Replacing joypad microswitches
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Akille68
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James, do you know correct size?
Akille68
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lwk stands for?
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he is a member here.
Akille68
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I forgot that my eldest son destroyed his Nintendo DS XL last year. I opened it and that is what I found:
If Nintendo works with industrial standards I guess that DS contact plates of buttons and directional pad are the same of the ones mounted on a Gameboy Advance SP,
So if GBA plates fit well in a (Neo Geo pad) original microswitch I guess even the DS ones will fit well. DS XL have 8 of those plates, right number to cure 2 neo pads.
Those circular concaved plates are mounted on a mini-base where are the soldering pins to the mobo, desolder them and detach the plate from the minibase is quite easy (I used a cutter).
Now, i guess I will have to try to make them work on one of my pads that has its "down" contact very near to say "goodbye". Anyone tried that?
If Nintendo works with industrial standards I guess that DS contact plates of buttons and directional pad are the same of the ones mounted on a Gameboy Advance SP,
So if GBA plates fit well in a (Neo Geo pad) original microswitch I guess even the DS ones will fit well. DS XL have 8 of those plates, right number to cure 2 neo pads.
Those circular concaved plates are mounted on a mini-base where are the soldering pins to the mobo, desolder them and detach the plate from the minibase is quite easy (I used a cutter).
Now, i guess I will have to try to make them work on one of my pads that has its "down" contact very near to say "goodbye". Anyone tried that?
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Akille68
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Thank u for that link. A really informative 3d, but my problem is not dust, my controller's guts are clean, the problem is in those concaved contacts, that after years of use become flat and end clicking till they do work no more. So i think that this could be a good method to make them working again:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6op4TMn4mA
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6op4TMn4mA
chinitosoccer
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How about these?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/20pcs-Tact-...417?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2328e58b59
those look similar to the ones found on NGCD pads.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-100p...967?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2327760b77
Or you can go with normal buttons, Sega Saturn L and R buttons have these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/100x-Tactil...837?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c2c504add
http://www.ebay.com/itm/20pcs-Tact-...417?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2328e58b59
those look similar to the ones found on NGCD pads.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-100p...967?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2327760b77
Or you can go with normal buttons, Sega Saturn L and R buttons have these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/100x-Tactil...837?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c2c504add
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Akille68
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Little update. Before trying some new microswitches, I decided to give a try to the replacing method showed in that video on post #10.
First of all I removed that protection film that covers Nintendo contact plates, making them look of a grey colour.
Their diameter is littler than the original ones, but they have a good concave shape. I decided to replace all the directional stick contacts. As illustrated on some tutorials I lifted the platic ring that maintain in place the plastic activator. I removed it and got access to the contact plates. They had still a good shape, so I decided to save them for other pads. After removing each plate I scraped (very softly) each contact and cleaned them with a bit of alcohol. Then I put in place the nintendo plates and the plastic activator. After that, I lowered the plastic ring and with a soldering iron reinforced it. I lubrificate the pivot seat and the white plastic arrows in which springs play againts activators. Just to finish the project, i washed with cold water the joystick protection mask (that takes in place the four tactile microswitches) and the the two halves. Ok everything in place, closed the joypad and tested it. It really works well and those nice "clicks" got back again. So I think that if you have a joypad that needs a "medical attention" this could be a good option. Hope it helps...
First of all I removed that protection film that covers Nintendo contact plates, making them look of a grey colour.
Their diameter is littler than the original ones, but they have a good concave shape. I decided to replace all the directional stick contacts. As illustrated on some tutorials I lifted the platic ring that maintain in place the plastic activator. I removed it and got access to the contact plates. They had still a good shape, so I decided to save them for other pads. After removing each plate I scraped (very softly) each contact and cleaned them with a bit of alcohol. Then I put in place the nintendo plates and the plastic activator. After that, I lowered the plastic ring and with a soldering iron reinforced it. I lubrificate the pivot seat and the white plastic arrows in which springs play againts activators. Just to finish the project, i washed with cold water the joystick protection mask (that takes in place the four tactile microswitches) and the the two halves. Ok everything in place, closed the joypad and tested it. It really works well and those nice "clicks" got back again. So I think that if you have a joypad that needs a "medical attention" this could be a good option. Hope it helps...
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