Forum unusable. Where to use SET NAMES? Or do you have any other suggestions?

[DR_GIGGULS]

Hello

I would like vbulletin to fetch my databases using SET NAMES utf8
YES, I DO know about the config.php option, but I need it to be done elsewhere and to be hard-coded.

Where should I put this line? I can't find the mysql connect function...

I'll post my problem anyway.
Using the default option in the config.php:

$config['Mysqli']['charset'] = 'utf8';

I get the following error (and the forum says I'm banned when there are no bans at all):

Warning: array_keys() [function.array-keys]: The first argument should be an array in [path]/includes/functions.php on line 4107

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in [path]/includes/functions.php on line 4107

When I comment out the $config['Mysqli']['charset'] = 'utf8'; line, I get no errors, but the forum is unreadable.


So I figured trying to hard-code it might help.

Any suggestions?