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Repairing the only known prototype of Nintendo PlayStation [video]

121 points| Jerry2 | 9 years ago |youtube.com | reply

25 comments

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[+] codewritinfool|9 years ago|reply
Based solely on this video, I feel sorry for this guy. First he doesn't bother to use a lab supply to current limit the input - nope, just plug it into a wall supply and let 'er rip.

Next, he doesn't have a microscope? Using a hand magnifier instead. Ok. Then he's clamping to the PCB for scope ground instead of soldering a fly lead for that purpose.

He doesn't want to use desoldering braid on this "one of a kind" board, so he's heating and levering the caps off. That's a recipe for a lifted trace for certain. Then there's the iron. That thing is way way too large for what he's trying to do.

I know, I know, he fixed it.

Before you yell at me, I've been doing this stuff for 30 years and I'm here to tell you I'm shocked that he doesn't have better equipment. The thing is, the guy is talented. If you coupled that with decent equipment, he'd be amazing.

[+] DanBC|9 years ago|reply
HN has an interesting difference between electronics quality and code quality.

When anything electronic is submitted people are interested and encouraging even if the quality of construction is terrible, like it was built by a drunk monkey.

But when some code / script / stylesheet is submitted you get a mix of the same interest and encouragement, and also some really fierce critique. "My god who wrote that css float, a drunk monkey?"

I prefer the first approach, btw. There are ways of delivering constructive criticism and HN isn't always great at it.

EDIT: FEC / Element 14 are sponsoring a bunch of DIY electronic stuff at the moment. So while he could use a $400 electronics microscope it's in their interest to show him using cheaper stuff that's more available to student tinkerers. Those hand loupes and magnifiers are very cheap and handy for students.

(EDIT: And I'm not saying Ben Heck's builds are bad.)

[+] blhack|9 years ago|reply
HOW does he not have a bench supply? Looking around the rest of his shop at least gives the appearance of a functioning lab.

To any budding hardware hackers, a benchtop (or rackmount, because they can be had for very cheap if they're old) power supply is one of the FIRST thing you should buy, probably before you get an oscilloscope, and probably right after you get a soldering iron.

edit: Actually, at 3:00, isn't that a bench supply that is sitting in front of him?

edit2: And at about 7:34 you can actually see the terminals for it.

[+] girvo|9 years ago|reply
Ben Heck(endorn) has been one of the bigger figures in the DIY portable console scene for years now, so it's kind of interesting to see a critique like this (even though you're 100% correct)! I wonder if he works this way because "this is just how I've always done it", in the same way programmers often will solve a problem in a much less efficient way, because they don't know what they don't know?
[+] serge2k|9 years ago|reply
And yet they went to him to do it, and he got it done.

Ya know, I'm gonna go with the guy who is successfully doing this stuff vs the guy who says he's doing it wrong.

[+] flashingleds|9 years ago|reply
You can see in the video that he does have desoldering braid, but has chosen not to use it. Sounds like our experience differs, but personally I find desoldering braid is seldom helpful for removing parts - it tends to leave behind just enough solder to keep it stuck down, but not enough that you have good thermal conductivity to reflow it with an iron. Without using a heat gun or skillet (which he mentions) I don't know of a better way. You have a lot of experience, so if you disagree I would very much like to learn something!
[+] kayamon|9 years ago|reply
He said in the video he wants to use as close to "original" parts as possible, namely an original power supply.
[+] mschwaig|9 years ago|reply
The first part of the video[1] is also worth watching. It has the current owner explaining how he got it and some careful investigation of the device before the actual repair.

Ben Heck has some impressive videos in general, watching him work always makes me wish I was better at electronics.

[1] https://youtu.be/ug-CyGXMabg

[+] quxbar|9 years ago|reply
My roommate and I really had a great time watching this over a couple of beers. We're not even especially gifted in the realm of solder and circuits, but it was fun speculating and marveling at the thorough breakdown.
[+] agumonkey|9 years ago|reply
Let's hope some Sony engineer drops an anonymous archive online to try the CD features.
[+] eropple|9 years ago|reply
If anybody's even still got it. There is a lot of missing stuff from that era of game development and earlier.
[+] ChrisRR|9 years ago|reply
I'm surprised replacing the electrolytics wasn't the first thing he did. If you have a 30 year old piece of technology that isn't working, it's almost definitely the caps.

This is why so many console recapping services exist online.

[+] MatthewWilkes|9 years ago|reply
I'm not sure if I should replace the electrolytics on my SEGA Master System. Everything works on it in standard mode, but a few games are glitchy in 60Hz and controls are sometimes very laggy in either. I would expect something more extreme, though.