yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Acer Iconia A500] gears177:
i was getting fed up with how short the charger was for my Acer a500 so decided to try to fix it :) I'm sure someone else has already done this but just wanted to make a guide in case someone was unsure or didnt know how :-) pictures attached for extra help ;-)

DO AT YOUR OWN RISK

For temporary installments

Step:1

so pretty much any wire will work all it has to do is be able to take 12v 1.5amps i used an extra charger that i had laying around but also tried power cord, extension cord,and they both workred. so start by cutting your a500 power cord in the middle and strip both ends by your cut. Be sure to give yourself room on both sides for error when all stripped and cut you should have the wire in the white insulation and another around the outside.i

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=os72w6&s=6[/IMG

Step:2

start by cutting out how much length you want to add i added about 2.0 feet. strip both ends of the wire, you will need two wires of the same length.

[IMG]http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=ofogna&s=6

Step:3 connect the wires together with the wire you cut from a power cord, charger etc i did this just by twisting them then electrical tapping it. make sure the wire you connect to the white wire on one side is also connected to the white one on the other side same with the silver one. You can also do this with wire nuts or soldering but its not needed.

Step:4 After you have done all this make sure you have connected the wires right and have them tapped so there is no shorting between the splices. Its time to test it out :) it may not be the most stylish thing you've ever seen but it works :) your finished product should look something like mine :)

sorry couldnt get pics working ill try attaching them later

I AM IN NO WAY RESPONSIBLE FOR BURNING YOUR HOUSE DOWN ENDANGERING YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR TABLET DUE AT YOUR OWN RISK....THIS IS NOT THE BEST WAY STATED BELOW....IF YOU WANT IT DONE RIGHT ACCORDING TO FEW GO OUT GET AN ELECTRICIAN TO DO IT FOR YOU(or use solder and heat shrink) ;)
[Acer Iconia A500] holmanm:
Step:1

Step:2

Step:3

Step:4
[Acer Iconia A500] chismay:
have you tried using a wire connector block so the connection is more sturdy then twist'n'tape ? i might be following your steps soon :D ' cant use my a500 while its charging, wont even reach up to my lap from the plug right next to my laptop station
[Acer Iconia A500] gears177:
haha no i have not ill give it a try :-)
[Acer Iconia A500] sRDennyCrane:
I would STRONGLY suggest soldering the connections and using heat-shrink tubing. Then properly tape up your work with electrical tape. The last thing your tablet needs is a poor, open, or shorted connection. Take the time, do it right, and prevent a problem.
[Acer Iconia A500] chismay:
heat shrink can be easily bought from hardware/electronics/fishing stores and would leave a nice flush finish.
[Acer Iconia A500] gears177:
Haha i would too but not everyone has a soldering gun or heat shrink i was just trying to find a common easy way that will work for most people that are not electrically inclined. :D
[Acer Iconia A500] sRDennyCrane:
One good tug with the twist & tape method and you've created a problem a lot worse than your power cord being too short.
[Acer Iconia A500] jpinsl:
I find it much simpler, faster, safer to simply use an extension cord. . .
[Acer Iconia A500] cruise350:
+1

This has got to be the most ridiculous solution to a short cable I have ever seen. Just use an extension cord, DUH!!!!!!!!
[Acer Iconia A500] sRDennyCrane:
Considering that solution puts the power transformer in the middle of the new connection to flop around, disconnect, or bang into things, many people would rather it be semi-secured in an outlet.
[Acer Iconia A500] gears177:
i hope to god those are troll replys or I'm just loosing faith in xda community xD....this thread would've never been created if we wanted to use an extension cord....ide rather carry a modded cord with me than lug an extension cord around everywhere i went :D
[Acer Iconia A500] cruise350:
No trolling here, just amazed someone calling that a solution.
[Acer Iconia A500] chismay:
well i dont think so,

Am i really expected to buy a 1-2meter extension cord to plug into the extension station i am already plugged into just to bridge that 9-13 inch gap they seemed to have cheaped out on and have a 1-2meter coil of spare wire to add to my spaghetti junction goin on already?
[Acer Iconia A500] gears177:
we all have our views i respect yours.....obviously you've never had a problem with the cord they went cheap with and ended up giving us a 1m piece of ******they find suitable....if im sitting at a desk and want to have my tablet charging on it but is short by 12 or 13 inches im not going to go out and buy a extension cord for that -_- and just add to the clutter.

