Making a DDR HardPad (but usefull information for other stuff too)

[crashwg]

My original plan was to find an "H" series DualShock controller and solder to the copper pads on the PCB, but after searching for a while for the afformentioned "H" controller and not finding one.

I searched the web and found a guy who would solder to a different, more difficult part of the controler, but he wanted $40.  I was like hell no and continued my search.  Just today I found an "H" series controler and proceded to try and solder to the copper pads with no luck, no idea why, but I eventually gave up on that idea and kind of used the idea that the guy who wanted $40 used, exept I did it a more novice way.

I cut the ribbon cable between the two main PCB's in the controler, stripped off about 1/8 inch of the sheath, bent the wires odds=down evens=up kind of like this:
__|___|__|___|__|__|__
|      |     |     |     |     |     |

This made the places I had to solder to, twice as far apart from eachother and consequently easier to solder to.  I soldered all the wires I needed, then folded the wires completely over and taped 'em down.  I tested everything out and it works great.  I'm so proud of myself.  This is the first time I've soldered something that actually works.

Anyways, the whole reason for me posting this is in case someone else wants to hack a playstation controller.  I'm pretty sure this is one of the easiest ways to do it, and I may be mistaken but I think this can be done with all DualShock1 controlers A H & M (I think those are the codes?)

[crashwg]

Another Pic...

[crashwg]

Also, by cutting off the other, larger PCB, the size of this is pretty sweet.  It will easily fit into a 5x2.5x2 enclosure.

[Sephroth57]

nice work, so all you did was cut the ribbon and solder wires onto the ribbon wires? that seems super easy! how did you know which wires were which buttons? could you post a pinout or a walkthrough for total controller hacking noobs? or is it really as straightforward as you made it seem

[crashwg]

that seems super easy! how did you know which wires were which buttons? could you post a pinout or a walkthrough for total controller hacking noobs?

Good point.  Actually, finding which wire was which was the hardest part... but that's not a bad thing, because it wasn't all that hard.  What I did was follow the paths on the board, which can get a little hard at times and kinda hurt my eyes after a while.

In the pic I've attached I followed path #1 which is the analog on/off button, and I circled path #7 which is Select.

To expose the end of the pins in the ribbon I melted off 1/8 inch or so.
Also, it's a whole lot easier if you bend all the pins in oposite dirrections (all the odds down and all the evens up) this way your wires won't touch eachother.

Let me know if you need any more information than this, I'll be happy to add it.

[Gideon]

I cut the ribbon cable between the two main PCB's in the controler, stripped off about 1/8 inch of the sheath, bent the wires odds=down evens=up kind of like this:
__|___|__|___|__|__|__
|      |     |     |     |     |     |

This made the places I had to solder to, twice as far apart from eachother and consequently easier to solder to.  I soldered all the wires I needed, then folded the wires completely over and taped 'em down.  I tested everything out and it works great.  I'm so proud of myself.  This is the first time I've soldered something that actually works.

Interesting!  Thanks for sharing the good idea.  Does anyone disapprove of this method?  Perhaps, the pins' integrity has been diminished?

[Sephroth57]

thanks for the wire layout. so how much did your controller end up costing you? and for the model thing, what do i do just look for a code near the barcode or something ?

[crashwg]

I spent $12 on the controler, used at EB, $6 at RadioShack for a project box and terminal block.

As for the model being A, H or M, when using this method it doesn't matter, only if you want to solder dirrectly to the copper pads on the controller.  If you want to solder to the copper, you will need an "H" controler, and the letter can be found on the back of the controler (it will be the only letter by it's self.  Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure they don't make the Hs anymore so you have to get them used.

It's realy up to you if you want to solder to the ribbon or the copper pads on the controler, I chose the ribbon because the solder wasn't sticking to the copper (probably because I don't have flux).

[Sephroth57]

will this work with only dualshock1 controller? it seems all i can find is the new dualshock2 or the old PS1 controllers with no analog.

[crashwg]

You should be able to find these things just about everywhere.  Wal*mart has them new for $20, but you can usualy find them used at pawn shops and used electronics & videogame places.  The "original" dualshock I don't think can be found anywhere, but the "PSone" controler is the same thing.

[Sephroth57]

ah ok thanks, ill look for the "PSone" type pads. your little walkthrough has given me the confidence to hack my own playstation pads. i was originally going to buy prehacked pads but any way i can save some cash helps.