Upvote Upvoted 0 Downvote Downvoted
Earbud issues
posted in Hardware
1
#1
0 Frags +

The left earbud on my earbuds finally broke. I'm pretty sure it's the wire since whenever I move the cable around, it starts working and stops whenever it moves again. I'm guessing it's how I carry it around with me since I just shove it in my pocket with my phone. How should I carry my earbuds around and if there's anything else that I should do to not let my future earbuds break so soon.

The left earbud on my earbuds finally broke. I'm pretty sure it's the wire since whenever I move the cable around, it starts working and stops whenever it moves again. I'm guessing it's how I carry it around with me since I just shove it in my pocket with my phone. How should I carry my earbuds around and if there's anything else that I should do to not let my future earbuds break so soon.
2
#2
8 Frags +

I don't think it's possible to not break earbuds

I don't think it's possible to not break earbuds
3
#3
1 Frags +
driftaI don't think it's possible to not break earbuds

I've had my apple earbuds from 2012, as long as you take care of them they should be fine

[quote=drifta]I don't think it's possible to not break earbuds[/quote]
I've had my apple earbuds from 2012, as long as you take care of them they should be fine
4
#4
-1 Frags +
VulcandriftaI don't think it's possible to not break earbudsI've had my apple earbuds from 2012, as long as you take care of them they should be fine

thi;s is true. i got some apple earbuds last september and they survived getting fully submerged in an upper decker and getting thoroughly cleaned after

[quote=Vulcan][quote=drifta]I don't think it's possible to not break earbuds[/quote]
I've had my apple earbuds from 2012, as long as you take care of them they should be fine[/quote]

thi;s is true. i got some apple earbuds last september and they survived getting fully submerged in an upper decker and getting thoroughly cleaned after
5
#5
5 Frags +

Here is the deal - since your earbud is already broken, you can't make it worse. So your choices are to fix it or buy new ones.

Here is how to fix it

Tools you need:

Wire strippers and cutters (usually it's an all in one package), electrical tape, a soldering iron, and tinning/solder.

Carefully disassemble the ear bud - you may be able to find youtube videos or guides on how to do this without breaking anything. Strip the insulation off of any wires you find PARTICULARLY near where the plastic bits of the earbud meet the wire (that's usually where breakage occurs). Eventually you'll find frayed wire.

Once you've found your offending wire, cut it. Then, take your freshly cut ends of wire together again, and start twisting them together with your fingers (twist them in opposite directions). If the wire is brittle you'll need to be careful or you'll break it all over again.

Once it's nice and tight, heat your soldering iron, and apply a few drops of solder/tinning to the wire where you twisted it together (to keep it in place). You don't need a big glob just a small bit. Once that's all done, tape everything up and if necessary reassemble the ear bud - and test it out. If you still don't have audio in your earbud, you've either screwed up somehow or there is another break somewhere else that you will have to find. It may also be possible, depending on how adept you are with wire cutters to preserve MOST of the insulation for the wiring, so you can have a nicer looking end product and not a big wad of electrical tape.

Also, if you get further down the wire make sure you keep the left and right wire separate lol.

It may seem like a lot of work but soldering is a *really* nice skill to have if you're into electronics because it can lead to being able to massively expand the life-time of most devices that rely on wiring, soldered connections (mechanical keyboards for example) or allow you to create frakenstein-esq monstrosities out of old disused peripherals. .

Here is the deal - since your earbud is already broken, you can't make it worse. So your choices are to fix it or buy new ones.

Here is how to fix it

Tools you need:

Wire strippers and cutters (usually it's an all in one package), electrical tape, a soldering iron, and tinning/solder.

Carefully disassemble the ear bud - you may be able to find youtube videos or guides on how to do this without breaking anything. Strip the insulation off of any wires you find PARTICULARLY near where the plastic bits of the earbud meet the wire (that's usually where breakage occurs). Eventually you'll find frayed wire.

Once you've found your offending wire, cut it. Then, take your freshly cut ends of wire together again, and start twisting them together with your fingers (twist them in opposite directions). If the wire is brittle you'll need to be careful or you'll break it all over again.

Once it's nice and tight, heat your soldering iron, and apply a few drops of solder/tinning to the wire where you twisted it together (to keep it in place). You don't need a big glob just a small bit. Once that's all done, tape everything up and if necessary reassemble the ear bud - and test it out. If you still don't have audio in your earbud, you've either screwed up somehow or there is another break somewhere else that you will have to find. It may also be possible, depending on how adept you are with wire cutters to preserve MOST of the insulation for the wiring, so you can have a nicer looking end product and not a big wad of electrical tape.

Also, if you get further down the wire make sure you keep the left and right wire separate lol.

It may seem like a lot of work but soldering is a *really* nice skill to have if you're into electronics because it can lead to being able to massively expand the life-time of most devices that rely on wiring, soldered connections (mechanical keyboards for example) or allow you to create frakenstein-esq monstrosities out of old disused peripherals. .
6
#6
0 Frags +

If you carry your earbuds around in your pocket alone unconnected to any device they should be alright. I've been doing hay and my apple earbuds haven't failed me since 2013

If you carry your earbuds around in your pocket alone unconnected to any device they should be alright. I've been doing hay and my apple earbuds haven't failed me since 2013
Please sign in through STEAM to post a comment.