USB cord replacement on Mouse

[luciusad2004]

Does anyone have any experience replacing the cord on a USB mouse? I discovered that the cord on my Logitech G5 had a pinch in it and the covering of the cord has split open. This really bothers me. Has anyone here replaced the cord to a mouse before? Anybody have any idea how hard it would be? I would love to salvage this mouse as i don't want to spend $60 on a new one.

Thanks guys

[DonT-FeaR]

yes yes i do.... know what to do..


open up your g5 and use ur supreme soldering skills to take of the current 4 wires that concet from the usb plug... then get the new length of ubd cord and re solder it on..

make sure you take note of where the diff colour wires are..

hope this helps a little

[luciusad2004]

Any Idea were i might be able to find a new length of usb cable? Is this something that's purchasable or should i look for an old decommissioned mouse on ebay or something and just gank the cable?

I've never soldered before but i suppose its never to early to learn. I think my moms boyfriend has a soldering iron. Maybe i can find an old mouse to practice on first though.

If I just steal a cable from an old mouse is there anything i should look for or is a cable a cable?

thanks for the response.

[xmastree]

How far from the mouse is the damaged part? If it's close you could just shorten it a little.
Otherwise, pretty much any USB cable should work fine, just make sure it's very flexible.

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

just get a usb extension cable.. and 4 wires aint hard to solder... just dont over heat it and ruin the traces... cuz then it will be royaly ruined..

[luciusad2004]

Thanks for the advice. Ill have to source a new cable because the split is right in the middle of the cable.

Thanks guys!

[Spawn-Inc]

just get a usb extension cable.. and 4 wires aint hard to solder... just dont over heat it and ruin the traces... cuz then it will be royaly ruined..

exactly what i was going to say.




find some broken ewaste and practice desoldering and resoldering wires on it. don't forget to use flux!

[Omega]

exactly what i was going to say.




find some broken ewaste and practice desoldering and resoldering wires on it. don't forget to use flux!

any good solder will have flux in it.


Here's what you do.

Tools needed:
Solder Sucker
Soldering Iron
Solder (4.4% flux will do you well. I will look up the lead/tin ratio of the solder I use for you tomorrow. I suggest, if possible, to go to a real electronics store, but in a pinch, radiocrap will work.)
sponge

1. wet sponge, heat up iron, get all parts ready.
2. tin the tip of the soldering iron. this is done by applying solder to the tip of the iron and leaving the tip with a shiny coat. If you put too much on, wipe it off on the sponge.
3. place tip of soldering iron on the solder on the circuitboard.
4. when the solder is shinier and the tip of your iron goes in to the solder, get your solder sucker and use it to remove the solder.
5. repeat this until the wires are off.
6. get new cable stripped, etc.
7. place one wire down on it's appropriate place on the circuit board, then grab your soldering iron and solder.
8. near the circuitboard, but not on it, put a small bit of solder on to your iron. it should form a melted ball of solder.
9. touch the tip of the iron to the circuitboard. instantly, if not, very soon after, the ball of solder will seemingly wick itself onto the board, soldering the wire to the contact.
10. remove your iron from the contact and watch it solidify.
11. repeat this for the three other steps.
12. turn off iron, clean up workbench, reassemble mouse, grab a cold one and congratulate yourself! you just fixed your mouse!

-Omega

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

or you could just pick up specific tech solder.. which is lead free.. and rosin cored. which would make your life a hell of alot ezier...

[Omega]

or you could just pick up specific tech solder.. which is lead free. and rosin cored. which would make your life a hell of alot ezier...

Rosin core solder has always been a pain in the arse for me. The rosin always (always) melts and covers the contact I'm trying to solder, meaning I have to dock my iron and clean it off before going at it again.

I should make a short video tutorial on how to solder/unsolder circuitboards like this. god knows I have enough USB mice I can cannibalize for it.