Hacking How easy is it to break pin 10 with a paperclip jig?

[nickds25]

I am currently shorting pin 10 to pin 9 using a small screwdriver which seems to have nearly 100% success when it comes to booting into RCM mode, but I ordered a red paperclip RCM jig off eBay.

Should I stop using my screwdriver? Is the jig safer or is it actually more likely to break a pin?
I read in an older topic the paperclip jigs were unsafe, but I just wanted to make sure.

Thank you.

 

[ken28]

screwdrivers are even more likely to break something off.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I am currently shorting pin 10 to pin 9 using a small screwdriver which seems to have nearly 100% success when it comes to booting into RCM mode, but I ordered a red paperclip RCM jig off eBay.

Should I stop using my screwdriver? Is the jig safer or is it actually more likely to break a pin?
I read in an older topic the paperclip jigs were unsafe, but I just wanted to make sure.

Thank you.

Someone broke one of their pins with a paperclip and their JoyCon no longer works docked in the Switch.
I don't recommend either method. Get or make a proper jig, they don't cost much.

 

[nickds25]

I bought a 3d printed one off eBay that uses a small paperclip, I can't link to it because I'm a new user but if you could link me to a good jig I can buy on eBay, I'd really appreciate it.

 

[Mnecraft368]

I actually use a completely random type of "jig".
I put a wire into a hole that leads to ground on a spare LCD screen and hold it down with blue tack. Then I touch the other end to pin 10 and do the usual to get into RCM. Works **most** of the time.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I bought a 3d printed one off eBay that uses a small paperclip, I can't link to it because I'm a new user but if you could link me to a good jig I can buy on eBay, I'd really appreciate it.

@gamesquest1 was selling some, they have a teeny tiny Switch logo on them, so they should be easy to recognize. They look pretty good.
Otherwise there's a guy on here giving them away for shipping (which is like £2) but you need 100 posts to access the trading section.

 

[smileyhead]

Otherwise there's a guy on here giving them away for shipping (which is like £2) but you need 100 posts to access the trading section.

@nickds25 An alternative to this could be getting to 10 posts so you can PM him -- just so you don't have to get to 100.
Don't post shit, though

 

[Lacius]

This kind of paperclip jig works perfectly and has very little risk associated with it, since the ends of the paperclip don't actually touch anything important. Instead, the rails of the paperclip merely lean against the pins.
https://gbatemp.net/threads/paperclip-rcm-jig.502087/

 

[The Real Jdbye]

This kind of paperclip jig works perfectly and has very little risk associated with it, since the ends of the paperclip don't actually touch anything important. Instead, the rails of the paperclip merely lean against the pins.
https://gbatemp.net/threads/paperclip-rcm-jig.502087/

It can still put stress on the pins leading to them breaking.

 

[Lacius]

It can still put stress on the pins leading to them breaking.

If you apply too much pressure to the paperclip jig to get it in there, and the paperclip is not bent properly, then you are correct. However, if done properly, it should just slide in with a loose fit, and there's virtually no more risk than using a 3D-printed jig.

 

[gamesquest1]

yeah I now just use 0.4mm wire with a kink in it so the stress is on the wire not the pins, if the wire ends up getting flattened down you can always re-kink it, but after having a few people message me on ebay who have damaged their switch using paperclips/tweezers etc I am actually planning to get a bunch of replacement rails to resell

I guess it just depends on the paperclip I'm assuming some people have been using those big fat ones

 

[nickds25]

Actually I just tried using a wire connected to a a screw on the joy-con rail and it does work! Thanks.

 

[gamesquest1]

yeah, sure aslong as your not applying any major force onto the connector you should be fine, one of the people who messaged me said they had to jam the paper clip in and it got wedged and cracked the plastic when the pulled it out, so it did sound like they were using a particularly fat paperclip, luckily their switch still worked but would randomly say the joycon was disconnected

 

[subcon959]

0.4mm bare copper wire is ideal as it's both soft and springy. I made up some paperclip ones too but I think they are too robust and after repeated use are more likely to cause problems.

 

[cybrian]

I actually use a completely random type of "jig".
I put a wire into a hole that leads to ground on a spare LCD screen and hold it down with blue tack. Then I touch the other end to pin 10 and do the usual to get into RCM. Works **most** of the time.

Wait, what the fuck? You’re only connecting one end of the wire to your Switch?

 

[James310]

Wait, what the fuck? You’re only connecting one end of the wire to your Switch?

Sounds like it , I just connect it to the heatsink above the Switch...

 

[Sonto340]

Wait, what the fuck? You’re only connecting one end of the wire to your Switch?

Yeah you just have to short the pin so you can connect it to any ground and it’ll work fine.

 

[KazoWAR]

I was thinking of getting a spare joycon slider and using it for accessing RCM mode just to be safe.

 

[brollikk]

Hoping all is well, I ordered a jig from eBay.

 

[kevin corms]

I don't think you'll break it the first few times, but over a long period of time it seems risky.