I drove a case screw through my PS2's power/eject ribbon...

[flamepanther]

...and it still works!

I didn't position the cable properly when I was installing a flip-top replacement for the upper case of my fat PS2. I screwed right on through the ribbon cable that connects the eject and reset buttons to the main board without noticing. I reopened the case later to to correct some bad molding with a hobby knife and discovered my mistake. Big hole, right through three of the leads! Evidently it doesn't need all seven of them. I ordered some replacement cables just in case though!

Anyone else have similar close call "I Shouldn't Be Alive" stories about modding their consoles?

[noiseredux]

when I made a Pandora's battery I used a razor to open the battery and at one point that shit started shooting sparks. For a split second I thought to myself "my God, I'm about to be seriously burned because I want to play Secret of Monkey Island on a PSP!"

[Ack]

when I made a Pandora's battery I used a razor to open the battery and at one point that shit started shooting sparks. For a split second I thought to myself "my God, I'm about to be seriously burned because I want to play Secret of Monkey Island on a PSP!"

And it would have been totally worth it, too.

Flamepanther, I have no idea why that works, but congratulations on it not screwing up your machine. Good luck with the replacement cable.

[noiseredux]

And it would have been totally worth it, too.

no kididng. Have you ever seen how good those LucasArts games look on the PSP's screen?

[flamepanther]

@ Noise & Ack

Flamepanther, I have no idea why that works, but congratulations on it not screwing up your machine. Good luck with the replacement cable.

Looking at the PCB for the buttons, it looks like only two leads from the connector are used, but I can't be sure. Definitely not going to take their little assembly apart to find out. I'm still having trouble with one memcard slot not springing shut, so I'll open the case one last time once the spare cables arrive. I'll take a picture of the punctured cable when I do.

[SnowKitty]

@ Noise & Ack

Flamepanther, I have no idea why that works, but congratulations on it not screwing up your machine. Good luck with the replacement cable.

Looking at the PCB for the buttons, it looks like only two leads from the connector are used, but I can't be sure. Definitely not going to take their little assembly apart to find out. I'm still having trouble with one memcard slot not springing shut, so I'll open the case one last time once the spare cables arrive. I'll take a picture of the punctured cable when I do.

iirc, that ribbon has pins for the dvd remote sensor too, though i could be wrong. i know the v9/10/11 fat ps2 ribbon has pins for the remote sensor on it.

[flamepanther]

iirc, that ribbon has pins for the dvd remote sensor too, though i could be wrong. i know the v9/10/11 fat ps2 ribbon has pins for the remote sensor on it.

Ah. Since I don't use it as a DVD player (it's a terrible player anyway, and that's a great way to wear out the drive), I'd never know whether that's impaired or not.

Actually, does the fat PS2 even have a built-in IR sensor? I thought it was an add-on. I know it's built into the slim consoles, since it's plainly visible there.

[flamepanther]

My spare cables came in, so it's picture time!


I took my PS2 apart again so I could fix a sticking memory card cover. Here's the damage. Nice clean puncture!


Close up, removed from the PS2.


For fun, here's the original cable next to one of the replacements I ordered. Maybe it's just the lack of crumpling foil, but it feels much more durable than Sony's original ribbon. Tested, working perfectly, and I managed not to poke any holes in it!

[CRTGAMER]

Nice clean puncture!

Amazed it still worked, perhaps the metal screw completed the circuit of the active cable. Lucky the leads didn't short against each other. that replacement cable does look a lot more durable.

[flamepanther]

Amazed it still worked, perhaps the metal screw completed the circuit of the active cable.

I thought that might have been the case when I discovered the puncture. However, when I put the case back together, I made sure the ribbon cable didn't go anywhere near the screw, and it still worked. The damaged leads simply aren't used for the open, close, or reset functions! Whether they're used for anything else, I have no idea.

that replacement cable does look a lot more durable.

I was very pleasantly surprised! I ordered three of them for one cent each (plus $5 shipping ) so that I'd have a backup plan in case of another puncture. Worth it, I think!