Disassemble SNES controller

Remove the screws from the controller using a Phillips screwdriver. Seprate the back cover from the front and carefully remove the PCB from the enclosure. 

Save Buttons + Elastomers

Dump all of the buttons and elastomers onto your work surface or palm of your hand. Admire and store in a baggy for later use.

Unsolder main cable

Secure the SNES PCB to a panavise Jr. Heat up your soldering iron and reflow the solder poins on the main cable. Use a pair of tweezers to gently remove each wire from the PCB. Toss cable over shoulder - won't be needing it.

Splitting PCBs

Ensure SNES PCB is very secure to panavise Jr. Reference diagram to follow where to split the sections. Move to a well ventilated area and put on some safety glasses.

Cut PCBs

Use a power tool like a Dremel to cut the PCB into three sections. Handle panavise jr. in place before sawing. Slowly saw through the PCB until you've reach about 1mm - break away sections with hand.

Take precautions when using power tools! Wear safety glasses, worker gloves and a breathing mask. Avoid dust and work in a well ventilated area! Don't forget to clean up the dust.

Remove the L shoulder PCB from D-Pad by reflowing solder from the wire using a soldering iron. Remove the bit of cable soldered to the L shoulder PCB.

In this project, we won't be needing the D-Pad PCB because we're using the analog joystick - Disgard that PCB or store it away for another project.

Drill Holes to PCBs

Secure PCBs to a Panavise jr. Use a sharpie marker or etch a mark in the very center of the buttons PCBs. Use a rotary power tool like a Dremel to create a hole in the center of the A, B, X, Y button PCB. Use a drill bit that is approximately 2mm in diameter. 

Very cautious while drilling in center - This can be slightly off center but more can affect positioning of elastomers! Mine was not perfect but it still works fine!

Etch Traces

Use an x-acto or filing tool to expose copper traces on the PCB sections. Reference the images for recommended etching spots. Lightly scratch the surface of the silk screen until the copper traces are exposed.

The PCB section with A, B, X and Y have very small traces - be very careful not to bridge these connections! Try offsetting each spot in different levels to keep wiring seprate from each other.

The L and R shoulder PCB don't need etched traces since they both have pin outs for wiring positive and negative connections.

Tin PCBs

Add droplets of solder to the exposed traces on the Start/Select and A, B, X, Y and R shoulder PCBs. Add solder to the two pins on the L shoulder PCB. Place soldering iron down onto PCBs and quickly add solder to tin the etched spots.

This guide was first published on Jan 14, 2015. It was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

This page (Prep Button PCBs) was last updated on Jan 02, 2015.

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