PS3 Slim - Powering down at random intervals. Tried everything.

Hi! This is my first post. I’d really appreciate some help because this has become all-consuming and I’m at my wits end!

Some time last year, I realised that our PS3 Slim was completely powered off even though it was perpetually plugged in and only ever put in standby (by selecting ‘Switch off System’ from the menu). Occasionally, when we wanted to watch a DVD I’d just pull the cable out and re-attach it and we’d be fine until the next time where we’d find that it had completely powered off again. Rinse and repeat.

So, now we’re playing games and halfway through a session it powered off. Again, unplugging/re-plugging the cable gets us back. The time between shutdowns is totally arbitrary, could be 10 minutes, could be 10 hours.

One last point to note that I’ve since noticed is that now, when I select “Switch off System” to put it in standby, it completely powers down.

The first thing I do is take the case off and hoover/blow out where appropriate any fluff or dust I can see, which was very minimal in any case as it’s always been well venitlated. Try again, same thing. Next I do a factory reset, still the same issue.

So, now my first suspicions are with the PSU. I get on PSDevwiki and quickly discover that all PSUs are not equal in the complex world of PS3 models… So, I find the models that are compatible with my particular console.

I have a CECH-2003B with a EADP-220BB PSU. From what I can glean from PSDevwiki I can either replace it with the same (EADP-220BB) or an APS-250.

The EADP-220BB seems harder to find (presumably as it’s from an earlier model that was superseded) but I eventually source a reasonably priced APS-250 from ebay. Bear in mind I’m trying to drop as little money as possible on this relic!

It transpires that it has been refurbished (not advertised as such), but the seller swears it’s fully functional.

I fitted the power supply and when I power on I get three beeps, a brief yellow light, then a power off. When I refit my old one it performs as before.

Videos below…

With the APS-250 installed.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3QbbDZCc34zP3o...

With my EADP-220BB re-installed (still working, no damage done by the APS-250):

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5KRVXhRpEZYqnr...

It transpires further down the power supply page on psdevwiki that the connector for the controller is cn101 on my board and has a different pin order to all subsequent models including the APS-250 in my possession which has a cn201 connector. The only difference between the two is the order of the cables. At least, this is my understanding.

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With the fiasco unfolding I decide that rather than risk burning my house down, I’ll exhaust all other possibilities first. So, I have so far:

• Completely dis-assembled the console, and deep-cleaned every nook and cranny (again, was actually pretty clean, but hey).
• Removed the thermal paste with isopropanol and re-applied Artic MX4 paste.
• Changed the PRAM battery (I’m trying anything at this stage).
• Backed up the data, and replaced the hard-disk with a spare I had, then restored the OS and backup data. Still shutting down, still after a totally random amount of time.
• Finally, I bit the bullet and snipped the controller wires for the PSU, flipped them over and re-joined them in reverse order with screw-in connectors and re-tried the APS-250 I have. Different beeping and flashing (This time the fan doesn’t even start to spin up, if anything it’s a more alarming result) but I can only conclude I was sold a dud.

I have again re-fitted my original PSU and I’m all the way back to square one (working, but randomly powering off). Really just want to be enjoying some light, casual gaming with my kids and not dropping a substantial amount on a new console…

So that’s where I am! About ready to throw it in a skip unless anyone has any ideas…

Thanks!