My Dual Analog Mod ...so far

[kemolagger]

Right now I'm about halfway done with my LordNico/Sample123 mod for the dual analog on the psp.  The only part that I am using that is different from the tutorial is the wire.  I've been hunting my area for over a week and haven't found anyone that sells 30 AWG.  Instead, I've taken some 12g spliced wire, and taken out singles from the 12g non-solid wire, which I believe has about 12 or so 30-32 gauge *not insulated* wire.  I've got my fat nub in and just waiting on the razor X.  Take note that I've already killed one PSP because I completely melted the power/controller connector on the motherboard!!!  While waiting on the parts to come in the mail, I used the broken mobo to hone in on my soldering skills <---I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU PRACTICE ON SMALL SOLDERING POINTS BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO DO THIS MOD!!!! YOU WILL MESS UP YOUR MOBO, RENDERING THE WHOLE PSP USELESS IF YOU MELT THE SOLDERING POINTS TOGETHER ON THE ZIF CONNECTOR!!!!

Equipment used:

Flux gel
Solder - doesn't matter what size
15watt soldering iron ( I used my dremel to file down the point down very thin and sharp for the tight spaces)
30ge wire from a 12g cable or 30AWG (I recommend you use the 30AWG if you can get your hands on it or order it)
hot glue sticks
electrical tape
small LED flashlight
small phillips screwdriver
x-acto knife
assortment of small hand tools (dental picks and so forth)
KRONUS helping hands from radio shack

[Alien_X]

Please don't encourage people to solder like that!

[kemolagger]

Well considering that it's my first actual mod, I think it's pretty good so far with what I had.  Like I posted, yeah it looks ghetto, but that doesn't mean it won't work.  To me its just a different way to solder for that particular mod, being that I don't have any experience whatsoever with a solder gun.  Granted if I had some insulated 30AWG, it would look prettier.  But, as I said, it's my first mod and I don't think alot of people would risk doing this as their first mod.  I'm proud of my little ugly duckling!!!!

[treemty]

dude, just WAIT until you get insulated wire, or you will regret ever doing this

insulation is not just looks

[bustinthejustin]

WAIT! You used a soldering gun, you used uninsulated wire, and this is your first mod? Damn...

[kemolagger]

I'm taking the precautions to ensure the wires are not touching each other, and I'm also making sure that the wires are not going to touch the chasis or any other metal component.  I understand your concern, I should be fine on this one..this isn't spinal surgery

[MARIOPARTY53]

I'm taking the precautions to ensure the wires are not touching each other, and I'm also making sure that the wires are not going to touch the chasis or any other metal component.  I understand your concern, I should be fine on this one..this isn't spinal surgery

if you srop that psp the wires move, then you have to go back to open it

in a month of play it will mess up also

[Jumbo]

This is not the best job.. I wouldnt even show anyone this solder/wire job. Its just bad thing to show when its not safe at all. And if you ruin a mobo doing this, you didnt practice enough.

And for all you people out there, Id rather do Dual nub via Razor on Slim than Phat ANY DAY. Slim is much easier to do dual nub on. And the Zif soldering only takes me a minute (Literally.)

And why are you grounding on the zif? If you just ground anywhere else it will safe you time on soldering another wire on the zif and lower your chances of :censored:ing up.

Finally, Solder size DOES matter. Size and type. I use lead flux with no rosin in it to make sure the solder wont spread all over the place and ruin the connector. Also keep the solder VERY thin, mine is like hair...

[bustinthejustin]

You use lead flux? But damn 1min to solder that thing... That's epic. Where'd you get that stuff? Radioshack?


Anyway, to OP, good luck with that thing... If it randomly shorts out and dies in a month, then you will know why.

[kemolagger]

This is not the best job.. I wouldnt even show anyone this solder/wire job. Its just bad thing to show when its not safe at all. And if you ruin a mobo doing this, you didnt practice enough.

And for all you people out there, Id rather do Dual nub via Razor on Slim than Phat ANY DAY. Slim is much easier to do dual nub on. And the Zif soldering only takes me a minute (Literally.)

And why are you grounding on the zif? If you just ground anywhere else it will safe you time on soldering another wire on the zif and lower your chances of :censored:ing up.

Finally, Solder size DOES matter. Size and type. I use lead flux with no rosin in it to make sure the solder wont spread all over the place and ruin the connector. Also keep the solder VERY thin, mine is like hair...

