Trying to FIX a Faulty PlayStation Vita - Sony PS Vita Slim 

Great video vince! thanks for fixing my vita :D. You were right as soon as you mentioned about corrosion i thought its screwed for sure :'). Always great content keep it up!

My mum recently passed away, I've been watching your videos to help keep my mind occupied so thank you

The thing I love the most about these videos is not the fact that we get to learn (and that they are so relaxing), rather that you don't split them into 3 to 4 parts and time them over a weekly release period. We get to watch a whole repair process from start to finish in a single video. You're one of the best repair channels out there, IMHO! Keep it up!

Great job there!!!! The reason those 2 holes were not unblocking is the fact it has a super large ground plane and the number of layers probably. Your iron doesn't have the thermal power - it's not just a question of temperature, it's a question of how much heat the layers suck away. Pre-heating with hot air at around 400 to 450 for 3 or 4 minutes before using the iron can often help! You can also carefully drill solder like that, but you need to use exactly the right sized bit and when the hole is not circular like that it can be a pain. But that's a last ditched thing really - I wouldn't recommend drilling holes out as you can damage the through hole plating. Another tip - when trying to get solder onto the pads like that, solder in the direction the pads sit according to their largest dimension, you have least risk of them coming off the PCB that way. I know you didn't lose any, but if you tried a similar thing on some PCBs I would guarantee after a number of heating cycles they would start floating and sliding around.

Very nice repair, Vince! I enjoy watching your repairs and attempted repairs. I'm still an amateur myself, but what I noticed: You seem to become more and more confident with each video. That's great! And encouraging to newbies to electronics repair. Keep up the great work!

Great video, and good job fixing the thing! Love watching you get stuff working again, gives me hope for the old devices in the future, as you can always fix them!

You are getting significantly better at fault finding. Keep up the good work! Cheers!

Every single one of your vids I'm sat there willing you to fix whatever it is! Brilliant job and keep up the great content and fixes well done 😁😁😁

For batteries with 3 wires/contacts, the third one (usually the middle one on batteries with flat recessed contacts) is almost always a thermistor (temperature sensor) with its other pin on battery negative. The charging circuit, or sometimes the overall power management circuit, will use this to monitor the temperature of the battery and cut off the power if it gets too hot (maybe even when too cold). Smart monitoring/identification signals do exist but usually only in 4-contact batteries along with the thermistor.

I really enjoy your videos and I also like fixing things but I have never looked into board repairs. I might tinker with some old stuff and learn. I also really love how excited you get when your fixed goods turn on. Its that moment you realise your hard work and dedicated time has paid off. Keep learning and keep up the good work.

Brilliant vid mate. Your attention to detail and fault finding process is exemplary. Very entertaining.

These videos are amazing thank you vince for these entertaining vids ❤ much love & support

This video was very satisfying to watch. Especially hearing that accent. It also taught me the basics of soldering. You just earned another subscriber. Keep up the good work!

Vince you're quite a nice , intelligent skillful guy.Good work on this people wouldn't even try to fix it.Should cost at least a 100 pound for that repair.

Nice one. Always enjoy your videos. Inspires me to start looking for broken consoles so I can practice soldering...

Well done Vince. You are inspiring me to look at purchasing a proper soldering kit and doing this as a hobby

Totally enjoyable video again Vince great repair job!, i was curling my toes when you were scratching away at the pad willing it to stay in one piece haha, to me it looked as though the pads were pitted slightly from the corrosion you probably rescued it in the nick of time, already looking forward to the next fix it video.....

I used to really enjoy fixing broken electronics off ebay. Your channel has made me want to do it again!

Great job! I like your style that you showing us the failures and the stragguls...what is not so common amoungst the RU-vid repair videos. Keep up the good work and the excellent content!

nice job dude, you're explaining is clear to follow for simpletons like myself, even just for entertainment

Great Job! Nice video Vince. Please, never stop!

