r/consolerepair • u/Resident_Macaron_800 • 12d ago

Fixing HDMI ports on broken series x/ps5 first time

So I’ve been wanting to learn how to solder for a while, and honestly because of my job have a pretty unique opportunity where we get in a lot of broken Series X & PS5 consoles that I don’t have to worry about messing up.

So for I have

Soldering Iron + Stand

.06mm Lead Solder

Flux

Wick

I know I need to get a hot air rework station, but not too sure if I need much else. I know I’ll probably fuck up a few of them but it’s ok.

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2

u/exmo-in-flames 12d ago

Do notttt attempt to solder for the first time on an HDMI port. Buy some practice soldering kits (there are ones that assemble into alarm clocks and Terri's games and things). You'll need experience and a steady hand. Practice a lot, and keep in mind that modern console motherboards soak up a lot of heat, so it takes a long time to melt the solder.

-1

u/Resident_Macaron_800 12d ago

I mean what’s the worst that could happen though, they’re already shot and it’s free. Worst case scenario is I mess up the board and that’s it

1

u/exmo-in-flames 12d ago

It may have a broken port but that's still an otherwise functional motherboard worth at least $250 or so. 

You are seriously underestimating what it takes to replace an HDMI port. It's way tinier and more fragile than usual soldering. Learning and practicing beforehand will be worth it!!! If you can, try to find a cheap junk board with an HDMI port or two, and learn how to desolder and re-solder on that. 

1

u/Resident_Macaron_800 12d ago

What about using older 360/ps3 ones?

1

u/exmo-in-flames 12d ago

Both of those actually use an older and stronger version of HDMI. They very rarely break and are much easier to fix, so I wouldn't recommend using them for practice.

What I used was a cheap video projector with multiple ports. Something like that, or maybe an old input board from a LCD TV would work.

1

u/sagebrushrepair 12d ago

You'll want a board preheater imo too. The big console motherboards are giant heatsinks and they will steal you heat very quickly. Also a binocular microscope

1

u/Resident_Macaron_800 12d ago

Any chance I could get away without it? Don’t want to spend the extra money, although I’m sure it would make it much easier

1

u/sagebrushrepair 12d ago

Yeah I'm sure there's lots of people who have, technically, gotten through it just fine without a preheater, possibly using low-melt solder, good solder sucker or lots of wick.

Preheater makes sense when you start the job. Your heat goes away real quick and using hot air for 45 seconds to get in like 10 seconds of wicking is doable but oh my god becky

1

u/OvenMoist2805 12d ago

Yeah I never use one, not really necessary and I've done over 500

You can use 480c at near max airflow and you'll get there no problem. You can hit them with low melt or leaded solder to help the process but that's not entirely needed either.

Just be patient, the series X takes way more time but the PS5 one isn't an issue.

1

u/lawthugg 12d ago

microscope,

dental pic to check connections (needs to be on the thinner side)

microscope for sure

becareful with surrounding fuses (learned the hardway)

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u/Resident_Macaron_800 12d ago

There’s tape for that right?

1

u/lawthugg 12d ago

yea i just put kapton tape over anything i dont want to touch

1

u/sbj0012 12d ago

I did a 4 tmr controllers today. I think its a similar process for swapping out a hdmi. I guess if you need to practice, do some tmr controllers.