changing the LED in a SNES

[Soviet Conscript]

recently i came across a few deck only snes and genesis consoles for a really cheap price so thinking they could make a fun modding project i picked them up.

thing is i really have no experence with modding consoles and have only done a few really simple things so i figured these would make a good learning experence. so as something simple i just wanted to do a led change and maybe a new paint job. thing is after opening the thing up i have no idea how to get at the LED light. from what it looks am i going to need to do some sodering for this? i looked all over the web but couldn't find any information on changeing the led in a snes. any advice or help? thanks

[SnowKitty]

recently i came across a few deck only snes and genesis consoles for a really cheap price so thinking they could make a fun modding project i picked them up.

thing is i really have no experence with modding consoles and have only done a few really simple things so i figured these would make a good learning experence. so as something simple i just wanted to do a led change and maybe a new paint job. thing is after opening the thing up i have no idea how to get at the LED light. from what it looks am i going to need to do some sodering for this? i looked all over the web but couldn't find any information on changeing the led in a snes. any advice or help? thanks

you need to desolder all 14 controller port pins and pop the board off to get at that LED. i put a blue one in my snes.

[Soviet Conscript]

hmmm. do you also need to add an extra resistor or anything cause i put in a green one and nothing. tested it and the consoles itself is working and i also made sure the polarity was correct.

[FABombjoy]

Nah, it should work. First thing I'd do is measure voltage at the LED & troubleshoot from there.

[duo_r]

14 controller port pins SK???? Holy smoke that is a little bit of a pain to replace LED. Well I am going to check mine out soon and swap with purple (to mach my SNES).

you need to desolder all 14 controller port pins and pop the board off to get at that LED. i put a blue one in my snes.

[FABombjoy]

I did a SNES LED change once & found it easier to simply break the PCB where the LED is, solder in a new LED, and then just bridge the broken traces.

[Soviet Conscript]

14 controller port pins SK???? Holy smoke that is a little bit of a pain to replace LED. Well I am going to check mine out soon and swap with purple (to mach my SNES).

done the LED change on 2 so far. its acually pretty easy. doesn't take much time at all to desolder/resolder the 14 pins

[duo_r]

any pics? Have no idea what has to come out since I haven't cracked open my SNES yet.

[doubledownon11]

I've done a few SNES LED mods and I don't remember desoldering the controller ports. If I remember correctly the flat cables have a contact end like a cartridge (only smaller) and they just pull out of the sockets on the PCB.



The mini was a little harder as there was no LED in its stock form:

[Soviet Conscript]

any pics? Have no idea what has to come out since I haven't cracked open my SNES yet.

I circled the 14 controller pins that need desoldered. click it to enlarge

I've done a few SNES LED mods and I don't remember desoldering the controller ports. If I remember correctly the flat cables have a contact end like a cartridge (only smaller) and they just pull out of the sockets on the PCB.



The mini was a little harder as there was no LED in its stock form:

when i was doing research for the LED change I came across those pictures and they inspired this