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How to Get LED Lights in a Controller

For gamers wanting to customize their experience, adding LED lights to a console controller is a popular modification. The LEDs are used to light up the buttons and triggers in different colors. More complex mods allow the buttons to flash in sync with gameplay. The procedure involves some basic soldering and disassembling the controller, so make sure you are comfortable with these concepts before attempting the job. We will be using a PS3 controller and the "Home" button for the sake of example, but other controllers are similar in construction and design.

Things You'll Need

PS3 Controller
Soldering Iron
Solder
Small LED light
Electrical Tape
Resistor
Screwdriver
Wire (thin)

Instructions

- 1
  Turn the controller on its back. Remove the five screws with the screwdriver and put them aside. Snap off the back of the case.
- 2
  Once the case is removed, remove the screw connecting the circuit board, or PCB, to the controller. Remove the circuit board. Detach the battery from the circuit board.
- 3
  There will be two soldering points. The first is the #5 hole -- that will be our ground soldering point. The positive soldering point is the leg across from where the red wire enters the power connector box.
- 4
  Bend the legs of the LED light to opposing 90 degree angles. Solder the resistor to the longer leg (positive end) of the LED light. Wrap electrical tape around the connection to insulate it.
- 5
  Solder the resistor to the positive soldering point (the opposite end of the red wire on the power connector box). Be careful not to touch any other legs on the box.
- 6
  Solder a short piece of wire to the other LED leg (the shorter end). Make sure the ends of the wire are stripped. Insert the other end of the wire into the #5 hole. Solder the top and bottom of the hole to the wire.
- 7
  If all the steps were followed correctly, the LED should now be functional. Reassemble the controller.

Video Game Accessories