Fixed iPhone cord - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cmac2012 · #1 04-18-2015, 02:42 PM

These damned things aren't cheap, about $20, and I discovered that the rumors are true about the cheap aftermarket knockoffs - that they are unreliable. I was in Oregon on the way back home when my $4 eBay cord wouldn't charge my nearly dead phone, this after a relatively short period of service. Luckly I had a genuine Apple product in my computer bag, cuz I needed that phone.

A few days ago I noticed one of my cords starting to self-destruct, see photo. The small housing is not very tough. One needs to grab it quite carefully so as not to pull on junction between the cord and housing. A client asked me once to try to repair one of his cords but it was beyond help - the wires had pulled out of the housing. These are not like fixing a lamp cord plug.

But mine still functioned, just probably not for long. So I used a leather scrap and epoxy to reinforce it. Had to wrap it sort of conically as the nub is bigger than the cord, of course. I used black electricians tape to hold it while drying. The flexibility of that stuff allows for stretching it to hold tight.

Worked pretty well, it's much easier to use than as originally configured. iBad.

kerry · #2 04-18-2015, 06:47 PM

Also nice to see an effective fix. Had a neighbor with a rotted bathroom floor yesterday. Three layers of chipboard and particle board rotted away in a 2x2 square. I told him not to despair. Twenty minutes and a bag of Quickcrete later the floor was ready for linoleum.

cmac2012 · #3 04-19-2015, 12:47 AM

What was under all of that to hold the quickcrete?

Lucas · #4 04-19-2015, 01:50 AM

Sometimes I use quickcreate on my iPhone cord. Works great.

It helps to rub on the connection with a pencil eraser.

Been wondering how to clean the connection in the phone.

cmac2012 · #5 04-19-2015, 03:34 AM

Quickcrete in the connection works wonders. Be sure to keep it moist while it's curing.

But no hey, who knows, maybe that cheapy cord of mine was just dirty. Dunno, it not charging seemed like bad ju-ju and me on the road needing to make connection with a female rider in Ashland with a very nice sounding voice.

I recently bought some spray electronic cleaner recommended for cleaning mass air sensors. Not as aggressive as carb or brake cleaner. I wouldn't use it cold on an iPhone but it makes me think there might be something like that recommended for the connection female part (be still my foolish heart).

The cord pictured in my stunning and noteworthy repair is an original iPhone cord. For the money they get they could make them a bit more robust. Same with my iPhone hands free device. Great speakers, good for just listening and the mic works well but I need to be real careful when I pull it out so I don't damage it. Just not much to grab on. Might give it the leather treatment.

Lucas · #6 04-19-2015, 04:54 AM

Ut oh. Leather. Does leathermange come into the open section?

Yes, spectacular repair. Better than stock. But you made the mistake of posting before applying for patten rights. We are working all night to get this filed first.

The deal with the crappy chargers, iPhone chargers need to be hot on the data ports as well. They use it for charging. Some cheap ones do not. Gotta find the ones that do.

Opposite problem when Garmin constantly thinks it's hooked to a computer.

I think can of air. But mine has so much buildup, I clean the male side all the time in hopes its attracting more out of there. My theory is based on absolutely nothing, just the only thing I can do.

Just watched the movie "Her." It made me realize how crappy our tech is. Even the advancement from his original OS where he had to listen to junk mail.

This concept could solve both problems. No need for the female rider and your OS could find out which cords work.

What pisses me off is how much more expensive the new style chargers vs the old.

elchivito · #7 04-19-2015, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

What was under all of that to hold the quickcrete?

That's what I was wondering.

I try not to move my iPhone cords around too much. Have one on the phone charging station at home that stays there and another at work, a car charger for the vehicle. It's the wrapping and unwrapping of the cord that does it in.
I tend to throw my phone in the open side pocket of painter pants I often wear. As I'm outside in the barn and pasture a lot I get hay dust built up in the power hole on the phone. The stuff gets really jammed in there to where the male end of the cord won't fully insert. A gently probing with a toothpick and then a blow out with canned air does the trick.

kerry · #8 04-19-2015, 11:12 AM

Solid original floor with its linoleum intact. House is probably 125 yrs old. I have a spray can of electrical contact cleaner. Got in the habit of buying it years when we had old TV's with manually turned tuners which would get dirty. Kept them alive.