Like I said in my previous post, "THIS IS GHETTO!!", and "This is the best I could do with what I had".  Being that most of the people in this forum are modding their psps, I would figure that there would some line of creative respect, not total flaming.  As I stated in my OP, "Use 30 AWG insulated if you can get your hands on some".  I think it's pointless for me to pay more for shipping and handling than what the product costs.  There's no 30 AWG in my area, I've scoured all the local electronic stores.  All I am pointing out is that *if you can't find this wire, here is an alternative*.  Don't flame me for doing it different.  Does it look like , well of course it does.  I didn't make the OP titled, "This is the prettiest mod ever done, please everyone look at my pictures so that I can gloat!".  No, I read LordNico and Sample123's mod tut, (sorry I don't know about the whole ground wire part jumbo!, but that's how it was done in the tut that I looked at!) saw that there were some questions on the forum that hadn't been answered.  Being that I really wanted to do this mod, I thought I would try to do it slightly different, to show a slightly different approach. 

And no, if you prime your wire properly with solder, it doesn't matter what size you get.  Plug in the gun, apply some solder to the iron, dip your wire in some flux and pass the wire through the melted solder, and a thin coat of solder sticks to the wire, it looks like the copper was stripped off because the coat is so thin.  So don't sit there and try to bash how I do it.  If I'm not mistaken, there is no ABSOLUTE correct way to do this mod; are there some basic principles that need to be followed, yes of course there are.  Alot of people are showing pictures of their dual analogs already installed, and there are guys on the forums asking questions on how to do it, and no one is really stepping out to help guys that are new to modding or trying this mod for the first time. 

So what if I ruined a mobo.  At least I admitted it, and forwarned any other people that consider doing this mod, because I know that I never saw anyone saying "be careful around the zif!".  Like I said, I'm new at this.  This is my first mod, so excuse me for not being the jesus christ of PSP modding.  So if the only thing you can say is that you can do it better, and that you can solder better, then go make a :censored:ing post about how well you can do things and I'm sure people will admire you there.  But I'm just merely trying to show a different way of doing this, and if I know there's a better way to do it, I post it, just like I did about the 30 AWG.  If you've got some credible information that you want to share with me, from an experienced modder to someone who is beggining at it, then please, I would like to have some pointers, but don't bash my forum about my techniques, or how I do things, because you aren't helping me out.  Like, "Hey I see that you don't have insulated wire, if you can't get some, this is something you might have around your house that could help prevent something from happening."  That's the information that I'm trying to put out, not "well then use :censored:ing insulated wire dumbass" , try helping out the other guys that can't throw down alot of money to order mod pieces from timbuktu.

Sorry if I sound pissed off, because I am, when an experienced modder (well I'm guessing) such as yourself, Jumbo, posts in this thread about how I shouldn't post pictures of my mod.  When I put the case back on, I'm not worried about what the :censored:ing insides look like, as long as it will allow me to play my psp the way that I want to, I could give a what it looks like.  So if you want to continue this bickering back and forth about how you do it better than me, which I'm really not interested in doing, then piss off!!

Edit:

You use lead flux? But damn 1min to solder that thing... That's epic. Where'd you get that stuff? Radioshack?


Anyway, to OP, good luck with that thing... If it randomly shorts out and dies in a month, then you will know why.

Ok, I get the whole no insulation part, what would make it overheat, wire on metal, heat in general? what?

Thx for the info Justin

if you srop that psp the wires move, then you have to go back to open it

in a month of play it will mess up also

Trust me, I'm making sure the wires won't move, and yeah I know it happens, but I don't plan on dropping my psp.

You use lead flux? But damn 1min to solder that thing... That's epic. Where'd you get that stuff? Radioshack?


Anyway, to OP, good luck with that thing... If it randomly shorts out and dies in a month, then you will know why.

Ok, I get the whole no insulation part, what would make it overheat, wire on metal, heat in general? what?

Thx for the info Justin

GhoSt:Please don't double or triple post. Just edit them using the button. Also Play nice we just wan't to help.

[bustinthejustin]

i never said overheat, i said short, but it could overheat from stuff like shorts...

But erm, you can buy like 500ft of kynar on ebay for like 50CAD so like 30-35ish USD? Not bad, and it'll last you a long time. Good investment, if you ask me.