Well done Vince! You must be buzzing after your fixes especially when it involves soldering! Bravo 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

The reason the solder isn't melting properly is the fact you're using a small tip on a large piece of metal shielding it just draw all the heat out of the iron tip. Use large tips when working on grounds since they always have a large surface area

Good job man.You made that David guy a happy person and I'm thinking you fulfilled your expectation with this rather hard learning curve.Please give that David guy a break on the price of fixing the vita even know you put quite alot of time in fixing it.Very good job and I'm glad you just didnt throw in the towel.Hell I would of gave up but then again my hands are to shaky for even using a soldering iron.Nice video man. Great job

Just found your channel and loved watching you repair the vita, i found it really relaxing. i used to repair my own things too but now for some reason when i try to solder my hands shake like mad even if i rest my arms on the desk. strange thing is it only happens when i'm soldering never any other times. i've subbed and pressed the bell.

Super job as always Vince! Well done! 👍

Excellent repair there vince!!! And well executed 👌👍

I know the problem with the solderholes. I spent nearly an hour to clean it out. You make a great job. I love your channel.

Wow Vince just found your channel, sorry never heard of your channel until now. You have some fantastic repairs I love fixing stuff. I mainly make videos on test gear but really impressed with your work. I have more gear than I know what to do with but you do amazing work with basic gear,. Thanks for sharing regards Chris.

Nice one Vince, great fix that really kept us guessing until the end.

Another great video vince!. And as someone else has said it’s just the pcb and copper plane complexity/width/size rather than a question of temperature. It soaks the heat of the iron away before it has chance to melt the solder. Best bet is a future upgrade to a higher wattage soldering iron. One of the reasons I use a decent quality high wattage iron up to 120w (antex). On really hard areas like this, you can also preheat the board to help with the heat soak.

Hey My Mate Vince always poppin off new video in the american AM hours! Made my morning, mate! Thanks for the new video!

Another great fix and video vince nice one mate and merry Christmas

great video Vince... really cool to follow... i mean i've started fixing stuff myself... soldered in a new charging port on my Xbox 1 controller... might buy some more to fix and mod. cheers Vince... keep up the good work.

I’m hooked by these videos, best one yet!

Brilliant work! That was a tough one! Sure owner was very pleased! 👍🏾 Thanks so much for Sharing!

We got there at the end, the soldering was frustrating but patience was of the essence. The bonus was your tea was ready and if that was the Mrs she's better then mine as I'd have had that PlayStation put where the sun doesn't shine!

12:55 put the lid back on the 'IPA' Isopropyl Alcohol That breaks my heart LOL great video !! clean clean clean clean, i have the perfect flux for this type of repair it puts a solid coating between all the contacts..And protects them we use it on bga chips that have had bad water/pop damage..it sets like glass !!If the pad is missing find out where it goes to and from and you can just run a jumper wire. Few things keep the soldering tip clean and check out some soldering tutorials.

Whooooooooooooooo over the moon for ya Vince !!!! great fix ..... keep em coming , could sit for hours watchin your fix it videos !!!! ....Shaun.

Great video. I do repair a lots of items mostly a mobile phone but never do the micro usb before because for phone, I just need to swap with a new charging board. For Vita, I only replaced the faulty analog button once and I don't dare to replace the faulty power LED (red faulty, green in OK). I also still learning this kind of stuff since 30 years ago. New products, new items to learn. Subs to you now.

This is great, glad it appeared on my recommendations! Have a sub!

Hey Vince, cleaning out ground plain pins is always a struggle (they are made to dissipate heat), on a thin tip if you are at 350C (element temp) the thin tip will lose heat very fast and wont be 350 at the tip. thus the board doing its job. too clean those a fat tip with high heat and board on its side, you heat it up one side and suck it out the other while heating it.just be care full not too heat the other pins the same because it may lift the pads.

Excellent job Vince.

