2009 Newbies Guide to Making a Pandora Battery

[senorjack]

[size=18pt]This will be the FIRST of many Tutorials that I will write to “Hack” your PSP[/size]

[hr]
[size=12pt]After searching high and low for information about hacking my PSP, I thought it was time to UPDATE instructions on how to make a Pandora Battery since everything I read was 2 or MORE years old and things have changed since then. I decided to make a short Tutorial about some of the things that you NEED to know if you want to “Hack” your PSP.
Although this is it in a “Nutshell” please don’t acknowledge this as “CARVED IN STONE” . I loosely translated some information to make it easier to understand. This is the way I did it and it worked out pretty good for me so I thought I would pass this along to you NEWBIES too !

Let me start by saying that I am a “Newbie” at this PSP stuff but I am learning fast and gaining MUCH MORE enjoyment from my PSP SLIM, now that I have Custom Firmware (CFW) on it and I am able to play MORE games etc. I might also add that I am 61 years old but that doesn’t mean I don’t like to play games !
If I can do this then ANYONE can do this !

I have a PSP SLIM with 3.80 M33 CFW. It used to have 3.71 OFM (Official Firmware) when I bought it 2 years ago. That has all changed now.

So…after searching and “Gleaning” information, the FIRST thing that I think you need to do is make a “PANDORA” battery. I will show you how to “Hard-Mod” a PSP SLIM Sony battery. This is the battery that comes with your Sony PSP. From all that I read, THIS is the one that you should use and you will have NO PROBLEMS. I bought another battery to replace it with and it has TWICE the mAh as the original. (2400mAh) as opposed to the 1800mAh that ships with the PSP. SO I can have MORE time to watch movies or play games !

Now you might be asking, [size=14pt]“Why do I need a Pandora Battery?”[/size]

The answer is this: There are a lot of us out there that do NOT have access to a PSP that has already been “Hacked” and therefore we can’t put on the Custom Firmware (hereon referred to as CFW).
(Copying from the “Hacked” PSP)

The Pandora battery allows you to boot your PSP into “SERVICE MODE” with a Magic Memory Stick
(How to make one of those will be covered in another Tutorial)

When in “Service Mode”, it will allow you to install CFW.

[size=14pt]Why do we need CFW?[/size]
Well, because Sony decided that AFTER their ORIGINAL PSP was released to the public with Firmware Version 1.50 on it, people were able to copy and run games, movies, applications etc. on it with NO HACKING NEEDED.

So the makers decided that this was no good and they were losing a lot of revenue so they UPGRADED the Firmware to stop this from happening.
Enter the “Hackers”

Custom Firmware allows us to “Simulate the ORIGINAL 1.50 Firmware” and still enjoy the latest UPDATES of OFW. (Original Firmware hereon referred to as OFW)

Depending on your needs will determine what CFW you will put onto your PSP SLIM.
Some games will only work with the latest OFW that has been “Upgraded” to CFW.
More on that in the “Magic Memory Stick Tutorial”
So let’s get started on making the Pandora Battery !

First you will need a SONY PSP battery. If you don’t have a SONY BRAND then all you can do is look inside the one that you DO have and see if you can “Customize” it to a Pandora.
Keep in mind that once you “HARD-MOD” this battery, you can only use it in tandem with your Magic Memory Stick ( hereon referred to as MMS).
To play your PSP I would suggest that you use your REGULAR battery.[/size]

[size=16pt]Tools you will need to make a Pandora Battery[/size]

[size=12pt]1. X-Acto Knife or Single-edge razor blade. (I Highly prefer an X-Acto knife)
2. Some transparent tape.
3. Good eyes or a 10X Jeweler’s Loupe or some sort of Magnifying Glass.

Now, keep this in mind too….I am 61 and my eyes are bad so I used a 10X Jeweler’s Loupe while performing this “Delicate” procedure but I got it done and so can you !

Start by “Scoring” along the “SHORT” side of the battery. The case is VERY THIN PLASTIC so it won’t take much and you have to be VERY CAREFUL NOT to puncture the battery itself. Don’t be scared to score it a few times until it comes apart.

Then score the bottom and some of the TOP (up to the battery contacts) until you can open it up.

Once it is opened up, you will see inside a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) (See the pictures)
The chip that you want to work on is S93C56. If there is a DOT on it, it usually denotes PIN #1 on a chip...then you count DOWN one side and UP the other. In our case we want to cut PIN #5.

[img width=600 height=335]http://pspslimhacks.com/forum/resources-(guides)/2009-newbies-guide-to-making-a-pandora-battery/?action=dlattach;attach=732;image[/img]

[glow=red,2,300]Here is the FULL SIZE IMAGE just so you can see how small the chip is ![/glow]

[img width=551 height=400]http://pspslimhacks.com/forum/resources-(guides)/2009-newbies-guide-to-making-a-pandora-battery/?action=dlattach;attach=734;image[/img]

On that circuit board are chips and the chip that you want is the S93C56 chip.

NOTE: THIS CHIP IS TINY ! THEREFORE VERY DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH SO YOU MUST HAVE A STEADY HAND AND GO SLOWLY FOR THE BEST RESULTS.

You want to take your magnifying glass now (if your OLD like me) and your X-Acto knife and gently poke at Pin #5 until you break it and can lift it away from the PCB.

