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How to Hook LEDs to a Rumble PS3 Controller

A rumble controller for your PS3 is fun because of the internal mechanism that causes the controller to vibrate during intense gameplay. If you really want your PS3 controller to be animated, you can install LED lights so that the controller lights up during gameplay. This will involve disassembly of the controller, but you should be able to get the whole job done in under an hour.

Things You'll Need

Phillips screwdriver
Length of electrical wire
Wire cutters
Soldering iron
LED light
Resistor

Instructions

- 1
  Unplug your PS3 controller and remove the five screws on the edges of the rear of the controller with your screwdriver.
- 2
  Lift the back case off of the controller. You can now see the motherboard in the front half of the controller. The rectangular batter pack sits on top of it.
- 3
  Lift the battery pack up and unplug the battery wire from the board. Set the battery aside.
- 4
  Remove the single screw in the center of the circuit board. Lift the circuit board out of the controller housing, turn it upside down and place it in front of you. Notice the small plastic box in the center of the underside of the board. There are colored wires connected to one side of the box.
- 5
  Plug in your soldering iron and allow it to warm up. Solder the resistor to the panel at the base of the LED light. You can purchase everything you need for this task at an electronics store.
- 6
  Cut your electrical wire into two 3-inch pieces.
- 7
  Solder one end of one length of electrical wire to the base of the LED and solder the other end to the pin protruding from the plastic case on the motherboard with the red wire connected to it.
- 8
  Solder one end of the remaining wire to the LED and the other to a point on the motherboard with no terminals. This will ground the wiring.
- 9
  Place a small piece of tape at the base of the LED to secure it to the center of the board.
- 10
  Place the board back in the controller housing and replace the screw. Replace the board screw and rear controller housing. Replace the rear screws of the controller.

PlayStation 3