Its also a very easy 5min tut meant to save you time money and frustration not to show off and look amazing sorry if it didn't live up to your benchmarks on a great solution, ill do better next time master.
[Acer Iconia A500] chismay:
lol check my above post me and you are in exactly the same position i just want the cable that little longer so i could have the tablet sitting next to my latop on my desk.,..creating a nice coding/dev area.....

but i dont want another white-snake with two sockets on each end between my chair and the wall.....one or two movements of chair would pull plugs out half-way out causing a shorting-risk, for this when i need to charge i cannot use my tablet unless im willing to move EVERYTHING ELSE on the desk to compensate the cr** charger length.:rolleyes:

if he used a connector block like in my above post and then added solder to the small metal connections and then either eleccy' tapped, (i would reccomend heat-shrink) the connection should be quite sturdy?

BAM! EDIT! AND FIX! lol another edit i remember seeing a product like this on dragons den a while ago, this wire connector is strong plus water proof scotch-lok wire connectors heres a vid of how they work, the one in vid is not the moisture resistant one VIDEO just to be clear.
[Acer Iconia A500] gears177:
haha i know right lmao i wanted the same thing right next to my laptop but it was like 9-10 inches too short disappointment :( so i did this haha seemed right at the time ended up soldering the connections and using heat shrink....not bad doesnt look it either with the heat shrink.

:D
[Acer Iconia A500] Moscow Desire:
"run what 'ya brung". What I always say.

If a pocket knife, a stretch of white cable and some used elect tape is all you have,,,, then a redneck repair is in order :D Total cost $0.00

What the heck. As long as it works. Ain't like no girls are gonna visit and see it! :eek:
[Acer Iconia A500] FloatingFatMan:
If you're not electrically inclined, then you shouldn't be messing around with power supplies!
[Acer Iconia A500] Moscow Desire:
Famous words from Thomas Edison's wife..... (shortly before he fried his fingers) :D
[Acer Iconia A500] internetpilot:
Extensions cords were specifically created for those who are not "electrically inclined" (basically anyone who is not an electrician by trade) to extend the length of power cords.

Sounds like this is what most people need:

Available for $3.75 <HERE>

A short extension cord like the pic above provides you with the perfect additional length that most of you seem to be looking for, the wall-wart transformer won't interfere with other plug sockets, and it's not like you're "lugging around" a 2m extension cord (which wouldn't exactly require a separate backpack anyway, but...whatever).

Personally, I use a 6' extension cord because that gives me the most options wherever I may be when I need to charge my tablet, and even that is only when I'm going somewhere overnight. I've never had any problem with my A500's batteries lasting at least a full day, so most times I don't bring any cords with me at all. I'm definitely not going to hack up and tape together my OEM power cord, risking failure on the go when I need it the most. It's not like an A500 charger is available in just any store wherever you may be. Extension cords are.

You can buy a soldering iron for around $5 at Radio Shack, $10 at Wal-Mart. A spool of soldering wire will cost you more than the iron. Soldering isn't welding -- you really don't need to take a class or anything crazy, especially when you're not working on anything delicate like motherboards. There are plenty of YouTube videos that show how easy it is, even with a cheap iron. Heatshrink tubing is available anywhere wire is sold, usually right next to the electrical tape. You can shrink it with a lighter, match, stove burner (gas or electric), or even higher wattage hair blowdryer -- you don't need to buy the $30 heatgun.

