USB Cable Soldering

My bunny chewed through my USB cable on my Wacom tablet, is it possible
to solder it back together so that it will work? I have never soldered
anything before, but it seems likely. It costs 48.50 to send it back
to the manufacturer and have them replace the USB connector so it seems
cheaper to have it soldered or do it myself.

Thanks!

Kimberly

 

[Rich Webb]

On 18 Feb 2005 16:32:48 -0800, kimberly.shaffer@gmail.com wrote:

My bunny chewed through my USB cable on my Wacom tablet, is it possible
to solder it back together so that it will work? I have never soldered
anything before, but it seems likely. It costs 48.50 to send it back
to the manufacturer and have them replace the USB connector so it seems
cheaper to have it soldered or do it myself.

Probably be simpler (and look cleaner) to just get an off-the-shelf USB
cable and whack off one end. Strip back the outer sheath (an inch?) and
enough insulation from the conductors (prob about 3/8 inch). Pop open
the Wacom and replace the (remains) of the original cable. You can use
electrical tape around the cable where it leaves the case for a chafing
barrier and a tie wrap around the cable on the inside to act as a pull
stop.

If the repair is in the middle of the cable then it's exposed to
flexing, being stepped on, etc. and is more likely to fail in the
future.

--
Rich Webb Norfolk, VA

 

[Rodney Kelp]

$48.00 for a cable? That's a ripoff. Go to a cable web site and get a new
one.


<kimberly.shaffer@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1108773168.875965.148010@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...

My bunny chewed through my USB cable on my Wacom tablet, is it possible
to solder it back together so that it will work? I have never soldered
anything before, but it seems likely. It costs 48.50 to send it back
to the manufacturer and have them replace the USB connector so it seems
cheaper to have it soldered or do it myself.

Thanks!

Kimberly

 

[Treeline]

<kimberly.shaffer@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1108773168.875965.148010@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...

My bunny chewed through my USB cable on my Wacom tablet, is it possible
to solder it back together so that it will work? I have never soldered
anything before, but it seems likely. It costs 48.50 to send it back
to the manufacturer and have them replace the USB connector so it seems
cheaper to have it soldered or do it myself.

Thanks!

Kimberly

The suggestion someone made of getting another USB and attaching to the tablet is fine.

If you never soldered before, and the wires are very thin, this is rather unlikely you can do a
good job easily. You also need the right tools. For example, some kid's game toy's wire was chewed
through. So I resoldered it for him but I used an adjustable low-wattage soldering iron with an
extremely small tip and even with a good bit of experience, it was dicey because I did it in his
home. In a shop, it would have been somewhat easier. The wires were thin and cheesy and easy to
break.

I would think any real TV repair shop, local, might be able to do it for half that amount if you
asked nicely. It depends, seems $40 is the minimum charge now but you might get lucky. A good
experienced tech could do this. They could easily outfit a new cord unless there is something very
strange about the tablet. I have not handled one of those tablet in years so I cannot remember much
how they were assembled. TV repair shops and such seem to charge less than computer repair shops.

In theory, you're 100% right.