Reballing a PS3

[Thunderlips]

Hey all. I have a PS3 60Gb launch edition (500GB HD now) with all the toys they've long since discontinued in the newer versions. I've been having RLOD problems with it the past 6 months. I've had it "reflowed" by reputable people a few times but a reflow is only a short term fix. I've heard of the "Reball" repair in which the unleaded solder is replaced by better performing leaded solder. I'd like to know if anyone here has had it done or knows someone who had it done and if they are happy with it. We run everything through our PS3 here so I'd like to save it. Sure I could buy a new one but I dont really want to give up the benefits of mine if I can avoid it.

[Kugyince]

Easy two minute job to replace a solder joint on a circuit board. Do it at work all the time. A reflow only takes about 10 seconds.

Is the RLOD caused by heating the solder and causing a cold solder joint or even a disconnect? Are you sure overheating is the cause of this and this isn't an e-myth? If it's overheating it's more likely to affect the system via expansion/contraction (like 360's RROD).

Leaded solder commonly used in circuitry has a minimum CRF of ~360F and the unleaded stuff actually has a slightly higher CRF or "melting point". Do you really think you're PS3 is seeing temperatures of 360 degrees and higher?

[Thunderlips]

The system starts green, changes to yellow then flashes red. Its usually referred to as a YLOD on the net. Whatever the problem is the "reflow" has fixed it 3 times but it only lasts a few weeks each time. This is why I'd like to hear from anyone on the lifespan of a reball. If you feel its not the solder what repair would you recommend?

[Kugyince]

After watching a few videos of people "reflowing" their PS3s I would hazard a guess that it has nothing at all to do with the solder and everything to do with the quality of the thermal compound used.

The reason I believe the "reflowing" attempts work is that in each video they cleaned off the CPU and GPU of compound before "reflowing" it then added new, replacement compound. Either the heat sink and/or fan is insufficient or the compound used is of a poor grade or both.

[RU Joe]

Hi guys, is there any chance these people don't know the difference between Electronics solder and Plumbing solder; I remember hearing about some repairs that consistently failed because of this simple mistake, and it's an easy thing for the layperson to overlook.

[Kugyince]

The more and more I thought about this the less and lees it makes sense.

Simply put;
Assumed cause of failure: excessive heat causing solder joints of CPU and/or GPU to flow.
Assumed solution to failure: excessive heat causing solder joints of CPU and/or GPU to flow.

It's difficult to believe in that solution, especially when it comes from someone who is handeling a circuit board on a carpet.

Also if you look into the video comments you'll read people asking if a hairdryer can be substituted for a heat gun. The author explains that a hairdryer doesn't produce nearly enough heat, which it doesn't. This is immediatly followed by another comment of someone claiming that a hairdryer did work for them. If that is true then it further supports my claim.

I did some testing in the lab at work. Heated multiple known working circuit boards to ~300F for a 10 hour cycle. Boards worked fine afetrwards.

Lets look at this with some common sense and methodology.

Problem: Yellow light blinks signifying a critical failure.

Cause: Unknown. (Unproven claims that the issue is caused by heat.)

Temp Solution: Unknown specific. At least seven possible variables. 1. Time 2. Powering console off then on. 3. Rebooting console. 4. Cleaning fan. 5. Resetting internal battery. 6. Replacing thermal joint compound. 7. Reflowing solder.

Perm Solution: Unknown.


Assuming you've attempted the first two by default. Try rebooting the console by first unplugging it from the wall then unplugging the power cord from the console. Leave it overnight and then reverse.

[RU Joe]

When I was working in a repair shop we would often put things on the shelf for weeks when we got stumped like this, and come back to them when the solution seemed more clear {so we would tell the customers that a given repair could take months to allow for this possibility}; sometimes repairs got crazy, like hooking up amps to dummy loads which we would throw into a large bowl of water {actually, it was the toilet at the shop} to dissipate the massive heat so we could run it hard to try to cause it to fail.

Just be careful if you have to 'go' during that time.

Looking back on all of it, I believe that even the most highly skilled ET can't provide answers all the time and only through trial and error can certain problems be solved.

[Kugyince]

Originally Posted by Tenser

Try rebooting the console by first unplugging it from the wall then unplugging the power cord from the console. Leave it overnight and then reverse.

Just to be clear, I'm not throwing everything against the wall just to see what sticks. I know from first hand experience that you can reboot a Wii by unplugging it for ~5 minutes. I am unsure if the same is true with a PS3 but following Ockham's Razor the simplest untested solution would be that unplugging the PS3 to "reflow" it fixes the system.

[Kong]

I agree with Tenser.

If I am understanding the terms correctly I think reflow sounds stupid but if the alternative is to throw it away then why not try it. Reball sounds like a lot of work that might or might not work.

I am almost positive that intentionally heating your console to a point that the solder melts would never be a good idea.

Solder does not need loosening. If it does become fluid it is unlikely that just by chance it would end up in a better position. There is a good chance that it would end up touching another point causing a short or crossed wires.

If people are saying that their blow dryer accomplished the same results then that probably proves this has nothing to do with solder. A blow dryer can not melt solder.

If broken systems work after heating them then I would bet it was just a coincidence and has nothing to do with the solder and probably nothing to do with the heat. I think something else is going on and heat should be a last ditch effort just before throwing it away.

Harddrive motors can lock up. Freezing or heating them can cause the parts to change size and temporarily work. But once the parts return back to normal temperatures they are permanently destroyed.

[Thunderlips]

I gave the reset a try. I've had to do that with my modem many times but sadly it didn't work with the PS3. Whatever the source of the YLOD problem is it plagues a very high percentage of launch edition PS3's. There must be a common cause for the majority of these systems failing this way. The time frame of when it occurs seems to range from 18 months (Your 24/7 Call of Duty User) to almost 3 years (light user) after purchase. If someone was able to find the cause and offer a viable repair service there would be some money to be made. People dont want to part with their launch editions for many reasons, I'd happily pay $150 for a repair that would eliminate the problem for a few years as opposed to 4-6 weeks.

[Kugyince]

Originally Posted by Thunderlips

I gave the reset a try. I've had to do that with my modem many times but sadly it didn't work with the PS3.

Originally Posted by Tenser

Problem: Yellow light blinks signifying a critical failure.

Cause: Unknown. (Unproven claims that the issue is caused by heat.)

Temp Solution: Unknown specific. At least seven possible variables. 1. Time 2. Powering console off then on. 3. Rebooting console. 4. Cleaning fan. 5. Resetting internal battery. 6. Replacing thermal joint compound. 7. Reflowing solder.

Perm Solution: Unknown.

Time for step 4! Just pop off the cover and go crazy with a can of compressed air. You can find them at dept stores and Radio Shacks for about $4.

[Thunderlips]

A full dust cleaning was included with the last reflow 6 weeks ago but I did it again regardless. I guess resetting the internal battery is next. I see gophermods just began offering PS3 Reballs last week on their website. Gophermods.com Sony PlayStation 3 Reball Service
Hopefully those who get it repaired first will share how successful it is.

[elrod21]

Hope this works out for you Bro! I feel bad that my nephew is not getting his Little Big Planet fix.

[Kugyince]

If it comes to step six I can provide you with really excellent thermal joint compound.