Anyone handy with Electronics? (Electrical Engineering Skills etc)

[Doggcow]

I have a set of headphones I like, and they have an exceptionally log headphone cable, I was wondering if anyone here had some electrical engineering schooling or anything that could help me shorten them. I'd be willing to pay $20 and bring them to you when I'm in denver (or mail the cord).

I know its possible to just snip the wire and then attach them to a knew stereo plug, I just don't really have the expertise to do it.

Thanks!

[Gort]

Originally Posted by Doggcow

I have a set of headphones I like, and they have an exceptionally log headphone cable, I was wondering if anyone here had some electrical engineering schooling or anything that could help me shorten them. I'd be willing to pay $20 and bring them to you when I'm in denver (or mail the cord).

I know its possible to just snip the wire and then attach them to a knew stereo plug, I just don't really have the expertise to do it.

Thanks!

anybody with a soldering iron can make the fix for you. check with your neighbors or friends... somebody probably has one. somebody with electronics tech background would be preferred because they'll probably have some heatshrink tubing to make the whole thing look professionally done.

[Doggcow]

Originally Posted by WhoIsJohnGalt

anybody with a soldering iron can make the fix for you. check with your neighbors or friends... somebody probably has one. somebody with electronics tech background would be preferred because they'll probably have some heatshrink tubing to make the whole thing look professionally done.

do I just need to strip each wire and then connect it to a plug I get at radio shack? I was thinking it would be moderately difficult.

[Gort]

Originally Posted by Doggcow

do I just need to strip each wire and then connect it to a plug I get at radio shack? I was thinking it would be moderately difficult.

i would say it's easier to cut the section out of the wire, than at the plug.

O-O==============================E plug
            ^          ^
            |          |
cut here ---+          +--- cut here


then just solder the 2 end sections together, disposing of the middle section.

O-O=========S=========E plug
            ^
            |
            +--- solder here

it's pretty simple. anyone with a soldering iron will know how to do it for you. there shouldn't be any issues with left channel vs. right channel, but just in case the plug has a direction to it, mark one of the wires on both sides of the cut so you know which wire connects to which wire when soldering them together. i'm not sure what your wire looks like, but the person with the soldering iron will probably also know enough to make sure the 2 wires don't short against each other after the soldering, using heatshrink of staggering the connection points as necessary.

a person with heatshrink tubing would slide a 1" - 2" section over one of the cut ends before soldering the 2 end sections back together. when all is done, you slide the tubing over to the connection point, run a hair dryer over it for a minute and it would shrink to seal the connection and make it look professional. lacking that, you can cover the connection point with electrical tape, but if you ever leave it in the sun, the tape will get gooey and might start to slide.

[Gort]

one other thing. murphy's law says that once you do this, you'll find some scenario where you'll regret the cable not being longer. if you can buy a plastic zip tie at the local hardware store (they cost pennies), why not consider just looping up the "excess" length near the plug (like you would when storing a garden hose) and tying it with a zip tie. the net effect will be a cable that acts like its shorter than it is, without ever having to cut or solder or modify it in any way. then one day when you need it to be longer, you can just cut the zip tie off.

[Doggcow]

I did the looping thing, and now the wire is frayed from the constant weight and bending in the plug I think (it only works when I bend it the right way.

[Bronco Yoda]

I'm no Electrical Engineer but I did stay in a Holiday Inn once...