Introduction: Fixing MacBook Pro Charger Cables (With Pictures!)
If you are anything like me, or I should say like my cat, you have a computer charger or two that have met an untimely fate due to sharp little teeth. I have gotten tired of replacing these chargers, as they are around $75 each time, and also don’t want to worry about replacing the cable itself. The following guide will explain how to fix these cables in case of breakage for the cable, not for the connectors, as I’ve never had a problem with those (knock on wood). The total cost of this repair to both of my chargers was under $15 including the new soldering iron and solder, electrical tape, and butt connectors.
The recommended minimum tools are:
• Wire strippers
• Wire cutter
• Electrical tape
• Bright light
Sort of optional things you might want:
• 22-18 Gauge butt connectors (or whichever wire connectors you would like to use). 2 per repair.
• Soldering iron, with rosin core solder.
• Tin foil (for performing the solder on) as well as collecting errant tiny pieces of wire.
The recommended minimum tools are:
• Wire strippers
• Wire cutter
• Electrical tape
• Bright light
Sort of optional things you might want:
• 22-18 Gauge butt connectors (or whichever wire connectors you would like to use). 2 per repair.
• Soldering iron, with rosin core solder.
• Tin foil (for performing the solder on) as well as collecting errant tiny pieces of wire.
Step 1:
1. For this step you will want to use wire cutter. Cut the cable at any places there are marks or indentations in the outer coating so that you have “out of the box” looking cable remaining.
2. For this step you will need 12 gauge wire strippers. Strip away roughly one inch of the outer coating. There will be many wire threads on the inside, start winding those up until you get to the plastic core on the inside, pull these off to one side once you clear them all of the plastic.
3. Using 18 gauge wire strippers, strip away the plastic coating until you get to the second set of wires, coil these up as they are.
2. For this step you will need 12 gauge wire strippers. Strip away roughly one inch of the outer coating. There will be many wire threads on the inside, start winding those up until you get to the plastic core on the inside, pull these off to one side once you clear them all of the plastic.
3. Using 18 gauge wire strippers, strip away the plastic coating until you get to the second set of wires, coil these up as they are.
Step 2:
4. Coil the individual sets of wires together as shown in. Be careful to ensure that no wires are touching each other from the individual outer or inner coils.
Step 3:
5. After the wires have been coiled, solder, connect, or electrical tape the wires separately from each other. (Pay no attention to my terrible soldering job)
Step 4:
6. Tape the wires individually so that there is no way that they will touch.
Step 5:
7. Tape the wires together as one piece to reduce the chances of breakage or loosening.
Step 6:
8. Plug in and test the connection.
Step 7: Finish
That's it. Repair is done and you saved yourself $60 or more depending on how much of the supplies you already had. My charger works as new, doesn’t look great as original but it charges and that’s what it is important. Thank you for checking this guide out and I hope it eases some of your monetary headaches. Here is one more picture I did of the other charger I have using the butt connectors.