this post was submitted on 08 Feb 2024
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[–] [email protected] 26 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Higher quality, braided cables, if it's an option.

You could also try shrink tubing around the damage prone areas. Specifically shrink tubing that has the glue lining, that bonds when heated.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The cable is attached to the headphoes so the first isnt an option, Will the shrink tubes prevent the cable from rotating?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Not if you just apply it to the broken area, up to the 90 deg angle of the cord.

I admit though, I'm not sure the best way to address the wires that are already so exposed. Because I'd imagine there's currently risk of shorting.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Was reffering not if the plug will rotate in the jack, but if the wire will rotated relative to the plug, how it shouldnt br. The wires are insulated and still work tho

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It's true that the shrink tubing may make the cord more rigid where applied, depending on the tubing you use. But the trade-off is you get to continue to use your headphones.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Searched but only found 6-3 shrink tubes, that didnt fit on the plug, ant seem to find ones with glue, can I do somethink else?

[–] laverabe 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

It's sometimes easier just to replace the device, but if you really need to fix it you can buy the heatshrink tubing with glue inside (get a size big enough to fit over the connector, like 1" dia) and just kinda squeeze it together while it's burn-your-hand-hot. It's crude but works.

Alternately get a hot glue gun, put a dab in that area and quickly (while it's molten) wrap the area with some type of material like electrical tape carefully.

[–] linuxgator 8 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Wrap it tightly in electrical tape.

[–] Mr_Blott 4 points 9 months ago

Not electrical tape, but self-amalgamating tape

https://www.gammaelectronics.net/what-is-magic-tape/

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago

Tape, the good kind

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

If the electrical connections are still intact, you can use some glue or tape to stabilize it, to prevent it from breaking further.

To prevent it in the future: always pull cables out by the plug, never pull on the cable itself.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Glue on the wires? Yes they still make contact

[–] Buddahriffic 2 points 9 months ago

Also, an extension cable might help, depending on what is causing the wear. Not sure it applies in your case though (at first I thought it was a headphone cable plugged into a laptop, but looking closer it's looking more like a phone).

Bluetooth might be another option, if it's in your budget. I'm loving my Bluetooth bone conduction headphones.

[–] whynotzoidberg 1 points 9 months ago

For example, a big glob of hot glue in and around the affected area.

Glue will insulate and help mitigate more breakage.

I usually just use good electrical tape. Sometimes I splint broken cables with a couple plastic floss sticks, too.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

If those are headphones... Either use wireless ones or ones with detachable cables and replace them every year or so. When I used cabled headphones / headsets they all eventually broke at the cables. Either like those at the contact points from simply hanging off of their own weight or because the cable's plastic dried & cracked. I just went went wireless at some point at didn't look back, because I was just so sick and tired of it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Seems like a good opportunity to learn soldering.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Can not recommended, those headphone wires are clear coated for insulation, you'd need to burn that off before you'd be able to solder that.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Nothing a quick pass with a lighter can't fix.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Are you sure? They're separated by the outer insulation, they wouldn't need any clear coating unless it was some weird cost-cutting measure.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Pretty sure, at least the ones I tried soldering... In the picture there is no additional insulation on the the two copper bundles? Unless they are just shielding for actual insulated signal wire?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

Well the wires are still making contact so no need. I do have some old headphones where the wire is literally broken so there im gonna do it