PS4 Controller Breakout Board PCB
by bekathwia in Circuits > Electronics
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PS4 Controller Breakout Board PCB
![Making Broken PS4 Controllers Useful Again](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FAH/J0KL/L7Q7D23P/FAHJ0KLL7Q7D23P.jpg&filename=Making Broken PS4 Controllers Useful Again)
![becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-00.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F5E/JBWD/L7HMQVEP/F5EJBWDL7HMQVEP.jpg&filename=becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-00.jpg)
![becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-08.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F3S/6GP5/L7HMQVF4/F3S6GP5L7HMQVF4.jpg&filename=becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-08.jpg)
In this Instructable, I'll describe the process I used to create a breakout board for my broken PS4 controllers. When I took mine apart, I discovered that most of the buttons connect via a membrane keypad, and a custom PCB would be required in order to make the necessary matching contacts.
Supplies
- PS4 controller with a bad brain and/or battery
- Small screwdriver
- Solderless breadboard
- Header pins and/or prototyping wires
- 2x tiny tactile switches
- 1x small tactile switch
- 2x joysticks
Custom Board Outline
![becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-09.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FOI/ZJLX/L7HMQVF5/FOIZJLXL7HMQVF5.jpg&filename=becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-09.jpg)
![becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-01.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F1I/MODK/L7HMQVES/F1IMODKL7HMQVES.jpg&filename=becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-01.jpg)
I traced the board outline from some scans of stripped-down PS4 controller boards I found online using Adobe Illustrator. I exported this outline, also containing the nonplated through holes, as a DXF. I used Fusion 360 to design this PCB, and was able to import the DXF into the 3D space, then push it to a board outline in the electronics space. The NPTHs were automatically recognized as such. I 3D printed this shape to test its fit in the controller, and the registration pins lined up beautifully.
Device Footprints and Routing
![becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-06.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FB6/BWET/L7HMQVF1/FB6BWETL7HMQVF1.jpg&filename=becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-06.jpg)
![becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-07.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F3A/QU3Z/L7HMQVF2/F3AQU3ZL7HMQVF2.jpg&filename=becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-07.jpg)
I created a new device for the membrane contacts, spacing the pads using measurements from the original board scan. I also modified the footprint of an existing joystick to match the dimensions of the one used on the PS4 controller. Here are the Fusion 360 tutorials I followed:
Order Boards and Assemble Prototype
![becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-02.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FQP/4426/L7HMQVET/FQP4426L7HMQVET.jpg&filename=becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-02.jpg)
I got my initial prototype boards printed at OSH Park. I soldered on the joysticks and header pins, and connected up some prototyping wires to extend out the back of the controller, where I had cut a hole.
Connect to Solderless Breadboard
![becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-03.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F21/LI1B/L7HMQVEW/F21LI1BL7HMQVEW.jpg&filename=becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-03.jpg)
![becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-04.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F2N/Y8IL/L7HMQVEX/F2NY8ILL7HMQVEX.jpg&filename=becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-04.jpg)
I reverse-engineered the connections by hooking everything up to a solderless breadboard, and probing each wire with an LED while pressing the buttons on the controller. Eventually, I could work out which pins connect to what switch.
Revise and Enjoy!
![becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-13.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F7E/ZT8D/L7Q7CXRN/F7EZT8DL7Q7CXRN.jpg&filename=becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-13.jpg)
![becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-05.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FMF/44FG/L7HMQVF0/FMF44FGL7HMQVF0.jpg&filename=becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-05.jpg)
![becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-11.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FMX/V9OT/L7Q7CXRK/FMXV9OTL7Q7CXRK.jpg&filename=becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-11.jpg)
![becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-10.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FEI/SUI4/L7Q7CXRJ/FEISUI4L7Q7CXRJ.jpg&filename=becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-10.jpg)
![becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-14.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FYO/FHOM/L7Q7CXUR/FYOFHOML7Q7CXUR.jpg&filename=becky-stern-PS4-controller-breakout-14.jpg)
So I revised the design, consolidating ground pins, and adding in the speaker contacts and three mechanical switches that live under the trackpad and share/options buttons on the PS4 controller. I had the boards fabbed this time by JLCPCB. You can pick one up in my shop, and also download all the open source files on Github.
Bill of materials:
Thanks for reading my Instructable, and I look forward to hearing your PS4 controller upcycling project ideas in the comments!