Repairing Apple 30 Pin To Usb Cable Connector Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          2 hours

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Repairing Apple 30-pin to USB Cable Connector
11 steps

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BackApple 30-pin to USB Cable
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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Make a connector opener

Take a pin with a plastic head. Place the tip over a flat, heavy duty surface (such as a cold chisel blade) and tap with a hammer to flatten. This should only take 5 to 10 taps. Make sure the blade is flat and the edge is smooth.

Take a pin with a plastic head. Place the tip over a flat, heavy duty surface (such as a cold chisel blade) and tap with a hammer to flatten. This should only take 5 to 10 taps. Make sure the blade is flat and the edge is smooth.

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Step 2

              Construction of 30-pin connector

The 30-pin connector comprises of 3 parts: 1) the plastic outer shell, 2) the mid plastic sleeve, 3) the inner metal connector.
The middle sleeve has a lip on both rounded ends.
The outer connector has a corresponding plastic bump that snaps under the sleeve lip to hold them together.

The 30-pin connector comprises of 3 parts: 1) the plastic outer shell, 2) the mid plastic sleeve, 3) the inner metal connector.

The middle sleeve has a lip on both rounded ends.

The outer connector has a corresponding plastic bump that snaps under the sleeve lip to hold them together.

Step 3

Make a depth guide mark on the tool made in step 1.
The mark should start 3 mm from the tip of the tool.

Make a depth guide mark on the tool made in step 1.

The mark should start 3 mm from the tip of the tool.

Step 4

              Inserting the tool

Work the tool between the outer shell and middle sleeve at one end of the connector until the depth mark is reached.
You may need to work slightly from the side if going directly in is too difficult.
The plastic head on the tool will be very helpful to allow enough pressure to be exerted.

Work the tool between the outer shell and middle sleeve at one end of the connector until the depth mark is reached.

You may need to work slightly from the side if going directly in is too difficult.

The plastic head on the tool will be very helpful to allow enough pressure to be exerted.

Step 5

              Separating the outer shell

Once the tool is at the required depth and location that side of the sleeve and connector can be released.
Remove the tool and repeat on the other side of the shell. Be careful not to push the first side back in to the shell in the process.
Once both sides are released slide the outer shell down the cable.
Wrap the frayed cable with a little tape if it is difficult to get through the hole in the shell.

Once the tool is at the required depth and location that side of the sleeve and connector can be released.

Remove the tool and repeat on the other side of the shell. Be careful not to push the first side back in to the shell in the process.

Once both sides are released slide the outer shell down the cable.

Wrap the frayed cable with a little tape if it is difficult to get through the hole in the shell.

Step 6

              The parts of an Apple cable

An Apple cable has a much more robust 30-pin connector than cheaper non-Apple cables. The Apple connector has 2 plates soldered to the back of it - one on the top and another on the bottom. Cheaper connectors do not have these shielding plates.
An Apple cable comprises of: 1) 4 wires, 2) a strain relieving thread, 3) shielding mesh around the wires and strain relieving thread, 4) outer cover.

An Apple cable has a much more robust 30-pin connector than cheaper non-Apple cables. The Apple connector has 2 plates soldered to the back of it - one on the top and another on the bottom. Cheaper connectors do not have these shielding plates.

An Apple cable comprises of: 1) 4 wires, 2) a strain relieving thread, 3) shielding mesh around the wires and strain relieving thread, 4) outer cover.

Step 7

              Removing the shielding plate

Access to the circuit board with the wire terminals is by removing the plate with 2 smaller solder points almost at the corners of the shielding plate.
Keeping the 2 solder points hot, work a flat bladed knife carefully between the shielding plate and connector so as to not cut the wires underneath until the plate releases.

Access to the circuit board with the wire terminals is by removing the plate with 2 smaller solder points almost at the corners of the shielding plate.

Keeping the 2 solder points hot, work a flat bladed knife carefully between the shielding plate and connector so as to not cut the wires underneath until the plate releases.

Step 8

              Accessing the wire terminations.

It may be necessary to remove some of the plastic filling to access the wire terminals.
Here, only the shielding needs repair.
Carefully slit the external strain releaser.
Prise up the internal strain releaser.
Insert a piece of cable such as a strand of Category 5 cabling.

It may be necessary to remove some of the plastic filling to access the wire terminals.

Here, only the shielding needs repair.

Carefully slit the external strain releaser.

Prise up the internal strain releaser.

Insert a piece of cable such as a strand of Category 5 cabling.

Step 9

              Attach wire to terminal

Solder the wire to the correct terminal.
Solder the other end to the frayed shielding.

Solder the wire to the correct terminal.

Solder the other end to the frayed shielding.

Step 10

              Test for short circuits

Test for continuity of shielding between 30-pin connector and USB connector. The resistance should be much less than 1 Ohm.
Test for short circuits between the 4 pins on the USB connector. There should be none.

Test for continuity of shielding between 30-pin connector and USB connector. The resistance should be much less than 1 Ohm.

Test for short circuits between the 4 pins on the USB connector. There should be none.

Step 11

              Reassemble

Lightly wrap the wires with electrical tape.
Reinstall the cover plate.
Install the middle sleeve.
Slide the outer shell over the connector.
It may be necessary to enlarge the hole at the back of the outer shell to allow it to fit over the taped wires.
Wrap electrical tape from the back of the shell down the wires until it extends about 5 cm, reducing the overlap as you go. This will act as a poor man’s external strain reliever.

Lightly wrap the wires with electrical tape.

Reinstall the cover plate.

Install the middle sleeve.

Slide the outer shell over the connector.

It may be necessary to enlarge the hole at the back of the outer shell to allow it to fit over the taped wires.

Wrap electrical tape from the back of the shell down the wires until it extends about 5 cm, reducing the overlap as you go. This will act as a poor man’s external strain reliever.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                                                                                      16 other people completed this guide.

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                                      with 1 other contributor

tim

Member since: 09/25/2010

628 Reputation

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unsubstantiated - Feb 4, 2017

This is a great guide. I figured out for myself, how to open iPod connector, but I could have saved some struggle if I had followed this guide.

Untrepid One - May 26, 2020

What poop. They don’t show the connections to solder to.

carlos dante Guziuk - Aug 25, 2020

Tengo 3 cables desconectados sólo el verde soldado en un pin de un extremo rojo, blanco y negro dónde van?

Quiero volver a cargar la batería.

tim - Aug 27, 2020

Carlos,

I did a search for ‘apple 30pin connector pinout’ and found this. I hope it helps.

http://mobilescomplaint.blogspot.com/201…

Tim

Vladimir Velázquez - Jan 15, 2023

donde van conectados los cables del USB a cada pin del socket de 30 pines

Member-Contributed Guide#

Introduction#

What you need#

Member-Contributed Guide

Introduction

What you need