Help with RJ45 Network Connector

[MrAl]

Hello,

Recently one of my network cable ends broke. Not the whole end, but just the little
tab thing that locks it into the socket when you plug it into the computer or other jack.
The tab is normally pressed lightly and the plug inserted, then the tab is let go and
it holds the plug inside the socket so it doesnt easily slide out. When you want to
get the plug out, you lightly press the tab again and that releases the plug so you
can easily slide it out of the jack.
Without that tab however, the plug slides out with even the slightest pull.

My problem is that the tab on one end of one of my network cables broke completely
off so now it has no tab whatsoever.

The question is, anybody know what can be done to either repair this or find another
way to hold the plug in, in such a way so that it can be easily removed when needed?
What i do not want to do are these obvious things:
1. Replace the cable
2. Replace the end of the cable (the plug itself)

I would really really like to hear some idea on this, and thanks...

[philba]

You don't want to replace the cable?

Here are your options:
- make a little clip that holds the connector in place.
- live with having to shove the clipless plug back in.
- duct tape.
- superglue.
- cut off the broken plug, get a replacement plug, line up the wires and crimp it. pretty easy though it takes a little learning to get the hang of the crimper. plug - $.10, crimper - $15
- replace the cable - $5-$10

I salute your thrift but question the efficacy of it in this case.

[CeaSaR]

One more possibility - a short extension cable (F / M) and glue / tape the broken end
into the female connector. I haven't priced such a cable, so no cost estimate.

CeaSaR

[Janitor Tzap]

You don't want to replace the cable?

Here are your options:
- make a little clip that holds the connector in place.
- live with having to shove the clipless plug back in.
- duct tape.
- superglue.
- cut off the broken plug, get a replacement plug, line up the wires and crimp it. pretty easy though it takes a little learning to get the hang of the crimper. plug - $.10, crimper - $15
- replace the cable - $5-$10

I salute your thrift but question the efficacy of it in this case.

Got to agree with philba on this one.

What i do not want to do are these obvious things:
1. Replace the cable
2. Replace the end of the cable (the plug itself)

Haaaaa....
Let me guess......
(1) The cable is going through the walls, and re-stringing a new one is going to be a pain!
(2) You don't have a crimping tool with the RJ-45 Dyes in it, and don't want to go out and buy one.
{Yeah, the better ones are about $69.00, and up.}
If this is the case....
Don't buy the crimping tool.
Borrow it from a friend, or worst case.
Rent one, and put on a new plug-end.

If your not going through walls.....
Replacing the cable is the easiest thing too do.
But save the old cable.
Go to your local Computer Builder, Part Seller, with the old cable.
Ask if they could crimp on a new end for you.
If they can do it for you.
You'll now have a spare cable in case you need one.

Thou, I know of one idiot who glued the broken plug into the jack.
When it came time to move his computer.
He forgot he he did this, and yanked the jack off of the Mother Board.{Doh!}
Came crying to me to fix the Mother Board.
I ended up having to replacing the Mother Board.
I then cut off the broken jack on the cable, and crimped on a new one for him.


Signed: Janitor Tzap

[Bigglez]

I then cut off the broken jack on the cable, and crimped on a new one for him.

Let me guess.
Then I put the old one in a shadow box, have it on display
along with a good story to tell..

[bodgy]

I'm going for:

Wrap one or two layers of sellotape around the plug.

Apply a thin strip of one side of Velcro to the top of the plug, probably the fluffy side.

Blue tak!

A small wedge of thin card.

Colin

[reloadron]

I'm going for:

Wrap one or two layers of sellotape around the plug.

Apply a thin strip of one side of Velcro to the top of the plug, probably the fluffy side.

Blue tak!

A small wedge of thin card.

Colin

I vote with Colin on this one.

The best solution would be to just replace the connector, borrowing a crimp tool. I have a bag of connectors and the strip and crimp tool around here somewhere if you want to borrow it, but I am sure you could find one locally.

