Trying to Fix FAULTY Electronic Items for a Profit! S2:E06
Entertainment
Introduction
In the previous episode of my journey into fixing faulty electronic items, we saw a Nintendo Switch from episode five sell for £85.44, netting us £44.45. However, I encountered some challenges with another Nintendo Switch from episode three, which, despite my initial sales estimate of £85, has been listed on eBay for £70 but hasn’t sold yet.
I was able to sell a faulty PlayStation 5 for £161.88, which led to a loss of only £61. This means our total estimated losses have improved from £208 to a smaller loss of £38.34, a step in the right direction.
In this episode, I’m excited to work on another Nintendo Switch, which I received for free from a viewer named Jam. This console allegedly was dropped in water, so I’m curious to see what I can do with it. Upon inspection, the condition of the console is quite poor, highlighted by the fact that it has visible signs of liquid damage.
Before I start the repair, I prepared my ultrasonic cleaner, knowing a thorough clean would be essential. Upon disassembling the chassis, I noticed the water damage was evident. Although there's been some corrosion, the APU and RAM seemed relatively clean. The real question now is how bad the motherboard damage is.
After cleaning with IPA and placing the board into the ultrasonic cleaner, I set it for six minutes. The result was noticeably improved, but there were still signs of damage, particularly around the LCD connector and the charging circuit. Unfortunately, even after checking for shorts and conducting a thorough cleanup, the board showed an abnormal draw of 80 milliamps when powered on, indicating underlying issues.
Deducing that the liquid damage might have caused extensive problems, I decided to halt further efforts on this console. While disappointing, the console could still provide useful parts for future repairs.
Next, I turned my attention to a promising PlayStation 5 digital edition I purchased for £140. The listing mentioned a booting issue, where it enters the safe mode screen and powers off. Upon powering it up, it emitted several beeps, which typically indicate a hardware problem.
To investigate further without diving too deep into potential repairs, I attempted to access safe mode to no avail, prompting a thorough disassembly to check for obvious issues. Thankfully, I expect an easier fix considering this model doesn't feature a disc drive.
Upon examining the internal components, I discovered a chewed LED ribbon cable, which, when replaced, resolved the beeping issue. Success! I was able to get the console running smoothly, and it connected seamlessly to the HDMI, confirming that the fix was indeed successful.
After recording the updates in Sally’s spectacular spreadsheet, I noted that the Nintendo Switch had sold for a disappointing net of £13.20. However, I’m hopeful for the PlayStation 5, estimating a sale price of £230, giving us a potential profit of £70.
After today’s repairs, our actual estimated profit is now up to £92.95, showcasing that we’re finally on the upswing. With a newfound optimism, I'm excited to keep pushing forward in this journey of fixing electronics for profit.
Stay tuned for the next episode where I will continue my quest of bringing faulty electronics back to life!
Keywords
faulty electronic items, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, ultrasonic cleaner, liquid damage, repair, profit, eBay, restoration, APU, RAM
FAQ
Q: What types of electronics do you fix for profit?
A: I primarily focus on gaming consoles and other electronic items.
Q: How do you determine the value of a broken item?
A: I estimate the selling price based on similar listings on platforms like eBay.
Q: What’s the first step you take when you receive a faulty item?
A: I conduct a visual inspection and clean the item before performing any repairs.
Q: What do you do if the repair fails?
A: If the item can’t be fixed, I salvage parts for future repairs or sell them.
Q: How do you keep track of your profits and losses?
A: I maintain a detailed spreadsheet that logs all my repairs, sales prices, and costs.