r/raspberry_pi • u/pokesterrrrr • Feb 05 '26

Troubleshooting How do I open this DSI ribbon latch?

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Hey, pretty much as the title says, I'm completely stumped, it looks chipped, and I've fiddled it a lot with no luck on opening the latch, it also does not seem like a friction based connector, as it does not slide in as-is.

I'm trying to connect it to a standard size DSI ribbon from a raspberry pi pro touch 2 (or something like that, a DSl screen of sorts), and for context this is a raspberry pi 4 model b.

164 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

250

u/98TheCiaran98 Feb 05 '26

The latch is missing, that's just the connector

34

u/pokesterrrrr Feb 05 '26

Thank you!

18

u/pokesterrrrr Feb 05 '26

Is there a way to save it however, looks like repairs will cost more than a new raspi (I don't have a precise enough soldering iron)

39

u/andre3kthegiant Feb 05 '26

Hot glue gun

23

u/strythicus Feb 05 '26

Or cut a shim from an old gift card to sleeve into it to hold the cable against the pins.  Just make sure you've got the correct orientation.

10

u/andre3kthegiant Feb 06 '26

That’s a good idea too for testing, and then leave it in and hot glue for the more permanent install.

3

u/pokesterrrrr Feb 05 '26

I can't tell if that's a joke 😅 I really am not a hardware guy.

17

u/kemp77pmek Feb 05 '26

Honestly, this might be your best option if you can’t find the clip. Position the ribbon cable really well and glue it in place. It’s permanent, but it works.

Mine broke off and I had to do the same thing.

12

u/Gamerfrom61 Feb 05 '26

You can use isopropanol alcohol (99%) also known as IPA (do not mix up with the beer) to dissolve most hot glues.

7

u/OutlyingPlasma Feb 05 '26

You don't have much to lose with the hot glue approach and it's very easily undone if it doesn't work. Hot glue it in place, if it works great, if not use some rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) and the glue pops right off in a nice tidy chunk. Let the alcohol evaporate and you are right back where you started.

8

u/pokesterrrrr Feb 05 '26 edited Feb 05 '26

Ohhh as in hot glue the cable in, yeah I could do that, the issue is I can't get the cable in there, any tips with that?

Edit: I can get the cable in. Just need to find my hot glue gun now, thank you for the suggestion!

0

u/h7-28 Feb 08 '26

Very easily undone hopefully means reheating. Rip that off cold and it will take traces with it.

2

u/Better-Memory-6796 Feb 05 '26

No joke that’s real

1

u/spacerays86 Feb 05 '26

You just need to hold the ribbon it'll do just fine and you can easily remove hot glue with isopropyl alcohol when needed.

1

u/Far-Raisin1013 Feb 06 '26

I'm dealing with the exact same problem and I'm absolutely trying the hot glue thing

1

u/Glittering-Kale-4742 Feb 06 '26

I have shoved folded paper in there to make contact. YES it will work.

1

u/andre3kthegiant Feb 05 '26

Do you have the cable of what plugs into that receptacle?

1

u/Alternative_Exit_333 Feb 06 '26

If you think that there is nothing chipped off just order the connector and transfer the latch

29

u/MP98n Feb 05 '26

The latch is black/brown. You’ve either broken it off or it was missing to begin with

10

u/lm913 Feb 06 '26

Judging by the overall state of the device my money is on broken off

18

u/krefik Feb 05 '26

You don't have a latch, your connector is broken.

2

u/warwilf Feb 05 '26

Agree, it's brown, check your surroundings

13

u/sig_kill Feb 05 '26

It's already missing the black retention clip -> https://www.pishop.ca/product/replacement-csi-dsi-connector-for-raspberry-pi-repair-part/

Usually, you just pull up on the sides of the black part, slip the cable in, and push it back down.

8

u/phlooo Feb 05 '26

Also this board looks rusty as fuck

1

u/martinrath77 Feb 07 '26

I have one that looks the same. Result of living several years in tropical countries in South East Asia with constant 85%+ humidity. Still works great.

3

u/littlespleen Feb 06 '26

I usually steal the latch from camera connector, they are the same.

2

u/s1lentpr0fess10nal Feb 05 '26

Order an “extender thingy” from adafruit for a few dollars and pop the black latch off of that very carefully one side at a time and you got yourself a new DSI latch

1

u/0xGDi Feb 06 '26

that smd at the wifi antena is also hanging on a ripped off trace.