Ron

[MrAl]

Hi again,


You guys came up with some pretty darn good ideas here! Thanks
much. Now my only problem is choosing which one to do


QUOTE:
I salute your thrift but question the efficacy of it in this case.
philba:
I should have elaborated a little on the cable itself and why i
specified that i didnt want to replace the cable or end.
It is a special kind of cable and also i dont have a crimper tool
for these kinds of plugs. However, there is another possibility
that you made me think about (later).
QUOTE:
make a little clip that holds the connector in place.
That's a great idea and one that i might be able to do without
too much trouble. Some thin metal to slide in over top of the
plug that catches on the end and also on the jack tab.

QUOTE:
One more possibility - a short extension cable (F / M) and glue / tape the broken end
into the female connector. I haven't priced such a cable, so no cost estimate.
Ceasar:
Another great idea. All i have to do is find a short extension cable or even
a short cable plus a mating connector (two jacks that mate two cables).

Janitor:
You were right in that it is not an ordinary cable and i should have mentioned
this sooner so that my goals were more clear.
QUOTE:
Go to your local Computer Builder, Part Seller, with the old cable.
That's a great idea too. I might actual do this if i can get them to
crimp one on for me. I'll have to find out if they do that or not.
I dont want to glue it in for the reason you stated as well as if i ever
want to change the cable out again.

bodgy:
QUOTE:
Apply a thin strip of one side of Velcro to the top of the plug, probably the fluffy side.
A small wedge of thin card.
Oh yes, these two sound very good too. I especially like the wedge idea because that
would be easy to implement with almost anything that would stick into the space
between the connector plug and the jack. It would have to be thin but that's no problem.
Toothpick? he he.

Ron:
That's a very generous offer and i appreciated it greatly. It would involve
mailing back and forth though so before i accept that offer i'll try the other
little things mentioned here and see if i can get one (or more) to work. I am
almost certain that one if not all of these ideas would work. Thanks much.


The other idea that philba made me think about was to cut the plug off and splice
on another new plug AND wire from another cable. That would ruin another cable
however.
Also, i have had great success hand crimping the phone connectors (4 conductor)
with a home made jig i had made. I did lots of connectors so i know it works good.
I was wondering if the plugs that are made for the RJ45 -8 conductor are similar
to these ordinary phone type 4 conductor plugs? Perhaps i could rig up another
little jig to do the crimping even with the larger plugs?



Thanks again to all who responded with ideas.

[CeaSaR]

Toothpick? he he.

Gotta love toothpicks for quick and dirty temporary fixes. I have my father's SPICA
Six Transistor Radio, Model ST-600 from Sanritsu Elec. Co., LTD (Japan) [from the paper
stuck on the inside of the back] circa 196?. The poor thing went through heck and back,
ending up with broken battery mounts. A couple of pieces of toothpick and some SuperGlue
and it has been working well for over 20 years, with only 1 rebuild. KYW comes in loud and
clear every morning.

CeaSaR

[Lenp]

Al, Here's yet another fix..

Cut off the damaged plug
Terminate the cut end of the cable in a jack
Use another cable from the jack to the system

Len

[MrAl]

Hi Len,

Oh yes, good idea. I guess i could use one of those PC style mount jacks so i wouldnt have to crimp.
Thanks for the idea.

[Lenp]

Mr Al

Use a wall plate mounted jack..(plate optional)
Many come with a plastic punch-on tool if you don't already have one

Len

[MrAl]

Hi Len,

Do they make any of those with solder terminals instead of crimp type?

[Lenp]

Al,
I have not seen the any RJ plugs with solder terminals but the jacks are available with IDC as well as PCB terminals
The common wall plate jack is even available as a tool-less connector. Just dress the wires, close the cap and the wires are pressed into place.
Len

[Externet]

Hi.
Make/get one of these and secure to the chassis next to the jack, or attach to any existing screw nearby :

http://cabletoolpros.com/images/200-963BK.jpg

Miguel