The console will not play through normal av cables. only plays through an hdmi cable.

Sounds like your video settings are wrong. Since you were on the HDMI connection the video was outputting in HD. When you switched over to normal AV (composite) cables the video was still outputting in HD.

Simple fix: power off your PS3 (so it's in standby; red light is showing). Then turn it back on, using the power button on the console (not the PS3 controller) and hold down the power button until it beeps a second time (about 5 seconds). The video settings will reset to composite. If needed, change your video settings.

Normally I'd put down like 3 other things it could be (each worse than the last), but I'm fairly certain that this will fix it. If it doesn't, just say so and I have many a more potential fix available.

Hope it works!

OK try the AV cables first to see if all OK... Remember ALL HDMI cables are  NOT the same you MUST have the correct one for your PS3. Ensure you have the right one?

Well you can just use the hdmi cable if you're going both audio and video in to your tv. With your hdmi cable you get the best quality for both.

But in anycase, it seems that your PS3 is set up to output video via HDMI cable. To reset our video output settings, simply power down your PS3 (turned off) and hold down the power button until you hear the second beep. (around 5-10 secs) Power back up and hopefully you'll have video via your av cable. Hope this helps.

you have to manually change the output in the settings menu back to ANALOG Using an HDMI TV or monitor 1st, when you select RCA, or AV output and restart, it will work, but when you switch back, you have to change it (back to HDMI output) on the analog monitor, or use analog TV inputs, then reboot PS3 and connect HDMI.
I do not know why Sony did not make this switch automatic and self scanning on boot, but alas I have had the same issue, so I know this is your problem, not the AV cables.

Please give a fixya rating if you find this solves your problem, Thanks for the question

You can't get audio from HDMI cables. You have to connect the regular AV cables into your sound system first or you can use the digital output from the PS3 into your sound system if you've got the right cables. You'll also have to configure this through the audio settings. This should solve your problem. Let me know if it doesn't.

You have to reset the video. power off the button on the back and hold the power on button in the front while you turn it on it the back, hold the power on button in the front and it will reset the video!
AV
Good luck..

When you switch from one cable connection to another (Hdmi to AV etc) you need to reset the PS3 to its default settings. Basically what is happening is, your PS3 is set to HDMI, so when you plug in AV cables it doesn't know it. So you have to reset it. Hook your PS3 up to whatever cables (make sure system is fully off) then hold the front power button down for a few seconds.

Doing this will reset the display settings. You can then go into the XMB (main menu) and choose your connection. Although the PS3 should do this during the start up on its own.

Hope this helps.

change the sound output to HDMI? does the sound work on just like a normal tv channel?

Green bar or border is due to wrong AV Setting. To resolve this just insert the Blue-Ray DVD and begin to play. Press the Triangle button and select "AV Setting", in AV Setting change Video Output to RGB.

i currently have the exact same problem...i always play HDMI but i went home from college for thanksgiving and wanted to play on a regular AV jack TV, hooked up, and have no picture whatsoever...and i think it's because of the settings on the PS3 since it's set to send out an HD signal...Well i found this straight from Playstation3.com, on the support/troubleshooting section

"

• If the video output settings on the PLAYSTATION®3 do not match those of the cable or TV in use, there may be no picture. If the screen goes blank, turn off the system.
• Then, with only the PLAYSTATION®3 and the TV connected, touch the system's power button for more than 5 seconds to turn the system back on. The video output settings will automatically be reset to the standard resolution."

Hope it helps =)