How to Make Your Own XBox 360 Power Supply

By Marshal M. Rosenthal

Updated September 22, 2017

Items you will need

  • Soft cloth

  • Long thin stick

  • Torx screwdriver

  • Phillips jeweler's screwdriver

  • PC power supply

  • Soldering iron

  • Solder

  • Electric wire

  • Wire strippers

  • Wire cutters

  • Connectors

  • Labels

  • Pen

  • Portable drill

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The Xbox 360 relies on a specialized power supply to provide the electricity needed for running the electronic components that make up the video game console. Replacing a defective power supply is not only costly but difficult since the it is must be ordered from a service center. You can make your own Xbox 360 power supply by adapting an inexpensive and readily available PC supply You will also need to make an alteration to the Xbox 360, so only do this if you are comfortable using a soldering iron. The power supply that you will make will work as well as the one that came with the Xbox 360.

Opening the Xbox 360

Put the soft cloth down on a table. Remove all of the cables from the Xbox 360 and put it down on the soft cloth. Remove the faceplate by grabbing the top corner with the left hand and squeezing while pulling up on the bottom with the right hand. Put the faceplate aside.

Push in the right side of the outer case and insert the long thin stick. Release the four tabs of the piece of plastic inside that is at the top. Push the power button and repeat the process on the right side to release the tabs.

Turn the Xbox 360 face down on the soft cloth. Pull up on the bottom shelf and remove the 14 screws with the Torx screwdriver. Return the Xbox 360 face up on the soft cloth and pull the outer case off of the bottom case. Remove the screws in the back panel with the Torx screwdriver. Remove the back panel and the two side panels.

Remove the screws from the metal shield with the Torx screwdriver. Pull the metal shield up and remove the eject button at the side using your fingernail. Put the metal shield aside.

Unscrews the DVD drive from the bottom case using the Phillips jeweler's screwdriver. Lift the DVD drive up and remove the two cables connected to it by pulling each cable straight out. Put the DVD drive aside. Remove all of the screws from around the motherboard using the Phillips jeweler's screwdriver. Pick up the motherboard and put it down on the soft cloth.

Altering the Xbox 360

Flip over the motherboard and put it down on the soft cloth. Locate the power plug and solder the one end of each of the wires to the following pins, which are labeled 1 to 10: solder one end of a wire to pin 1, 2 and 3; solder one end of a wire to pin 4, 5 and 6; solder one end of a wire to pin 7; solder one end of a wire to pin 8.

Attach a label numbered with the pin of the wire to the end of each of the wires connected to the power plug.

Use the portable drill to make a notch in the corner of the shielding of the motherboard so that the wires can be passed through. Push the wires through the notch. Make a notch in the bottom case with the portable drill and pull the wires through. Reassemble the motherboard to the Xbox 360's case. Reassemble the Xbox 360.

Solder a connector to the end of each of the wires coming out from the Xbox 360. Solder a connector to each of the wires coming from the PC power supply. Use the pen to put a numbered label on each wire with the name of the pin on it.

Solder the like numbered wires of the Xbox 360 and the PC power supply together. Let the solder cool.

Plug the PC power supply's AC cord into the wall socket. Turn on the Xbox 360 and enjoy using it with the power supply that you have made yourself.

Tips

Touch a metal part inside of the Xbox 360 to discharge static electricity before touching the motherboard.

Warnings

Never let a power supply get wet as it could cause an electrical short. Opening the Xbox voids your warranty.

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