Oh and don't triple post... Edit your post.

[kemolagger]

Well, right now I don't have that much cash to thrown down, and I also don't think my wife would like me ordering 500ft of wire.  Anyways, thx for the reply about the shorting.  But, as far as I understand basic electronics, as long as the wire does not come in contact with another wire or other type of conductor, then the shorting out the CB wouldn't be a problem.  Granted, yes if the psp was dropped and the wires came loose then, ok I see.  BUT, if I'm right about keeping the wires apart safely, and there's no possibility of them hitting each other, then the wires should be fine.  I'm sorry if I seem very short and rushed on this mod.  I'm leaving for Afghanistan very soon and I want to have this done before I leave, I'm obviously not going to lug my mod tools with me overseas, definitey don't have the time for that.

I only wish that I would have done this mod a few months ago, but I just recently googled it and found the AM website with the TUT.  So put yourself in my shoes, you don't have alot of time to wait for the kynar, so you've gotta do the best with what you've got and make it safe. 

If you were in my shoes and didn't have alot of time to wait for the kynar, what common materials at home or in local stores would be the best way to insulate the exposed wires and ensure they do not move at all?

[Alien_X]

Okay a couple of points, long, exposed signal wires generally cause unwanted capacitance, and if near power lines noise as well - not good.

Jumbo, you are lying.. there is no way you can do this mod in one minute, unless you are just counting soldering time which is generally no greater than 5 seconds for a a joint (leaded) or 10 seconds (lead free ). So I can do the same in 25 seconds - worship me. Finally I have never seen a mod from you which doesn't involve more than 15 leds, I have only seen outright claims about your 1337 Sk1llz. Do you add solder directly to the joint, or just pre-tin your wires? Because in the second instance it wouldn't make a damn difference whether solder was flux core or not.

[alentris]

Jumbo, you are lying.. there is no way you can do this mod in one minute, unless you are just counting soldering time which is generally no greater than 5 seconds for a a joint (leaded) or 10 seconds (lead free ).

I think the joints is what he means, lol:

And the Zif soldering only takes me a minute (Literally.)

[jakxxx]

It may be a little larger in some cases but you could check the wire thickness in a phone cord.  If you have a dollar store near you, you could buy lots of cheap crappy parts.  Those stores always have some sort of telephone cords or maybe even a cat 5 cable.  I know they are larger but they are sheilded.  Good luck.

[kemolagger]

Thanks Jakx, but phone cord doesn't use soid wire.  Same with CAT 5 cable.  Don't get me wrong, but I tried using it before, and it's definitely easy with solid wire.  I appreciate the input though!

[jakxxx]

I am a network administrator and I personally have never seen a cat 5 cable that wasn't a single solid strand.  You are welcome anyway.

[EliteGamer83]

Yea I know even though I can't solder to the ZIF I would say that doesn't look so hot now you can't use the little hinge if you need to replace the bus wire. But good job you soldered to the ZIF! congratz. I wish I could.

[Blazinkaos]

oh my and that works with that solder job im suprised. 

Jumbo, you are lying.. there is no way you can do this mod in one minute, unless you are just counting soldering time which is generally no greater than 5 seconds for a a joint (leaded) or 10 seconds (lead free ).

you would be surprised how good jumbo is alien

[Tri-edge]

Thanks Jakx, but phone cord doesn't use soid wire.  Same with CAT 5 cable.  Don't get me wrong, but I tried using it before, and it's definitely easy with solid wire.  I appreciate the input though!

Hey kemolagger do you live in the U.S.?  Pm me your address and I'll send you enough 30 gauge wire to finish this.  I want to see this finished that bad 

[Blazinkaos]

wow thats nice of tri..i do to be surprised if it turns out well if he does better job on the face plate 

[kemolagger]

I can't finish right now because I'm visiting family for the weekend in Louisiana.  I'm gonna check here for some 30AWG, if I can find some I'll definitely be installing it, just because that's the main point that I'm getting from everyone.  We'll see on Monday or Tuesday how it all turns out!

Quick question for those that have done this mod.  Does the razor x need to be tinned?  I was looking on the coolmods.uk website and it looks as though the razor x is a pressed peice and doesn't require tinning.  Any idea?

