PS3 Slim 2501A - Overheating PSU, repaired and FanModded

[DuctTapedGoat]

Heylas AcidModders!


I've been away for a minute, work, school, and relationship issues (ended up dropping her, now there's more time for mods ^_^). I did my first mod on a PS3 Slim, and I'm pretty stoked to have this 40 dollar PS3 not only fixed, but running pretty damn well. :P


Part One
http://youtu.be/cFO1sT4pLVQ
I picked up a PS3 Slim model CECH-2501A that was experiencing "video issues" that a pawn shop wanted 50 bucks for. I paid 40 - but got a bit more work than the reflow that I thought it would take.

I finally determined that the final diagnostic was an OVERHEATING PSU (power supply).

How I fixed!


Unplug PS3.
Remove PS3 shell.
Remove top of case to PSU.
Place PSU back in PS3.
Take note of original positionings of dials.
PFC +B RV301 Counterclockwise 100%
OPC RV302 Clockwise 100%
Leave lids off and turn your system on.
DONE.



Part Two
http://youtu.be/GREiB9E5eBg
Very simple mod here, but it looks good and is very efficient for our fix on this unit.

Tools I used in this:

12v Fans (80mm & 3.5in)
12v Fan Grills
Soldering Iron and 60/40 Rosin Core Solder
Black Electrical Tape
Drill with Cutoff Wheel and Drill Bit

How we did this was first tracing the fans on the top of the system over the points we wanted to heat. The first was our fix point, where we put the higher RPM fan, the 80mm. This location was on the right side of the unit, to have our fans blowing into the power board where the two transistors are on the single aluminum fin. The second location is right above the two capacitors on the left, right behind the exhaust for the stock system fan.

Next, I drilled holes across each circle, right below where our fan blades will be spinning.

Now, we tie in our wires to the stock system fan's wiring. The stock fan has 3 wires.
BROWN - This is our HOT. [12v]
BLACK - This is our NEUTRAL. [AKA "Ground"]
GREY - PWM Sensor [Fan Speed]

We are not doing anything with the grey wire on this mod!

First things first, mount your fans. I mounted mine both as blowing in - as any excess air flow will come back out due to it being a small poorly ventilated area. This way as well allowed me to pull my wires in through the drilled holes I made, which leaves a nice clean result.

Now, solder the two fans wirings together - red to red, black to black. If you have an additional 3rd wire, you can just snip it or cap it and tuck it back if you have space. I just snipped mine, as these fans are living with the PS3 now. Don't forget to use your black tape to clean this up, you don't want to short anything out.

Lastly with our wiring, I soldered the red wire from the fans to the brown wire on the PS3's system fan, and the black wire from the fans to the black wire on the PS3's system fan. Black tape it - clean up the bits if any and get ready for the big cut.

Now, I cut the top of the PS3's power board case lid off, about an inch from the back. This lets us keep the rear grill, lets the lid snap down, but doesn't block the flow of the new fans!

I spraypainted the fan grills flat black, but you can use any type of fan grill for your mod. I used what I had laying around, and was more than pleased with the results.

Happy Modding! ^_^

 _DuctTapedGoat

[1TONpete]

Great job man. welcome back. Can you make a note of the fuse location for people who go in there and might trip something. I know I tripped a power supply while testing fan mod on fat. On the fat it was a tube fuse that was soldered to the board.
Great job again and thanks for the info.

[Rodent]

Wow got my attention, nice work..

[DuctTapedGoat]

Thanks - it's good to be back!

Fuse on this power board is on the front of the board on the left side (power plug side), but with these Slims, they're not grounded and we're on the basic 12v side of things, so odds are your fan'll fry before that fuse does.

[1TONpete]

I knocked something in my power suplly while testing.  Tripped the fuse. Had to replace. But thanks for sharing  the info.

[DuctTapedGoat]

Ahh, gotcha. It really is pretty easy to do. I arc'd a board once with my steel necklace while soldering, laptop's motherboard was fine fortunately. Now, I take the necklace off when I take off my rings and go elbow deep in live electronics. >_<