Is there a way to fix a severed headphone or PC speaker cable?

[Hank Kinsley]

My girlfriend has 2 rabbits. they recently bit through my headphone cable and my PC speaker cable (the cable connecting the right speaker - thin wire). The headphones and speakers worked great before the biting. Is there a way I can just repair the headphone or speaker cable. It seems a little ridiculous to have to replace the whole pair if it's just the cable that has a small bite through it. This isn't the first time it's happened.


Oh yeah, stewing the bunnies, isn't an option..........yet

[edDV]

Sure
http://www.mmxpress.com/technical/connections.htm
http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/remotes-cables-accessories/5808-comprehensive-g...aker-wire.html

[Hank Kinsley]

My PC speaker cables have a copper wire, as well as a insulated (white) copper wire. The headphones (sony) appear to have 3 wires in them - green, red, and orange. The links you posted are more for car/home theater speaker wire.

[Number Six]

Just splice the wires together:

copper - copper
white - white
green - green
red - red
orange - orange

These are all low voltage wires.


Give the rabbits an electric extension cord to chew on - problem solved *


*JUST KIDDING!
Buy a SNAKE

[Supreme2k]

If you have a dollar store or flea market/swap meet near you, just pick up a dollar pair of headphones and use the cord.

[Hank Kinsley]

I tried splicing the speaker wires together, but it leads to inconsistent playback (sometimes working well, then crackling, then the right speaking cutting out). I stripped about and inch of plastic off both the main wire and the white insulated wire, keeping them separate. Then I twisted them together and made sure they weren't touching. Is there something else I can do to help improve the connection? I think I have a few of those electrical nuts around here, but no soldering iron.

Not very scientific, I know......that why I posted here!

[Number Six]

The wire nuts will work well, but it sounds like there is more than 1 bite mark in the wire - look for more damaged areas.

[edDV]

How does one get to Carnegie Hall?

Practice practice practice.

That and electrical tape (similar to gaffer's tape that keeps Broadway going).

Find it at Radio Shack, Home Depot/Lowe's, Walmart (cheaper) or similar.

[Hank Kinsley]

So you saying that electrical tape is all I need to fix the PC speakers? The headphone cables look more intricate - too intricate to use electrical tape.

My primary focus right now are my Sony headphones. This is pair #4 that the damn lagomorphs have bitten through!

[guns1inger]

This is pair #4 that the damn lagomorphs have bitten through!

As the higher brain functioning species, I would have thought you would have learned your lesson by now

The connections are simple wire to wire twist and tape jobs. Not difficult, but not pretty. If the creatures have chewed through at some point other than open cable then perhaps you need post pictures.

[johns0]

Best way to fix the wires is to solder them and use shrink tubing.

[AlanHK]

Some wire strippers are useful.
Otherwise, use a nice sharp craft knife or Exacto cutter.

Possibly the wire may be varnished, if so carefully scrape it to the bare metal.

Then twist thoroughly together, wrap each join with electrical tape, or heat shrink tubing if you have some (slide it on before you join, move it over the join, heat with a cigarette lighter or whatever.

[zoobie]

good lard...

[Hank Kinsley]

Thanks guys.

I'll try that on the speakers. The wires in the headphone cable are so fine though, it could be hard to do. I'll let you know how it goes. Btw, have any of you every done this before?

[hech54]

Btw, have any of you every done this before?

I've done it several times....especially with my old and beloved Sony
and Koss headphones.
I however took things a bit farther and completely took the headphones
apart....making sure to write down my own wiring diagram.
It doesn't take brains....just "balls" to dive in and do it.
You can easily buy a replacement cable or reasonable facsimile thereof
at places like Radio Shack since the hardest part is those damn moulded plugs
that you can't get apart.
You'll probably need to replace everything since you probably cannot
see all of the teeth marks left by the critter.

[Marvingj]

fix the wires by solder, that way they won't come apart..

[hech54]

Best way to fix the wires is to solder them and use shrink tubing.

fix the wires by solder, that way they won't come apart..

Have you two ever seen the type of wire the OP is talking about?
Solder....on the little bit of copper "thread" inside most headphone
wire made today?

[usually_quiet]

In the ounce of prevention department, something I have heard about for protecting the cables and cords from chewing pets: Thread them through PVC pipe cut into sections for a little flexibility.

[mikel]

When repaired, maybe coat the wires with something
distasteful to the critters...chili powder?

[johns0]

Best way to fix the wires is to solder them and use shrink tubing.

fix the wires by solder, that way they won't come apart..

Have you two ever seen the type of wire the OP is talking about?
Solder....on the little bit of copper "thread" inside most headphone
wire made today?

Yup,very tiny but can be soldered,done it many times.

[AlanHK]

Have you two ever seen the type of wire the OP is talking about?
Solder....on the little bit of copper "thread" inside most headphone
wire made today?

You get a blob of solder that dwarfs the fine wires going into it. Ugly, but perfectly workable.
You might get a piece of wood or plastic to act as a support for the wires so the join doesn't come under any tension.

[Hank Kinsley]

I was hoping to avoid solder, as I would have to go out and buy all the soldering stuff. I inspeced the cable, and the headphones only have the one bite in them. The PC speakers are crewed up good, but after a few minutes I had some sound out of them.

This might sound dumb, but does the electrical tape actually help the signal pass through the wire?

So here's what I'm going to do, based on what you guys have suggested.
- Cut the headphone cable in half (bite didn't get through all the cables)
- strip the wires back 1 inch
- separate the 3 sets of wires (green, red, orange)
- twist them together
- wrap each twist with tape
- prey

Does that look like a decent plan?

[johns0]

They will fall apart really easy if not soldered,better to buy new headphones and store them away when not being used.