[Blazinkaos]

well some ppl dnt some ppl do i prefer tinning it has a better contact with the circle spring

[kemolagger]

I'm back at my house, I have to wait until tomorrow to pick up my Razor X, and tri-edge said he'd hook me up with some INSULATED 30awg.  If I can get it in time, I should be done with this mod by the end of the week!  I'll definitely be posting a thorough walkthrough with pics!

[Jumbo]

Yes you need to tin the Razor X or it wont make contact

And PS sorry if i made it sound like i was flaming you, I wasn't. I was just saying that when you post pictures lots of people base theres mods off of them. So if someone was to visit see this he could consider it safe if he saw a picture posted by a modder.

Also when removing that glue to add the Insulated wire (If you do) BE CAREFUL! I cant stress this enough, the Zif's are the strongest of materials so it might go bad if you rush it D:

But good luck And those wires will be very unstable when the razor X is added because the points on the razor are close so the wires might touch if dropped.

-Jumbo

[Blazinkaos]

yea as jumbo says just be careful and ill be waiting to see how u do with those pics coming in.

[kemolagger]

NP thanks for the advice fellas.

[Blazinkaos]

yup

[kemolagger]

Took down the old pictures, will have the new ones up soon. 

I'm soo pissed right now, I totally just  up my spring for my analog stick!!!!!  Now I have to wait another to come in the mail!!! ARGGGGHHH!!!!   I was testing out the tinning on my razor x, and the spring got bent from moving the analog stick around too hard. 

A definite word to the wise, when you order a fat nub, don't take it apart until you are absolutely ready to put it on the razor x, that sucker(spring) is hard to get back on centered.

Also, trying to solder the wiring to the Razor X board is friggin hard, well not the solderin so much, just securing the wires so that the solder doesn't come off.  Any suggestions?

[bustinthejustin]

Hot glue ftw?

[Blazinkaos]

i kno how u feel man i messed up 3 spring doing mine i finally got it working a bit i have video of testing it out.

[alentris]

Hot glue ftw?

DUDE agreed... My mod I'm just finishing would fail without hot glue...

[Blazinkaos]

u got glue your bourd to the top part of nub cuz i first use super glue then i hot glue it down

[Tri-edge]

ok I sent you some wire today.  It should be there in a couple of days.  Hope you can finish this 

[Blazinkaos]

well if he got that far he should i faith in him

[kemolagger]

Well right now my biggest problem(besides my  spring being broken) is every time I try to test out the razor X with all the wires soldered, one or two will pop off, then when I resodler those wires, the hot glue on the other wires comes off.  It's a lose/lose battle for me right now.  Granted, I'm just practicing until I get the 30AWG from Tri.

[Blazinkaos]

oh man i havuing that issue to use electric tape to hold it down on the razor thats what im doing its working out for me

[kemolagger]

This mod is really starting to piss me off!  I've alread gone through 3 nubs trying to get the razor X done right.  Trying to troubleshoot exactly how much solder each point needs, which is a pain in the ass and takes a lot of time.  I have to apply a little bit of solder, then glue it, test all 4 directions, take it apart, apply solder, glue it, test it, take it apart, etc etc!!!!  It's a long process!  I'm also having trouble fitting the nub into the case, I've already shaved off what I could from the power jack, cut a hole in the frame, but it sitll isn't fitting.  I can only cut so much away from the X button.  I've even tried putting it in w/o the power jack and taking off alot of the plastic pieces to get it to fit, and it's definitely a pain!!!! ARGH!!!  I thought the hardest part would be soldering the wires to the mobo...turns out that's the easiest part.  Shoot me some advice fellas!

[Alien_X]

Nope, epoxy "ftw"

[Blazinkaos]

u could do that one mod where u solder a mini usb to replace the jack.

[kemolagger]

UPDATE:

I've moved my power jack to the left side underneath the left analog, it fits nicely and looks pretty good.  I'm still troubleshooting the right analog stick.  I'll get it working and then install it, and either a wire will pop off the solder point or the spring will mess up inside the razor X and not work properly.  Thanks to Tri-Edge for the 30AWG, the mod definitely looks better.  I've ordered 2 more analog nubs and another razor x because I keep messing them up trying to troubleshoot it.  It's definitely a long process, longer than I had anticipated.

