Hacking Hardware Picofly - a HWFLY switch modchip

[Vigintiduo]

Is there any actual problem with having the two 3.3v caps soldered together on oled Switch? I ended up bridging them and have been trying to remove the solder without success.
However, they're already on the same line, right?
Shouldn't it be fine as long as I don't short the leftmost one with the gnd from the little cap below?

Of course I can't have a peaceful install.
Soldered the wire back on both capacitors but I ended up getting a VERY sketchy diode mode reading, about only 0.065 of voltage drop, while I had 0.830~ before.
That makes me think that I have a short somewhere, but I just can't find it.
I made some pictures of the area (also one with a syringe needle to show that there's some distance between the 3.3v cap and gnd).
What's bugging me is that there's something looking like mild trace rot in front of the 3.3v points, maybe because I tried too hard to desolder them.
Any ideas? I should I proceed to address this issue? I've thought about air reflowing the area but I'm waiting for some input before I do any further damage

 

[karatefeet]

Of course I can't have a peaceful install.
Soldered the wire back on both capacitors but I ended up getting a VERY sketchy diode mode reading, about only 0.065 of voltage drop, while I had 0.830~ before.
That makes me think that I have a short somewhere, but I just can't find it.
I made some pictures of the area (also one with a syringe needle to show that there's some distance between the 3.3v cap and gnd).
What's bugging me is that there's something looking like mild trace rot in front of the 3.3v points, maybe because I tried too hard to desolder them.
Any ideas? I should I proceed to address this issue? I've thought about air reflowing the area but I'm waiting for some input before I do any further damage

I would go in with some flux and wick to clean the area out completely then try again.

 

[Vigintiduo]

In the end I did both that and a bit of a reflow while shielding most of the other areas with kapton.
The issue seems to be gone, but I'm still not pushing my luck and I won't turn it on right away.
Now, since that trace where the two 3.3v points are sitting doesn't look the best, would it be a wise idea to scratch a bit of the trace and run a 0.2mm wire to the caps? Just as a safety measure

 

[ancylow]

Hi. I found In AliExpress a lot of Instinct clones with RP2040 chip. They are about 10€, and I suppose the installation in OLED is toooo much easy and clean with flex cables. Anybody try them? Assume they use picofly firmware.
Thanks!

 

[deeps]

Hi. I found In AliExpress a lot of Instinct clones with RP2040 chip. They are about 10€, and I suppose the installation in OLED is toooo much easy and clean with flex cables. Anybody try them? Assume they use picofly firmware.
Thanks!

They may work, but do not expect any support in this thread if it doesn't.

 

[nclabz86]

Hi. I found In AliExpress a lot of Instinct clones with RP2040 chip. They are about 10€, and I suppose the installation in OLED is toooo much easy and clean with flex cables. Anybody try them? Assume they use picofly firmware.
Thanks!

its work, its depends on ur micro solkdering skill
but from my experience its work

 

[Myst0gan]

It can also be caused by wires, either too long, too fat, too thin whatever. Try with sda and scl points too.
I had the same issue on switch Lite, because of the wires being too long, SDA and SCL solved the problem

hey guys, having a hard time finding info on this. OLED with rp2040 hwfly. Finished install and only boots to OFW. checked flashing rellow code and get this
CPU always reach BCT check (no glitch reaction, check mosfet)
but obviously cant find much else after that. Any advice?

its been a while....heres my share for this thread i outsourced the thinnest chip that i can find no more adding resistor
just solder.,...the cpu side i used the nx sx flex cable to make work easy and clean too...have a good day

Post automatically merged: Nov 25, 2023

aand another one this one is a NSWITCH V2 same install method i use a cpu flex for easy work make it nice and clean,,,oh and i insulated the jumper pinouts using uv solder mask just to make my connections strong...have a good day guys

Where did you get that board from??

 

[superxoi]

time for stocking guys. the price is good now.

 

[Frays]

Hi there, is pico fly compatible with waveshare rp2040tiny?

 

[Dk2022]

Hi there, is pico fly compatible with waveshare rp2040tiny?

Yes

 

[QuiTim]

Hi there, is pico fly compatible with waveshare rp2040tiny?

Not to be rude or anything but if you are attempting this, the first thing you should do is read the Guide. And on the guide, one of the many things explained is the type of devboards compatible with this mod. Cheers

 

[Frays]

Not to be rude or anything but if you are attempting this, the first thing you should do is read the Guide. And on the guide, one of the many things explained is the type of devboards compatible with this mod. Cheers

Thanks for the reply, I'll delve into the writeup.

Edit: would you mind sharing a link to the guide?

 

[deeps]

Thanks for the reply, I'll delve into the writeup.

Edit: would you mind sharing a link to the guide?

Here: https://gbatemp.net/download/a-definitive-picofly-install-guide.37968/download

I find it a bit lacking though - the mosfet install photos are confusing. I think there should be a clear single-mosfet install photo as the recommended default. The only single mosfet install photo in the guide has a capacitor missing which just adds to the confusion
Also, it still recommends 47 ohm resistors by default and to only add extras when it doesn't work properly - total waste of time, just use 100 ohm by default (for dat0/cmd)

 

[QuiTim]

Thanks for the reply, I'll delve into the writeup.

Edit: would you mind sharing a link to the guide?

To add up to depps input above, attached you have some pics 2 are for the mosfet on apu install and one is for mosfet on the front of pcb (abal's method). And one more with rp2040 with 2x100ohm and 1x47ohm resistors in place (as per deeps suggestion)
Good luck on your installation.

 

[snaker]

To add up to depps input above, attached you have some pics 2 are for the mosfet on apu install and one is for mosfet on the front of pcb (abal's method). And one more with rp2040 with 2x100ohm and 1x47ohm resistors in place (as per deeps suggestion)
Good luck on your installation.

Can you give me a link of what wire you use for the mosfet install. I use 30 awg cynar wire but your wire seems easier to manipulate.

 

[QuiTim]

Can you give me a link of what wire you use for the mosfet install. I use 30 awg cynar wire but your wire seems easier to manipulate.

Sure thing
This is the red one: https://a.aliexpress.com/_mLJ7hOC
The yellow one is a bit thicker (maybe .25) and i pulled that out of a PSU cooler motor.

 

[RedDragon777]

Hi all.

When i connect powersupply connector to motherboard The led flashes as you can see in the video.When i push the power button,the chip is not glitching.The console booting to ofw.The picofly programed with 2.76 fw.Whats the problem?

 

[QuiTim]

Hi all.

When i connect powersupply connector to motherboard The led flashes as you can see in the video.When i push the power button,the chip is not glitching.The console booting to ofw.The picofly programed with 2.76 fw.Whats the problem?

Reply on the AIO thread you posted earlier

 

[thaikhoa]

Hello,

I have a very bad day. I've dropped the screw driver on the SD/Gamecard board of my Switch oled and one of the capacitor (or so) has come off the board. Luckily, both SD and gamecard still working good. If you have experience if the capacitor will affect anything please let me know.

Thank you.

 

[nclabz86]

Anyone using lexar SD card when installing picofly ?


I got failed to init sdcard msg and cant boot to hekate


When i try sandisk sdcard it can boot to hekate

But when i try this lexar on my hwfly it can boot normal
Is thia lexar not compatible with picofly ?