How to make an eternal Lightning cable in half an hour

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Legends can be told about the fragility of cables in accessories for Apple appliances. As the company is moving away from harmful PVC in favor of environmentally friendly materials, its cables literally fall apart in the hands after one to two years of use. We have found a simple solution to this problem and are in a hurry to share this life hack with you.

I have always considered myself a very tidy person and took great care of cables and gadgets in general. Despite years of use, they looked like new. I handled the cable from the iPhone 5s even more carefully, because it was very expensive, and I could not replace it with another at that time: all other Apple devices in the house were charged from the old 30-pin cable.

However, this did not save me. Exactly one year later, the insulation at the ends of the cable cracked, starting to fall off piece by piece. At some point, I freaked out and tore off the remains of the white eco-friendly coating, completely exposing the metal braid of the cable. But even after that, he regularly charged and synchronized the iPhone, only occasionally shocked him a little. Throwing it into the trash heap did not raise a hand, and I decided to make a new insulation for the cable. After all, he deserved it.

How to make a new braid

Now the most reliable cables are considered to be fabric-braided cables, and this is no accident (remember the old Soviet irons). The fibers of the fabric give the cable elasticity and do not degrade over time. Ordinary threads do not work: they are too thin and not very strong. For our business, threads for knitting and floss are ideal. They are much stronger and due to their greater thickness, they do not have to be wound for ages.

What is needed

The beauty of this method is that everything you need can be found at home. If there is no heat-shrinkable tube at hand, then, in addition to the thread itself, we will at least need any glue and scissors or a knife (or strength to tear off a piece of thread).

• Thread - 3-5 meters.

• Scissors or knife.

• Heat-shrinkable tube - 5-10 centimeters.

• Lighter or matches.

• Any glue.

Choosing a thread

I will say right away that any knitting thread is suitable, even a very thick one. The main thing is that it crumples and it can be wrapped around the cable like a ribbon. If you are lucky and your wife, mother or grandmother offer you not one, but several options, then choose based on the following criteria:

• Material … Yarn can be of different composition: natural and synthetic. Throw away your hipster habits and opt for synthetics: they are stronger, they do not get so dirty or frayed.

• Thickness … It is better to choose medium thread thickness. It takes longer to wind a thin one, and a thick one will lie down in uneven turns.

• Colour … It's up to you, but keep in mind that the fabric braid attracts dirt even more than native insulation (especially natural). A beautiful white braid in Apple-style runs the risk of quickly turning gray.

Preparing the cable

Before you put the cable in a new braid, you need to prepare it. If the old insulation has collapsed in only one place, it can be left. If it falls off in pieces (as in my case), then it is better to remove it completely, otherwise the threads of the thread will fall loose and the braid will ride. Also pay attention to the condition of the screen (metal braiding and foil): it often breaks at the very connectors. You can restore it by tightly winding a couple of layers of ordinary thread.

Shake

The winding process is quite simple, but it has its own subtleties. So that the ball of thread does not dangle and interfere with you, it is better to immediately cut off three meters and, for convenience, wind it around something like a matchbox.

We start from either end, right from the plastic. We tie a knot and tightly wind the thread, turn to turn with a slight overlap, so that each subsequent one slightly overlaps the previous one.

To protect it from kinks, we form thickenings on the edges of the braid. We wind two or three layers, gradually increasing the thickness and making a smooth descent 3-4 centimeters long, so that it looks like in the photo. Depending on the thickness of the thread, there may be more or less layers. If desired, you can make it thicker. This will not be very neat, but reliable.

Further - it is easier. From the formed thickening, we simply wrap the cable along the entire length to the very end. Take your time and try to pull the thread as tight as possible: the quality of your cable will depend on it. Remember the overlap! The coils should lie on top of each other, turning into a continuous canvas. Press down on the braiding with two fingers and pull along the cable. If the turns have collapsed, then the overlap is insufficient.

We finish winding in the same way as we started. We press it to the plastic, go back 3-4 centimeters and repeat a couple of times to make a thickening that will save the cable from kinking. Try to lay the turns more evenly - this will make the transition neater and stronger. Do not tie the free end of the thread yet.

Fixing the edges

There are two options here: heat shrink and glue. I've tried both and I can say that you don't have to bother with the straws - there is enough glue. I'll tell you about both, choose for yourself.

The diameter of the heat-shrinkable tube must be selected based on the thickening at the end of the cable (and vice versa). 6mm and 8mm straws work well. Cut two pieces a couple of centimeters long and slide both into the Lightning side. One will remain on it, and the second needs to be dragged through the entire cable to the other end.

Now gently heat the pieces of the heat-shrinkable tubing that you put on so that they tightly fit over the thickening of the braid and its ends do not unravel. This can be done with matches, a lighter or by holding it to the stove, but it is better to ask your wife, mother or grandmother for a hairdryer. With it, you do not run the risk of overheating or smoking the pipe (especially if you have it white).

Lazy people and those who do not have heat shrinkage can secure the ends of the braid with glue. A bubble of ordinary PVA or any other can be found in every home. Saturate the thickenings at the ends with it and fix it by pressing with two fingers (wash your hands later). When the glue dries, it will hold the turns of our braid no worse than heat shrinkage. The advantage of this method is that it is suitable not only for Lightning, but also for the old 30-pin connector, which will not fit any heat shrinkage.

If you are not lazy and you have heat shrinkage, then you can first coat the ends with glue, and then put on the heat shrinkage on top.

My mistakes and advice

In the described way, I brought four cables back to life and gained some experience. You will do better if you don't repeat my mistakes. Here's what you need to pay special attention to:

• Too large bumps. Do not overdo it with the edges of the braid, otherwise they will turn out to be rough and ugly.

• Long shrink pieces. Like the previous mistake, this one will also make the cable less flexible and untidy.

• Small overlap. If you make a mistake here, you will not get a solid coating, but a crumbling spring from threads.

• Natural thread. Environmentally friendly yarns get more dirty and shaggy over time.

• Double thread. If you use two threads of different colors, the braid will turn out to be not only strong, but also beautiful.

What is the bottom line

In two months, such a simple and uncomplicated cable upgrade proved to be just great. It is more flexible, it is not scary to pull it, throw it into a backpack. The appearance is also far from the most sloppy.

I repaired my Lightning in this way, my wife's old 30-pin cable, and then my sister's Lightning. When writing the article, I also decided to make a braid on the Mac charger, although it is still completely new and with a whole cable. It takes a minimum of time, and brings the maximum benefit.

Take half an hour and make yourself an everlasting cable. It's worth it!