Nobody likes a gaming console that can’t game. On this original Sony PlayStation, repeated movement at the figure-8 mains inlet had cracked the solder joints where the AC connector meets the power-supply PCB. Similar cracked connector joints can occur on other mains-powered consoles, but it is not the same fault across every machine - the Mega Drive 2, for example, uses an external low-voltage power adaptor rather than a figure-8 mains lead.

The repair here was to resolder the cracked inlet joints on this PSU. That fixes the mechanical and electrical connection I actually found; it should not be presented as preventative maintenance for every PlayStation. Because this board is connected directly to mains, it also is not a casual “quick fix”: unplug the console, allow for stored charge and use proper mains-safety practices before working on the PSU.

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