[DarkShot]

Good spot for the charge port

[Tri-edge]

glad to see you go the wire

[kemolagger]

Ahhhhh!  I just ripped my power ribbon for the power board(:censored:ing hot glue!)  This mod is definitely testing my patience.  I ordered a new one for 1-2 day shipping so hopefully I'll get it sometime this week.  I'm not even going to touch my psp until this weekend because I'm so irritated with this mod.  While I wait, I'm trying to figure out some CFW worked up.  I've been searching the web for the last few days.  I've got my pandora battery ready, but I can't find out where to start from scratch.  Most CFW mods I've looked at require another version of CFW.  I need to know "where to begin". 

What I have:

Pandora battery
4 GB stick
PSP 2000 with OFW 5.50
PSP Pandora Deluxe 3.1

I know that some motherboards don't support CFW, I'll be looking at that later this week.  If anyone can give me the basic begginner steps of what to do, I gladly appreciate it (I know that this should be posted in the CFW boards, but like I said, I can't find one that starts from scratch.)

[bustinthejustin]

It's simple I can't remember step-by-step, because I haven't done this in a while, but I can give you the basic tuts that you will need.

1. Make pandora
2. Install latest vestion of DC onto a memory stick (newest is DCV8, I think? Idk.) I think PSP Pandora Deluxe will allow you to do it. Just find a guide on how to use PSP Pandora Deluxe.
3.stick your memory stick in, put your pandora battery in, and follow on-screen instructions. Actually, there should be a guide on how to use DCV8.

Loads of info can be found on psp-hacks.com

[JoblessPunk]

UPDATE:

I've moved my power jack to the left side underneath the left analog, it fits nicely and looks pretty good.  I'm still troubleshooting the right analog stick.  I'll get it working and then install it, and either a wire will pop off the solder point or the spring will mess up inside the razor X and not work properly.  Thanks to Tri-Edge for the 30AWG, the mod definitely looks better.  I've ordered 2 more analog nubs and another razor x because I keep messing them up trying to troubleshoot it.  It's definitely a long process, longer than I had anticipated.

I really like where you put that.
Just one question, is it hard to plug in the charger?
I could see the actual plug hitting the frame and not be able to be plugged in all the way...

[kemolagger]

@ Jobless

No, it fits really good, just have to make sure the angle is good.

[EliteGamer83]

hmm I like it but I woulda put it at the top next to the wifi button on the left side from the front. Then no worrys of the hassle of trying to get it plugged in just right for it to fit all the way.

non the less *claps* great job on it.

[Blazinkaos]

Very nice man i love the spot where you placed it. After seeing this should do well when im finishing up my razor.  Nice job.

I've moved my power jack to the left side underneath the left analog, it fits nicely and looks pretty good.

Do have any pic of you wiring it up lets see how your wiring turned out.

[kemolagger]

Don't mind the body that was cut away just below the power jack ( right above the retaining loop on the bottom left) I think I did that when I was trying to figure which was the best way to run the wires.  I eventually figured that tucking the wires from the jack underneath the D-pad board and then over the motherboard was the best way.  Always test your power when you move your wires around and tuck them away and move on to the next part.

[bustinthejustin]

Wow that is A LOT of wiring stuffed there O_o Some cutting, quick soldering, and electrical tape could fix that

[kemolagger]

Yeah I know, I spent so much time on this mod that I told myself I would take a break until the weekend.  I'll trim up that excess wire when I work on the rest of it this weekend.   

[Blazinkaos]

Yea just trim some of that wire and it should be fine. But other then that nice job its still good look.

[seriouslysilly]

Keep it up, I'm sure you'll get it sooner or later.
GJ on moving the charging slot.

I have been keeping my eye on this thread as I,too, am planning on doing it.  Just ordered the kit and clear case a few days back.  Figured this thread will help me with anticipating the common fitting problems and soldering.

Thanks for keeping us all updated.

[kemolagger]

NP.  For some reason I'm having trouble (charge not working) with the wire that I used for the power jack.  I'm using the stranded wire from a CAT 5 (LAN network cable) to extend from the power jack to the power plug in for the motherboard, not really sure why it was acting up.  Too small of a wire?!  Anyways, if you can get your hands on some 28 stranded wire, you shouldn't have any problems(I'm assuming that the wire used for the power jack is 28g, I'm just eyeballin it so anyone that knows please correct me)

[Blazinkaos]

Hmm i dnt think it matters what wire you use but i may be wrong. Ill try this with the wire i have 30g. kemolagger have tried placing the wire under the mobo instead of on top there actually space under it that should get in the way