How to Repair a Phone Cord

A damaged phone cord is probably more easily replaced than repaired.

Phone cords are not as heavily used as they used to be, thanks to the popularity of cell phones and cordless telephones. While those units require batteries to supply power, traditional phones get both electricity and their signal through the phone cord that connects the handset to the base unit. These cords can frequently become tangled and may suffer damage. Repairing a phone cord requires some effort.

Things You'll Need

• Soldering iron
• Piece of cardboard
• Resin core solder
• Wet sponge
• Razor blade
• Electrical tape

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Instructions

1. Unplug both ends of the cord so it is not hooked up to either the handset, the base unit or the wall socket.

2. Untangle the cord by starting at one end of the cord and working your hands down the cord in a straight line to work out any kinks. You may need to unknot some particularly snarled sections if the cord hasn't been untangled in a while.

3. Heat up your soldering iron for about 10 minutes. Lay down a piece of cardboard on a table or counter to function as a workstation. The cardboard will catch any dripping solder and prevent it from damaging your counter.

4. Cover the tip of the soldering iron with rosin-core solder and then wipe it off with a wet sponge to get rid of excess. Avoid using acid-core solder, which is not intended for wire work and is corrosive.

5. Cut the cord in half above and below the damaged section to remove the damaged portion of the cord. Remove the cord covering with a razor at the ends of the good cord so you can access the wires themselves. Connect the two sides of the healthy cable and twist the wires around each other to ensure a good electrical connection.

   Apply a light amount of solder to the cord break to reconnect the wire. Once the solder cools, wrap the section of cord in electrical tape. The tape will provide insulation and prevent the cord from sparking, allowing continued safe use.

6. Look for any additional breaks in the cord covering. This is common if you have pets in the home that have chewed on the cable. .

7. Plug the cord back into the phone to test it.

Tips & Warnings

• Always wear safety goggles and gloves when using a soldering tool to prevent burns and eye injury.

References

• Aaron Cake: How to Solder
• 9th Port: Untangling My Phone Cord Super Fast
• MMX Press: Electrical Connections