Sourcing small multicore cable - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Dave Turner
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2019, 10:17:15 pm
content: Hi all,I've been searching for a source of flexible 2 & 3 core+braid,audio/signal cable between 1.5 & 3.5mm outside diameter as used in earpices, clip-on microphones and camera shutter releases, but haven't had any luck. To be fair I only need 5m or so, therefore 100m reels just aren't affordable.I'm starting to think that I'll have to cut up pre-prepared cable assemblies.Digikey, Mouser, Farnell etc don't seem to have anything; at least I can't find a source.Any pointers?RegardsDave

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2019, 11:35:27 pm
content: The only places I’ve seen such wire for sale is on eBay and AliExpress, for earphone repair/upgrades. I, too, would love to know where to get high quality ultraflexible earbud cable.

author: andy3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2019, 12:11:52 am
content: There are a few offerings on eBay:https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=ultraflexible+earphone+cable&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=0&_odkw=ultraflexible+earbud+cable

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 12, 2019, 11:56:38 am
content: I have found that the cable used in earphones is near impossible to solder as the strands are tiny but individually enameled an it resisits high temperature.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2019, 03:31:09 pm
content: Quote from: Simon on October 12, 2019, 11:56:38 amYep. Depending on the cable, that’s a wild understatement. I recently replaced the 1/4” plug on my Sennheiser headphones with a nice Rean (Neutrik) 1/8” plug, and the procedure was, by a wide margin, the most frustrating wiring job I’ve done in years. The enamel wasn’t the problem (it burned off with the iron set to something like 370C), what was super difficult was the nylon (?) fibers, which are hard to cut cleanly and manage to get in the way constantly. (Also, it is a strange cable, in that the individual wires are far stiffer than I’ve encountered in other headphone cables. And yet the overall cable doesn’t end up terribly stiff.)Not all cables are like that. I’ve done other headphone plug replacements that didn’t induce nearly as much suicidal ideation as the Sennheiser.

author: LeonR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2019, 10:51:11 am
content: Quote from: tooki on October 12, 2019, 03:31:09 pmI've used a lighter to deal with those stranded cables with a weird polymer intertwined into them. Just have a piece of paper towel with some IPA for cleaning up as soon as you take it off from the flame.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2019, 11:34:45 am
content: i dont think braid is a requirement in camera shutter cable. how about those cheap usb cable? (4 cores)

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2019, 06:35:16 pm
content: Does it need to be 5m continuous piece? Otherwise, you could buy some cheap stuff off eBay or Amazon and take it apart. I recall paying less than a dollar for this thing. There are also extension cable for iphone type stuff. You can even buy them at grocery stores.Also, USB extension cable come in thin variety as well.