43.3C/110F and climbing to the point where you start to smell something. The targeting of the thermometer extends past the laser dot, but something in the boost area is definitely warming. I'll admit I have never recorded how hot the boost circuit runs under normal conduction, but I not want to run it longer than 45-60 seconds to see if the heat leveled off or it smoked.
Voltages are:
USB port source: ~4.9v
Pi-PWR(after switch is turned on): v4.32
LDO: 3.34v
I have not reconnected it to the Pi, because that ~4.3v off the booster seems a little troubling. I have some knowledge, but I'm definitely not a trained electrical engineer. Any suggestions?