Lucas · #9 04-19-2015, 01:54 PM

I would feel safe with the cleaner if I pulled the battery out. Or completely died. But still

I always recommend the incipio atlas case. Getting hard to find but just got a few of eBay. It's waterproof, compact, and has gorilla glass on the front. I have run it over with the Tractor. Jumped a 30' cliff in Hawaii. And obviously dropped it. Phone is 3 years old now. Zero problems.

cmac2012 · #10 04-19-2015, 02:21 PM

This is my first smart phone and I got the Otter Box at the T Mobile store. Seems pretty good, I like the rubber nubs that pop into the crucial ports when not in use to keep junk out. One day I was maneuvering in a tight spot on a ladder, past some ceiling joists and at one point I banged the spring clip on the holster hard enough to break it. I was pleased to learn that Otter Box would sell me the holster by itself for $15.

Yeah, I should've patented the repair. You'd think I would have learned by now after seeing people put their kids through college on the royalties from inventions of mine that I neglected to patent. DOH!!

Lucas · #11 04-19-2015, 02:28 PM

Otter box is good to. I have one on my 7" android tablet. Ran it over as well

Sometimes you can call and cry and they will give you a free one.

Oh we are lined up and I'm hitting the Asian market first.
Lol.

Whatever, wasn't your dream or path. Same here. Someone else is profiting on my build ups. If that makes sense. My next gig is turning out better. Honestly as long as I have food, a roof, and family or friends I'm good.

mytmousemalibu · #12 04-19-2015, 04:49 PM

I have always been an Android user and generally the cords have been trouble free but a quick look of Amazon found this iPhone cord http://www.amazon.com/Certified-i-Blason%C2%AE-Lightning-Display-generation/dp/B00N0EFO36

Its got good reviews and it looks pretty nice too, and cheaper than an original.

For a very good contact enhancer/cleaner, look no further than Stabilant 22. I love this stuff! If its used in aerospace, it is certifiably good! I had actually read somewhere that this is used on the triggering contacts in things like missiles and other military ordinance . It has some pretty unique desireable properties but unfortunately its very expensive! But if you got a bottle and use it very sparingly like you should, it will last a long time and find more uses for it. You can dilute it with pure alcohol to stretch it out a little. It has fixed a lot of pesky electronics issues for me in the past, its worth its weight in gold! http://www.amazon.com/Stabilant-5ml-Kit-Makes-30ml/dp/B001E50GQS

Lucas · #13 04-19-2015, 07:59 PM

Androids are great. I only got an iPhone because I would end tweaking the android so much it was unreliable. But they do so much more. Still have a tablet.

I'll have to get some of that stuff. It's constantly saying "device not supported." Not the phones fault, I'm hard on it.

mytmousemalibu · #14 04-19-2015, 09:11 PM

I don't know why the heck my post was duplicated, that was wierd.

Anyways, that contact enhancer is awesome, found out about it when I was a BMW tech, it was great for fixing the occasional electrical contact related issues. We could revive parts on the older cars that were no longer available. I keep a bottle at home and in my toolbox at work. Most recent thing I've used it on was my R/C race cars, my winter hobby. We run hi-power/hi-discharge lithium polymer batteries and many of us delete the little power switches that turn the cars on before & after the heats. Well the little buggers are prone to failure or impact switching them off, so we hard wire them on and the system is live when you plug the battery pack in and there is always a voltage snap/arc and it wears out the specialized and expensive terminal ends which are a pain to solder on too. I found that Stabilant 22 makes them last longer and provides a better, more reliable contact with less arc. When your leading a race, it sucks to have your car shut off on you!

Simpler=Better · #15 04-20-2015, 12:15 PM

Electrical contact cleaner is plastic safe, it's fine to use with pretty much anything. Keep it away from adhesives though, it will release them.

Deoxit pens are worth the $$ too.