Everything i would possibly need to install my own Duo Chip?

[[]Andy-C[]]

Hi all.

I have been a reader on these forums for a long time now. Yet never got around to making an account.
I have decided to bite the bullet and order and install my own chip. Due to the great reviews and the ammount of wires to be soldered i have gone for the Duo Chip.

I understand i need certain wires that i need to buy myself and various other things.
A good make of soldering iron and the right solder and anything that would make my life easier.
I hear some people use fibre Glass pens and alsorts.
Im asking from you a list of anything i could possibly need and any tips and tricks you could offer me.
Good places to get the chips and the right DVD-R media and a good DVD writer to burn with.

I am in the UK and i dont have an option to pop to the local radio shack and pick up all the stuff i will need, so any places in the UK that you have found to stock the right wires or any internet sites that have the correct ones.

Im not sure what version ps2 i have. Im sure its above a version 3 and less than a version 8 so i shouldnt have any problems.


The model no. is SCPH-39003 and i have 6 screws on the bottom but another 2 on the bit that sticks out on the side.
So 8 altogether on the underneith of the unit.

So lads i call upon the pro's and the mod's to give me a hand. Otherwise i am going to get a slide card and some swap discs! and kill my ps2


Cheers
Andy-C

[Gurm]

Ok, here goes.

You need:

- Thin wire. People here will advocate 30AWG, and certainly there are points where this would make it easier, but honestly anything 26 and smaller works for me.

- A soldering iron with a VERY fine tip. The one I use is a Radio Shack "soldering station" special, with a replacement nib that's ultra-fine. It's switchable from 10W all the way to 40W. You don't want one that's TOO hot or TOO cool, I usually leave mine set at 20W and that does the trick.

- Desoldering braid. TRUST me you need this.

- Flux. This isn't strictly speaking a necessity, but it might help for the tough-to-make-it-stick points.

- Exacto knife. Sony coats their newer boards (v4 and up) with a plastic coating. I beat my head against one install for about 2 hours when the GT3 kit first came out... then lo and behold someone who solders for a living (a friend of mine) has a look at it and says "oh yeah polymer coat!" D'oh!

- Wire strippers. Although, I suppose the Exacto knife would do for this in a pinch.

- Glue gun. TRUST me here. You want a glue gun. Once a tricky point is attached, you hit it with a blob of glue, and BAM! No worrying about whether it'll come off when you nudge the unit.

- Electrical tape. 'Nuff said.

- Quality screwdrivers.

- Razor Blades (to make soldering to legs of chips easier).

- Double-sided foam sticky tape...

- Continuity Tester/Multimeter.

Well, that's what I use. I think that's everything... *shrug* if I think of something else I'll post again.

Oh, yes - PATIENCE and a steady hand. Some days I just can't do modding, if my hand isn't steady I just wait until later. No point trying when you're shaky.

... Gurm

[TylerDurden]

Excellent post Gurm. I went ahead and posted a new addition to the Ultimate Info Sticky because of this post. Feel free to check that out too.




Tyler!

[Hull_chipper]

As ur in the UK, heres a list of suppliers & product numbers.

Available from http://rswww.com

Flux pen : 425-9379
30 awg wire : 209-4827
22 awg wire : 177-1113

www.maplin.co.uk

Fibreglass Pencil : KR61
Tip Tinner Cleaner : JG06
36swg Enamelled Copper Wire : YN90X
Soldamop 2.5mmx10m : N59AL

www.antex.co.uk

Soldering Kit, 18W / 230V, British plug, PVC cable : SK7
Soldering Bit, 0.12 mm, for C & M irons : 107

[[]Andy-C[]]

Cheers guys.
I have heard the Duo is a nice easy chip to install so i thought i would give it a try.
I'm not a total begginer, im used to electronics etc so i believe i could pull it off


Ta guys. I will keep ya updated on how it goes.
If all goes well i got some mates who want theirs doing and i may start doing it professionally if it all goes well.
I believe in the future i may try an m2 or something a little harder

Ta.
Andy-C

[Gurm]

The only thing HARDER about the bigger/better chips is the number of wires.

Ok, some of the points might be a wee bit trickier, but then again some of the points for a Magic or Apple/Duo are pretty hard to get into.

- Gurm