6 Must-Have Tips For Successful PS2 Mod Chip Installation

Installing a mod chip in your PlayStation 2 can be a bit of an intimidating task. Unless you’ve been glued to a soldering iron and have the utmost confidence in your soldering abilities, you’re probably scratching your head wondering if you’ll be able to do it. However, there is a silver lining to all of this. Most PS2 Mod chip makers have realized that not only do they need to make sure their PS2 Mod chips have features in addition to features, but they also need to be relatively easy to install. I mean, let’s face it, not all PlayStation 2 owners have worked with electronics and soldering irons. In fact, many of us have probably never touched a soldering iron. Having said that, it’s certainly not difficult to install a mod chip into your PlayStation 2 console. I’m by no means an expert when it comes to chips and soldering, but I found it to be medium on the difficulty scale.

However, installing Modchip is not for everyone. And I urge anyone who hasn’t yet bought their PlayStation 2 system but plans to buy it and immediately add a mod chip, to check out the various pre-modded PS2 systems available for sale online. There are several online stores that have pre-modded ps2 systems for sale, and often you only pay a nominal fee for the mod chip pre-installation, when you consider that you would have to buy the mod chip, the ps2 system as well. like welding tools and supplies, if you don’t already have them. The added bonus is that you won’t have to solder anything, and you can also rest a little easier because most websites will offer a lifetime warranty on the installation itself, replacing the manufacturer’s 30-90 day warranty and They will cover the unit if it is faulty or not working in any way.

Alright, now let’s move on to the hints and tips to make sure you have a successful PS2 Mod chip installation.

  • You need the right soldering iron – you don’t want to get a soldering iron with a tip the size of your little finger, or one that gets hot to the point of melting the ps2’s main board. You want a soldering iron that has a small, fine tip, making it easier to install the ps2 mod chip when you have to solder the smaller sections of the motherboard. You can get a fine tip soldering iron for less than $15.00 at most Radio Shack stores. Make sure you get one that is rated at 15 watts, this will provide enough heat for the soldering job, without damaging your console.
  • Use a 15 AWG thin wrap wire – you can also get this wire at most Radio Shack stores. Too often the installation of a ps2 mod chip is messed up simply because of the wiring that is used. If the cable is too thick, you will have a hard time connecting it in the right places, without the cable touching another part of the main board. It also helps that the wrap wire is insulated, because this ensures that a short circuit does not occur on the main board.
  • Use Solder With Flux – For those of you who don’t know, flux helps the solder melt and stick to both the wires you’re using and the solder points. Too often people use fluxless solder and buy the flux separately. Whose! Doing it that way means you could use too much flux and corrode/eat away at the solder point as time goes on, forcing you to re-solder at a later date.
  • Keep your cables as short as possible: Because you are actually sending data/information FROM the modchip, to your PlayStation 2 motherboard, the shorter the distance the data/information has to travel, the better. Many customers who initially thought they had done a wrong ps2 mod chip installation were simply connecting their mod chips with cables that were too long. The PlayStation 2 is a bit demanding, be sure to keep the power and ground cables as short as possible.
  • Probably the most important tip is to just take your time. We all like to rush, and receiving that ps2 mod chip in the mail means sitting down and wanting to install it right away, as quickly as possible. Some of the solder points are small and require precision. While you don’t have to be a soldering expert, you DO need to take your time, make sure, and double check every connection. Make sure the wires ARE actually connected, and more importantly, that they are ONLY connected to the solder points where they should be, without touching any other wires.
  • Get the CORRECT chip for the model number of YOUR PlayStation 2 console. There are 16 different versions of the PlayStation 2 motherboard and you have one of them. The question is which one do you have? Before you buy your ps2 mod chip, be sure to check which version you have. You can do this by going to Google.com and searching for PS2 MODEL ID and you will see results from numerous websites listing all PS2 model numbers. You can of course opt for a Universal PS2 Modchip, this will eliminate the need to find out your model number up front as universal PS2 mod chips such as the Modbo 4.0 will work on all PlayStation 2 consoles on the market today.
  • There is absolutely no need to be intimidated by installing a ps2 mod chip. I’m not very good at soldering myself, but I was able to complete the installation from start to finish in 50 minutes. I include disassembling and reassembling the PlayStation 2 as well. Soldering and wiring time was approximately 30 minutes out of the 50 minute job. Now mind you, I have steady hands and bought all the right equipment for the job.

    What’s also important to note is that the total of all the items you’ll need to do the install (soldering iron, wires, etc.) won’t cost more than $20-$30 at your local Radio Shack store, certainly not a Kings Ransom considering that now you have access to thousands of games. If you’re still not sure after looking at installation instructions in online stores, go for pre-modified ps2 systems. They are not expensive and are truly a plug-in-and-play solution. But beware that the online store you’re shopping at is selling you a BRAND NEW PlayStation 2 and actually replacing the original Sony warranty, as you don’t want to be in a position where you end up with a new one. PS2, no current warranty.

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