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r/PSP • … • u/k_rollo

DIY Solderless Baryon Sweeper for Absolute Beginners (with photos)

>***DISCLAIMER*** *Follow this guide EXACTLY. No support will be provided for steps and/or components that deviate from the provided instructions. Modify at your own risk.*

# What is it?

The Baryon Sweeper is a modern unbricking tool that evolved from the classic Pandora Battery. It works universally on all PSP models - 1000, 2000, 3000, Go, and Street. By emulating the official Sony JigKick service tool, it triggers a hidden diagnostic mode to revive previously irrecoverable models.

# Why write this?

This guide aims to complement u/khubik's original guide, with close-up photos and additional details for the absolute beginner. You're expected to at least know your way around Windows.

This is a minimalist build to keep it simple and very low cost. We'll focus on the 1000/2000/3000 setup, since the 3000 is the model I own.

# Before You Begin (Don't Skip)

Watch the videos below to make full sense of the steps outlined here.

* [PSP-3000 Baryon Sweeper (Solderless) Unbrick Guide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiyRU0H7CU8) \- original guide, use the timestamps in the comments by **EmuBytes** (me) for quicker viewing * [How to Use a Breadboard](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtiJz7gh1VU&t=3m56s) \- skip to 3:56 "which holes are connected"

It's all right if you don't understand everything at this point. Simply familiarise yourself with the basic concepts and overall process.

# What You Need

While often used to refer to the physical build, the "Baryon Sweeper" is the combination of software (pysweeper) and hardware (adapter) to trick the PSP into service mode.

**Software**

[DCARK](https://github.com/PSP-Archive/ARK-4/wiki/DC%E2%80%90ARK%E2%80%90Maker) / [Aiseirigh](https://github.com/TheZett/aiseirigh) / [DC8](https://www.gamebrew.org/wiki/PSP_Grader)

This is the actual recovery software installed on a "Magic Memory Stick" to flash OFW or CFW. DCARK and Aiseirigh work universally for all PSP models. Use DC8 as a fallback for older 1000/2000 models if the other two don't work (incompatible with 2000v3 or newer).

JigKick Media Creator is obsolete.

[CP210x Universal Windows Driver](https://www.silabs.com/software-and-tools/usb-to-uart-bridge-vcp-drivers?tab=downloads)

This is the official CP2102 driver from Silicon Labs. Don't rely on default Windows drivers.

[Python 3](https://www.python.org/downloads/)

This is required to run pysweeper. Refer to the original video to install `pycryptodome`, `tk`, and `pyserial` packages.

The `requests` package is optional.

[pysweeper](https://github.com/khubik2/pysweeper)

This is the JigKick emulator that recreates the handshake between the official Sony service battery and the PSP in combination with the physical adapter.

If successful, the service mode is triggered, allowing to boot directly from the Magic Memory Stick.

**Hardware**

![img](l06b3kqryu3h1 "1x (mini) breadboard")

The power bus (+/- lanes) on larger breadboards isn't needed. The CP2102 module will take power directly from the PC via USB.

![img](o6rjcn2k8e8h1 "1x Silicon Labs CP2102 USB-to-TTL (5-pin)")

Look for the "SILABS" branding on the centre chip. No support will be provided for the [6-pin multifunction variant](https://www.reddit.com/r/PSP/comments/1tq3lbv/comment/osq8o08/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button).

![img](14zqjx5i1v3h1 "1x 1N4148 diode")

Cut the legs around twice the length of the exposed pin on the jumpwires. You can shorten the legs when you do the wiring later. It should sit flush on the breadboard as a best practice.

![img](cowx9l702v3h1 "3x round-head male-to-male jumpwires (10-15cm)")

While longer wires can work, keeping them short minimises signal interference or loose connections. Black/Yellow/Orange follow electrical convention, but any colour will do.

![img](5co1ef2n2v3h1 "1x female-to-male USB-A cable extender")

USB 3.x is generally preferred for CP2102. It provides improved data stability, power headroom if needed, and presents no drawbacks when using a 3V3 configuration.

![img](y68zy8ebbh8h1 "1x DC power source")

This shows a powerbank with a USB-C to DC cable adapter. You can use any normal PSP charger.

![img](nf8p4927hbbh1 "1x Magic Memory Stick")

It's *strongly* recommended to use a genuine Sony/SanDisk/Lexar 1-4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo. Larger capacities and microSD adapters may fail.

# Build Your Adapter

![img](5sjkac9r2y6h1 "Stick the CP2102 module into the breadboard. Connect the negative end (black band) of the diode to the TXD row, and the positive end to the RXD row.")

If you get a "No port echo detected" error in pysweeper later, it's almost always caused by using CH340, wrong switches on a multifunction CP2102, loose wiring, or putting in the diode backwards.

![img](qkx4t7q07v3h1 "Connect the wires to GND (black), RXD (yellow), and 3V3 (orange). The diode bridges the TXD and RXD rows to create a single data line on the yellow wire.")

Don't use +5V unless you have a 10 kΩ resistor. However, this is unnecessary because the 3V3 suffices without it.

![img](3s4z1i6h9v3h1 "Your completed adapter should look like this.")

Assuming you've done both software and hardware preparations, you're ready to start unbricking your PSP!

# How to Use

![img](704hndhgav3h1 "Connect the adapter to your PC via USB using the cable extender.")

The LED on the CP2102 module will light up.

![img](5ke33ybyev3h1 "Refer to video for installing and running pysweeper.")

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