PlayStation Portable

Charging port

The charging jack is soldered to the mainboard. If you are not comfortable with fine soldering, stop and have the port replaced by someone who is, rather than lifting a pad.

Diagnosing charging faults

If your PSP only charges when the cable is held at an angle, or stops charging entirely, the barrel-style power jack has likely loosened. Years of plugging and unplugging fatigue the solder joints that hold it to the board.

Rule out the easy causes first

Before opening anything, try a known-good charger and a different cable, and inspect the jack for bent pins or debris. A dead battery or a faulty adapter can imitate a broken port.

Confirm the fault
Wiggle-test the cable. If charging cuts in and out with movement, suspect the port's solder joints.
Expose the jack
Remove the battery and disassemble far enough to reach the charging port on the mainboard.
Reflow or replace
Reflow the joints if they are merely cracked, or desolder and fit a new jack if the port is worn.
Test under load
Reconnect power and confirm a steady charge indicator with the cable moved in every direction.

Preventing a repeat

Support the cable rather than letting it dangle, and pull from the plug, not the wire. tip On models that allow it, charging over USB takes strain off the barrel jack entirely.