Injection molded ICs

[captrajesh]

I found out that the connectors are injection molded.

Are you sure it's molded? Not hot melt glue?

Looking at the photo, I am sure it is not injection molded.

IMO Keith & Praveen are right.

Thanks! What is it then? More importantly, how to remove it safely without damaging the IC in order to fix it?

It appears to be a protective sheath. Hold the metal part at the end of the cable with Index finger and Thumb (and middle finger too if required) of one hand and the Plastic thingy at the back with same fingers of the other hand. Twist them on the opposite sides in anti clockwise direction applying light to moderate force. The RCA plug's plastic thingy should turn. If that happens, you continue turning till the jacket comes off exposing the cables metal ends soldered onto the RCA plugs. If not, the jacket is probably fixed onto the metal plug with some glue by the manufacturer to prevent someone exploring the cables.

I just don't want to cut the cable like that. I am not skilled in this and don't want to ruin this beautiful sounding cable with my heroics.

I prefer getting it done by someone experienced.

I thought so that you may not be DIY type. You may be better off taking the help of knowledgeable FM.

I am certain I am going to get a few looks from people when I tell them - I want to get my cable x-ray-ed

They're gonna think cable needs x-ray or not, this guy's brain surely does :lol:

ROFTL. Thank you Ranjeetrain, I had a hearty laugh.

Ranjeet, hope you don't mind some OT.

@All knowledgeable members on the forum; I have Audio Art IC3 cables. Since I wanted to reply to this post, I had used the above procedure to remove the jackets of the RCA plugs for the first time. My query is as under:-

These cables are directional and are marked accordingly. There are two wires, red and black and a metal shield over which is the grey coloured plastic outer jacket. The red wire is soldered onto the centre pin and the black wire to the metal body of the RCA plug. On the source side (back of the arrows) the shield is left open and on the front side where the arrows point, the metal shield is soldered onto the body of the RCA body. This goes against the conventional wisdom in the forum which I've read on some thread that the shield should be grounded on the source side (In this case, on the side where the arrows are coming from)

I'd be glad if someone could comment on what I've discovered.

 

[keith_correa]

I think that the connection from the shield to ground may have broken.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Actually that's a cracking idea, an out of the box thinking. I love the idea, HOWEVER, I am certain I am going to get a few looks from people when I tell them - I want to get my cable x-ray-ed

They're gonna think cable needs x-ray or not, this guy's brain surely does :lol:

Thanks for the appreciation. The idea was straight off the cuff, and occurred as I was writing the post.

Who knows? The technician might be an audiophile!

X-rays do get used for more than just health diagnosis, and although medical labs are unlikely to get those jobs, I don't think they'd be surprised at the possibility. Maybe the bigger labs wouldn't touch it, and the staff might not take on an "informal" job --- but a smaller lab, or an x-ray guy attahced to a small ortho clinic, might well oblige with an on-the-side job.

Something like a CAT scan, where every minute of a million-dollar machine probably has to be accounted for ...that might be a little harder to get.

But, first things first... Do get yourself a multimeter. I'm not an electrician and certainly not an electronics-ician, but I would not be without one. It gets regular use for everything from battery checks, through continuity and correct termination of cables, to checking the mains voltage when it has gone weirdly low or high. It is a really useful tool, even if one doesn't grow into even 25% of its capabilities.

 

[ranjeetrain]

It appears to be a protective sheath. Hold the metal part at the end of the cable with Index finger and Thumb (and middle finger too if required) of one hand and the Plastic thingy at the back with same fingers of the other hand. Twist them on the opposite sides in anti clockwise direction applying light to moderate force. The RCA plug's plastic thingy should turn. If that happens, you continue turning till the jacket comes off exposing the cables metal ends soldered onto the RCA plugs. If not, the jacket is probably fixed onto the metal plug with some glue by the manufacturer to prevent someone exploring the cables.

I think it's glue. As Keith suggested I tried poking with fingernails as hard as I could (and I can use my thumbnail as a screwdriver :lol and this is what happened.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2828/11474948974_a8d92178a8_o.jpg

Whatever material it is that has been used in 'packing' this stuff (so no one can poke around) it's hard as stone. I could barely leave some marks on it by poking hard. I don't think it's easy to undo, unless one knows what material it is.

I'll go to an electrician and ask him to try soldering iron on it and see if that has any effect on it.

Ranjeet, hope you don't mind some OT.

Absolutely not.

These cables are directional and are marked accordingly. There are two wires, red and black and a metal shield over which is the grey coloured plastic outer jacket. The red wire is soldered onto the centre pin and the black wire to the metal body of the RCA plug. On the source side (back of the arrows) the shield is left open and on the front side where the arrows point, the metal shield is soldered onto the body of the RCA body. This goes against the conventional wisdom in the forum which I've read on some thread that the shield should be grounded on the source side (In this case, on the side where the arrows are coming from)

I'd be glad if someone could comment on what I've discovered.

No, not necessarily. The grounded side need not necessarily be on the source side. I read somewhere (can't recall where) that it should be on the amp side. It said something like 'the drain' should terminate on the amp.

I'll try to find the link if I bookmarked it.

I think that the connection from the shield to ground may have broken.

Ali, you and I are on the same page on this one. Today, I will take the cable to any nearby electrician and have it checked with multimeter. Let me get back with what he says. Next will be trying to undo the termination and re-terminate it.

 

[srisaikat]

Check it, with such price that company must have arrangement of some kind of air ambulances to admit the cables to their ICU with all kind of diagnosis and trouble shooting. At least I hope so

 

[praveencshekhar]

X-ray is may not be useful as it cannot pass through metal. CT scan should be fine, provided you can get it done on an industrial CT. Its a very costly process, in my opinion there are about 2 or 3 machines in India.
IMHO it appears that they have used silicone to seal the.

 

[praveencshekhar]

Try to scrape the sealed material on the surface with a sharp blade. Then try to melt the scraped material in an open flame, if the material melts you can try it on the connector.
A word of caution do it carefully so that the cable should no get damaged.
As others suggested it is better to check the cable with multimeter and then cut the defective connector and rejoin it