Love the vid. You are getting serious skills !!!!. The station should kick in the heater when it senses the temperature drop (because the heat disiaption to the board). Probable on your the temp sensor is too far away from the tip that takes time to realize that more power is needed. I have seen stations (generic, but decent) that when you got the issue you had in the pad, the measured temperature falls like a rock on the LCD and the heater is turned to compensate as much as the max power can (60W in the case Im telling). Even on a fine tip, it really manages to do bigger jobs

Another WINNER! Keep up the great work!

I havent quite finished the video yet so im not sure if you fixed the vita or not?.That fix is kicking your ass but nice job none the less. I give you alot of credit.nice job.I wish my hands were steady enough to do that type work.Nice job.I hope when I get to the end of the video you actually got it fixed but if not then know one can say you didnt try.Nice job man

Yay a new vid 😊. Just got a Switch (fully working when I bought it) and love it.

Love your video keep up with the great content :)

Another job well done! Thanks for another great video.!

So satisfying. This can bring lots of business for you! Keep it up!

Another great fix video and new stuff learned on the way. Big fan of these video's. thank you.

You have so much patience. Great channel.

Soldering any components or ports in is tough let alone very small ones. Great job!

This is a good channel for anyone interested in electronic wanting to know how to fix stuff.

Hi Vince your great videos encourage me to fix things from eBay. You are a great youtuber and great at fixing things.

Great video Vince.

Hey Vince love your videos the are really good and I look forward to the next video

I learned much from your videos. verry great I love them :) pls more of it ^^

Vince does it again! great vid :D

Bro, I thought you were going to go threw the whole video without noticing that the ps button on the psv 2000 don't have an LED in it. Excellent work none the less

great job!! always interesting to watch!

Amazing vídeo :) congrats from Dublin. I am your fan

I love your excitement when it actually starts up the first time :-D

Great video. It is not unheard of to use hot air to pre heat the board or to even remove components. The board will consume most of the heat giving one a hard time to get either remove or replace the components due to the thermal transfer. I have even used both hot air, soldering iron, flux and wick to remove solder from those difficult holes. Keep up the good work.

Great job, Vince!

I usually use a combination of heat gun on a lower temp to keep the board at a reasonable temp as well as a soldering iron; heat is a form of energy, and energy is cumulative. The board dissipates at a faster rate than the iron can handle, but even with the same iron and another source of heat, the combined energy input is enough to make the solder melt much easier

mymatevince- breaks a small green thing from the motherboard alsomymatevince- i hope it wasn't a component i seriously love you man

YESSSS thank you so much Vince!!

Congratulations on your successful repairing! You have done a really great job. I love that feeling when you can make something to work. I have a similar problem when my battery drains for a certain low percentage my vita refuses to charge it up. I bought 2 another batteries that worked well until they reached that same critical battery percentage level,too. Do you think I have the same problem?

Not bad for a semi amateur solderer giving it a go. You fixed it which is the best result and a Vita lives on to fight another day :). Hope you learnt from the experience. It looked really neat in the end too and your friend will be well chuffed I bet!!

Good work Vince, as usual... Only one thing, maybe help, if you want to remove a stucked welding, you can use a thin needle (according to the hole), put it in the tin hole, heating with a soldering iron (with flux) with some pushing for the needle , and it will go throu the hole with the stuck tin.. ⚡⚡

I love your vids. Keep like that

Nice job Vince!!!!

Love you Vince!!

Hey Vince, a little tip for getting solder out of holes.... use thinner solder braid, I use 1.2mm. Push the braid in the hole with a small tipped iron. I do this daily when removing large relays from boards... hope this helps. Great vids by the way

You're getting better and better with fixing things, Vince. Not sure if you know of his channel, but if not you should check out Lukemorse, the man is just a wizard with bringing things back from the dead like this.

Vince, great job. Only use a charger with the same rated output voltage that the console needs. If you use a higher voltage output charger you can damage the board.

