S-controller Power Button

This tutorial details my personal method of putting a power button into an s-type controller. The point of this mod is to be able to turn the xbox on and off from the controller, without affecting the memory and live adapter slots.

Supplies needed:

soldering iron & solder
standard drill with 3/8" bit
dremel
momentary contact pushbutton(I recommend Radio Shack part#275-1571)
2 wires, approx 3" each(the thinner the better)
needlenose pliers, preferably two pairs

Getting started:

Open the controller, don't miss the screw under the label on the bottom.
Remove the top and bottom of controller shell, set guts aside for now
Grab the "top" (top from a playing perspective)
Drill a hole in the front side (side with memory slots)

This is approxamately where you want it, but it will need to line up with the gap between the screw-post and the Y-button, as shown here:
Next, use a dremel to hack off the side fin to the screw-post. This will give the button the extra bit of space it needs to fit. Try not to damage the spot where the Y button goes.
Stick the button in it's hole, to make sure it fits right. You might need to dremel more, or widen the hole a bit more, depending on how you're aim is.
When you're satisfied that the button will mount correctly, pull it back out. Heat up that soldering iron and attach the two wires to the poles on the back of the button.
Solder the other ends of the wires to the controller board. The points to hit are on the "top" of the board, in a row right up the center. You need to hit the 2nd and 3rd points from either the top or the bottom, depending on your controller. Check the bottom side where the controller wire attaches to the board. The points you need match up to where the yellow and small black wires connect.

The wires should not go underneath the right thumbstick, and also should not cover the pad for the right keypad, or the controller will not fit back together.
Carefully turn the controller board upside down and place it on the upside down controller shell "top". Slide the button into it's hole, and using two pairs of needlenose pliers, tighten down the mounting nut. Your controller should hopefully look like this now:
Carefully juggle the board above the shell top, while sneaking the buttons and button-pads back into their places. If you're wires are running right, the rubber pad that covers the Y button should fit. Now sit the controller board down, and put the bottom back on. Make sure that it seats well all the way around before putting any screws back in. If the shell doesn't come together correctly, try sticking a small screwdriver in to push your wires out of the way so it will close. If it all fits correctly, screw the controller back together. It should look like this:

To wire port1 in the xbox so it works with the controller button:

Follow the yellow wire out of port1 until it gets to the motherboard(or daughterboard if you have one). Cut it just before it ends, so you have as much length as possible. If your wires are wrapped around a magnet, remove the plastic covering and unwrap the yellow wire.
Locate the bunch of yellow wires that go from the motherboard to the front panel. You want to STRIP (not cut) the rubber coating off the wire that's closest to the port1, in the front row.
Wrap the end of the yellow wire from port1 around the stripped section of the wire going to the front panel. If you don't have a magnet on your controller port wires, you will have to extend the wire by about 2 inches to reach. Cover the connection with electrical tape, so it doesn't short on anything.
Plug in your modded controller, and try it out. It should turn the xbox on, and off when the extra button is pushed.
Pat yourself on the back, for a job well done.

The other questions I always get:

Will modding the controller port affect anything else?: Yes, you will no longer be able to use a lightgun, a steering wheel, or a steel battallion controller in port1. This isn't a big deal, as you can still use those in ports 2, 3, or 4.
Will the normal power button on the xbox still work?: As long as you only strip the wire going to the front panel, the normal power button will still work normally.
What happens if I use the modded controller in one of the other ports? Will anything bad happen?: It will work like a normal controller in an unmodded port. The power button will have no effect at all, good or bad. When the xbox detects a signal come down the yellow wire, it thinks you have just pushed the trigger on a lightgun. No big deal.

email Jeff (aweirdguy)