How to solder the plug to the headphones yourself

The most common problem during the operation of the headphones is the bending of the wire and a gap at the junction of the cable with the plug. Usually, with such a malfunction, the device loses sound on one or two speakers at once.

Also, the sound on the headset may disappear if the plug itself is malfunctioning. In this case, the only way to fix the problem is to completely replace the plug. Absolutely every user can change the plug, this may require several tools and materials, as well as a little experience with a soldering iron.

What tools to cook

First of all, you need a new connector. Typically, headphones use a 3.5 mm mini jack format. By design, it is similar to a similar 6.3 mm connector, but accordingly has smaller dimensions.

You will also need a soldering iron, solder, rosin, as well as insulating material or heat shrink.

Also, tweezers or special clamps can be useful for a more comfortable soldering process.

REFERENCE! When choosing a soldering iron, it is better to choose a device with a small tip thickness, otherwise the soldering process may be inconvenient.

What is a headphone plug and when should it be changed?

The headphone plug is made according to the standards of the mini Jack 3.5 mm jack. It is a cylindrical port, on the surface of which contacts are located. Such connectors are of two types - three or four pin. The contacting surfaces are separated by black tracks and the type of plug can be determined by their number.

The contacts of the left and right channel, as well as the common one, are connected to the three-pin connector. In the four-pin plug, in addition to the common, left and right channels, a microphone channel is added, since such connectors are used on the headset.

Usually the plugs menu, in case of breakage or poor connection. Also, the connector can be replaced if before that the device was connected through 6.3 mm, but the adapter could not be found.

Instruction: how to solder the plug

Before starting soldering, conductive cables must be stripped. To do this, use a clerical knife or a lighter. After the wires are cleaned from insulation, it is necessary to check the operability of the plug. For three pin connectors, the test will consist in “ringing” with a multimeter of each of the conductive surfaces of the left, right, and common channel.

REFERENCE! Before you begin stripping, you should pay attention to the location of the wires connected to the channels. They should be written down or marked so that the left and right wires are not mixed up during soldering.

In the event that after "ringing" it turned out that one of the conductive surfaces of the connector was not a working plug, you need to replace it. You can replace a three-pin connector with a four-pin one, but in this case you should be careful with the conductive surface so as not to mix up the connected wires.

REFERENCE! If a replacement occurs and a three-pin plug is connected instead of a four-pin plug, the microphone will not work, since there is no separate place for it to connect the channel from the pickup device.

After the connector is selected, you should begin to solder the wires. To do this, on a cleaned and treated surface, placing the wire in place of the solder, apply a little solder and wait until it dries. Such a procedure must be done with each of the contacts, after which it is necessary to insulate all exposed surfaces of the connection.

REFERENCE! Before making insulation, you should ring the soldered wires with a multimeter to make sure that all the contacts are connected correctly.

When all the wires are soldered, the surface should be insulated and the device is ready for use.

The process of repairing a four-pin plug is almost no different. Except that there are not two but three information channels, since a separate microphone contact is added to the right and left.

REFERENCE! The basic contact is the so-called ground and is on all types of connectors.

Also, when working with a headset plug, you should carefully monitor the separation of sound and microphone channels, since if they come into contact with the pickup channel, information will be received. Which should go to the speakers. Which creates additional interference.

Why does not it work?

There are several reasons why the device does not work after repair.

Incorrectly connected contacts. In order to verify the correct soldering, you should disassemble the connector and check the correct connection with a multimeter.
Insulation between the channels is broken. If the soldering process did not occur accurately, a situation is possible where the insulation between the joints is broken. This may cause distortion of the sound or the absence of it completely. In this case, the connector must be disassembled and the contacts neatly soldered.
Wire malfunction. If the multimeter shows the health of the plug and all the contacts, but the device still does not work, the cause may be a broken wire. In order to check the performance. You should “ring” the entire cable from the beginning of the speakers to the end of the plug. Perhaps there are still places of kinks in which the integrity of the conductive material is violated.
Recommendations

There are a few basic tips to help ease the process of replacing a plug.

When soldering, use tweezers and a clamp, as this makes it easier to fix on the contacts.
To speed up the process of solidification of the solder, you should use a small desktop fan.
Soldering iron tip is better to choose a smaller size, as this will facilitate the soldering process.
According to safety precautions, soldering should be carried out in a well-ventilated area, since smoke from solder can be harmful to health if stored indoors.
The best way to extend the plug and protect it from kinks and damage is to use a heat shrink tube.
The power of the used soldering iron should not exceed 25 watts.
To facilitate the repair process and improve connections, rosin, solder grease, etc. should be used.