Solder balling up on itself when you try to tin the tip indicates your iron tip is dirty. When it's dirty, thermal transfer is significantly reduced. As GadgetUK164 told you, preheat the area first. Also, a more agressive flux would be useful here, but clean up well after you've used it.

Great fix, nice one mate, most smart battery chargers actually trickle charges upto around 30% to save from damage it normally ramps up after that threshold.

Enjoy the videos Vince! I notice that a less "pretty" way of clearing the holes on a PCB never gets any play. I OFTEN heat the solder in the holes and then tap the PCB on the table to knock the molten solder out. Can splash, so use with caution ;-)

hi Vince sometimes when the solder won't melt we use a small hand tool with a drill bit in (Eclipse no.121) it's for ground planes so you don't delaminate the board when heating it.

That board might consist of many layers and relay on metal for solidity; also, it should provide even better heating because they at Sony confirmed that they had to downclock the original PS Vita to avoid overheating. So that's why it *should* drain heat so well.

Awesome job! Hopefully you can find some more Vita's to repair in the future off ebay.

Nice work. Pleasure to watch. USB / HDMI are sods because of the ground plane. Had the same on a PS4 HDMI with my Aouye 968A+. Very frustrating. Gonna invest in a Quick hot air station next year. Higher temp but for less time is probably better for the board on balance. The way Andrew does it is to mix in leaded and leave the solder in the holes and somehow align it whilst still molten but you need a Quick for that lol. The reason the outher 2 pads won't take is the same reason. Need more heat. Keep it up.

Sometimes i find that tinning the tip of the iron before soldering helps. Also your soldering iron dosent have the power to melt the solder (in the two holes), so using your reflow station at 400-500°C can help to get that initial heat. The solder is basically absorbing all your heat and not melting it. I only have 2 years experience myself but it does help.

i know this video is now 4 years old but just wanted to say that i had so many vitas for repair and it amazes me that the batteries on them are very very good, i didnt have one with a bad battery yet to be honest. yeah of course they do get less life out of them but i didnt see any swell up or not turn on because of a broken battery.

I recommend getting some solder paste (paste not flux) for thos things, you can just heat it with the air or iron after applying a small amount to the pads and it will effortlessly create perfect joints

The anchors on the micro USB connector need a lot of heat. It helps to preheat the entire PCB and use a low temp solder to get the existing solder stuck in those anchors to flow.

Top job Vince!

Hey great Video.. just a question, do you know a place where i can buy the connector for the flatcable from the left side on the motherboard.. i ripped off this small black lever and without there is no connection.. i busted a perfect mint slim vita just because this tiny little thing.. so ineed this connector or a replacement motherboard for the slim.. ?

Hi Vince. Try cleaning the tip of your soldering iron with a wet sponge often. Also, that stubborn garbage solder you were trying to remove from those charging port ground holes, was probably that lead-free solder, it won’t flow into your wicks, and has a higher than normal melting point. I hate that lead-free garbage with a great unimaginable passion!!! I don’t know if you did this, but next time check to see if the circuit board is labeled with a PB element symbol with a circle slashed out on it. That’s how you know if lead free solder was used on the board. Great Video though!!!👍🏻

Patients of a saint... bravo fix pal

I have no idea why RU-vid recommended me this video but it was very satisfying to watch. Thank you for the video :) #NewSub :D

Great job My Mate VINCE

If you can't Get the solder out of some Holes, you can drill/mill out the Solder with a very little Drill, like 0,4-1 mm depending on how big the hole is

Great job Vince, saved a Vita.

Cool vid Vince

That little square thing with the 4 connectors that goes to the middle pins on the micro USB port is probably a electro magnetic filter it keeps electromagnetic fields from messing up data transfers (the ps vita memory card might be accessable from a pc while still in the vita to fix courupted files like the vitas big bro the psp)

what a great video i don't solder at all but i really enjoy watching this videos

Mangled those rear holes, lol :O, otherwise great job!. I usually get my components from China, much cheaper than locally, but, have to wait a few weeks is the only downside.