Some people use a Soldering iron and heat the pin up until the solder melts and then lift the pin AWAY from the PCB.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS BECAUSE IT’S TOO EASY TO OVERHEAT THE CHIP AND BURN IT OUT. THEN YOU HAVE A USELESS BATTERY AND HAVE TO START OVER. [size=10pt](Unless, of course,you have lots of money & don't care then "Have at it!")[/size]

Once you have the pin cut and/or lifted YOU ARE DONE.[/size]

[size=12pt]Put the battery back together and apply some transparent tape to keep it closed and “VIOLA” !!! You now have a “PANDORA” battery.[/size]

[size=12pt]To test it, just put it into your PSP and the light should be GREEN and the SCREEN WILL BE BLACK ! (Not to worry…..you have now entered “Service Mode”….or as I refer to it as “The Twilight Zone” ![/size]

[size=12pt]Coming Next:[/size]

[size=12pt]How to make a MAGIC MEMORY STICK[/size]

[size=14pt]AUTHORS NOTE:[/size]

[size=12pt]If I posted this in the WRONG section, please excuse me and put it where it belongs and let me know for future reference.

I am open to suggestions AND corrections on this Tutorial. If I have skipped something, it was not intentional. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or PM me and I will help you.

Also, a “Thanks” would be nice…..just to see if I have helped anyone.

I have also posted the link if you would like to download this tutorial WITH the pictures and print it out for you future reference & HIGH-RESOLUTION pictures that you can ZOOM in on.[/size]

http://rapidshare.com/files/196504732/Make_a_Pandora_Battery.rar.html

“I’m just trying to be a Better Person”…..my name is Senor Jack !

Edit: PSPFan: Uploaded images to our server just incase photobucket remove the images. They often do!

[Draik]

Nice Tutorial, Stickied

+ Karma

I'll also be referring to it on my future guide =)

How about adding a way to reverse this, if possible? That would be nice

[HardQuor]

Very nice tutorial! It's quite rare to come across a tutorial that's this easy to understand AND has good grammar!

I would make 2 suggestions though:
1.) Mention exactly which battery is pictured. (As I understand it, there are many types with different board layouts. I could be mistaken, though.)
2.) I didn't quite understand the pin numbering standard that you described, could you perhaps illustrate it for the denser of us (myself among them)? It seems that maybe that is the only detail that I should be concerned about rather than the model of battery.

Otherwise, this is a great tutorial, I wish I had read it before hard-modding my own! :P

[Abns Hacker]

Or how about a switchable normal and Pandora battery, that would be great.


mod.edit: not using all caps would be great too. thanks.

[Capt.trips]

Thanks alot. This guide will be very useful to newbs. I, like you, am not the average Psp hacker as I am only a few years younger than you. I have modded several Psps and would like to share some of my hard learned knowledge. This pertains to the Sony model PSP-S110 battery that ships with most units. You can find the model number on the back of the battery. First of all I recomend that the Battery is fully charged before you begin. The plastic case is very flimsy, after scoring the seam on the battery use your thumbnail and press down along the seam. Use firm pressure in one spot, lift your thumb, and move it about 1/8 of an inch and do it again. You will be able to feel the seam weaken and hear the seam pop as the glue seal separates. This is safer than trying to cut all the way thru the case with the razor or using a small screwdriver to pry it open. If you do happen to cut or puncture the battery all is not lost. Even though the resulting spark and smoke probably made you change your shorts, the battery can still be used to install the CFW, as long as the electrolyte is not leaking out,and you can still run your Psp with the a.c. adapter untill you buy a new battery.

[SolidSnake44x]

This is a great guide, but if I may suggest a better method. If you cut the track that leads to that pin, it is reversible by simply filling in the cut with graphite from a number 2 pencil. It's an easier method, and it's just as easily converted back to normal.

Update: I forget which part to cut.. It's one of the copper traces on the pcb.

[Capt.trips]

The trace that I always cut is the one leading to the first pin. If you reference the above picture it is the one on the top right of the chip and is easily identified by the number 19 printed over top of it. It might take a few tries to cut it because you do not want to break the board by exerting to much pressure. You can verify if it is cut buy placing the battery back in the unit. When you power on, the green power lite should be on and you should have a blank black screen. If it powers up normally, you will have to use your razor and cut the trace in the same place again. Don't try to scrape the trace. You might have to repeat this a couple of times. After installing your CFW take a #2 pencil and run it back and forth a couple of times in the groove that you made when you cut the trace and your battery will be as good as new again.

[Sin]

You're 61? AWESOME 8)

Good guide. I'm using a datel tool battery because it was cheap and easy, hehe.
Might be good for people who are newbies with knives ~

[mordecai]

Originally Posted by Capt.trips

The trace that I always cut is the one leading to the first pin. If you reference the above picture it is the one on the top right of the chip and is easily identified by the number 19 printed over top of it. It might take a few tries to cut it because you do not want to break the board by exerting to much pressure. You can verify if it is cut buy placing the battery back in the unit. When you power on, the green power lite should be on and you should have a blank black screen. If it powers up normally, you will have to use your razor and cut the trace in the same place again. Don't try to scrape the trace. You might have to repeat this a couple of times. After installing your CFW take a #2 pencil and run it back and forth a couple of times in the groove that you made when you cut the trace and your battery will be as good as new again.

Originally Posted by SolidSnake44x

This is a great guide, but if I may suggest a better method. If you cut the track that leads to that pin, it is reversible by simply filling in the cut with graphite from a number 2 pencil. It's an easier method, and it's just as easily converted back to normal.

Update: I forget which part to cut.. It's one of the copper traces on the pcb.

Hmm... Guess my PSP came with some sort of superbattery or something since i have cut that track (19) and I still end up in XMB when i start up my PSP. :angry:

[PSPFan]

Depends what type of battery you have. Is it an official Sony one or a copy?