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Replacing a headphone jack

post #1 of 6
6/20/11 at 9:24pm
Thread Starter 

Hello! Recently, my headphones jack became wonky and would periodically would shut off my the left cup from small movements in the jack. I am currently attempting to replace the jack with a new 1/8 plug from radioshack.

 

From my limited knowledge, I believe I need to ensure that each of the 3 wires, the left/right and grounding wires do not touch one another after soldering to their respective places on the new jack.

 

However, with my Razer Orca's, they wires are actually all touching one another in the first place once I've stripped the outer black jacket.

 

Taken from a cheap cellphone, but just to give a visual that the wires were not separated in the first place.

blurry.jpg

 

If I just continue on my merry way and solder each neatly to the respective positions would it still be ok?

 

Thanks!

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post #2 of 6
6/20/11 at 9:28pm

The wires are coated with enamel and you're not going to have much luck soldering them until it's been removed.

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post #3 of 6
6/20/11 at 9:45pm

You will probably want to use some heat shrink tubing after soldering, even though they are coated. You'll have to remove a portion of enamel off the wire tip for soldering... so that exposed part would need to be wrapped up.

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post #4 of 6
6/20/11 at 9:45pm

to tin those enamel wires, tin the tip of the soldering iron heat each wire until you see the enamel burn off and solder gets pulled into the wire, add some more when this happens.  Then continue to solder to connector as per usual. 

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post #5 of 6
6/21/11 at 12:24pm
Thread Starter 

Ahh gotcha. First I gotta remove the enamel at the tips for a good connection, use some shrink wrap to more securely separate the wires, tin the ends then finally solder them to the connector as usual.

 

Thank you for the help! Greatly appreciated!

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post #6 of 6
6/21/11 at 1:56pm

I like to use a lighter and watch the ends burn off biggrin.gif. Just gotta be careful cause it burns quick

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