Done correctly, you will barely notice when a wire has been spliced. Big taped up pigtail style bulges in your power cord wire is tacky and clear sign of an amateur job. Do it right and it's safer, lasts longer, and looks better.

Here's a pretty good how-to that shows you how to do an inline splice instead of a pigtail:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Master-a-perfect-inline-wire-splice-everytime/?ALLSTEPS
[Acer Iconia A500] holmanm:
The whole reason this site started and why it has "developers" in its name is so we wouldn't have to settle for the "store bought extension cord" (OEM software and applications) that the powers that be tried to force down our throat.

I know this is now mainly a site for script kitties that want all CAB and APK files but I still applaud the guys and gals that want to dissect the code, break the seals and splice the wires and then tell the tale.

Long live the "developers", quickly die the "extension corders".
[Acer Iconia A500] internetpilot:
Hear, hear! Long live the DIY electrician! :rolleyes:
[Acer Iconia A500] sRDennyCrane:
Thank you for the melodramatic post! It really moved the topic forward. In fact, I'm doing a major rethink. From now on, I'll only hire certified IT professionals to update my (from now on, stock) electronic devices. Licensed electricians shall handle all my extension cords and none of us EVER will own our own tools to do ANYTHING around the house!

Well, that about wraps it up for internet forums.
[Acer Iconia A500] holmanm:
You've got a much better chance of winning the lottery than accidentally starting a fire with a 12 volt power cable. There's no need to be scared. That would be the scenario for a faulty extension cord, the less 110 AC and more 12 DC you have the safer.
[Acer Iconia A500] OldGaf:
I got a 2M (6.5 foot) spare charger off ebay for less then $10 like this one:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/2M-Cable-AC-...?pt=US_Tablet_Accessories&hash=item3a74e923da

Great to have both long and short chargers.
[Acer Iconia A500] FloatingFatMan:
That guy should check his info... That charger ain't gonna work for the A510... :p
[Acer Iconia A500] gears177:
Please explain why it wouldn't the cord outputs 12v DC and 1.5A all that is needed to charge an Acer a500 :D please don't accuse people of posting wrong information when in fact its right.
[Acer Iconia A500] JdgM3NT4L:
Well I can't say whether or not the ones that you can buy from them today work or not, but as you can see from my pic below, I do actually own the same one bought from that same seller.

It does NOT work. While it will change the battery icon to look as if it is charging. the battery is actually draining the whole time. Also I have tried to charge overnight with the tab off. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. I've never been interested enough to break out my meters to see why it doesn't work. If I really need a longer charger I'll use it as a transplant donor.
[Acer Iconia A500] FloatingFatMan:
I said it won't charge an A510, like it claims in the auction title. You haven't seen an A510, have you? It uses a proprietary micro-usb connector for charging, not an old-style power connector like the A500 does. Better check your OWN facts before accusing others...

---------- Post added at 10:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 PM ----------

There's a LOT of really dodgy electrical stuff on ebay. Odds are is a fake product, probably only putting out 5v, if that.

I'd never buy something like a mains charger from ebay, you just don't know what you're getting. Better to spent a little more and get it from a reputable dealer where you have some come back.
[Acer Iconia A500] JdgM3NT4L:
I caught it on sale for a couple bucks. If I'd payed more than that, those fine folks would have the charger back and I would have been reunited with my money long before now. So it's worth what I gave for a barrel tip that actually fits...
[Acer Iconia A500] OldGaf:
My bad i guess... thought it was an a500 you were talking about.... too sleepy when i read the post.

Please please forgive me.
[Acer Iconia A500] psychotropic:
I know I definitely picked up a longer length spare on eBay. The clip holding the wall prongs broke on my OEM charger almost right after I bought the tablet. My cheap $5 Hong Kong charger is the only one I even have anymore and held up better than Acer's. I even got it bundled with a car charger. Both hold up well under heavy use. I suppose I got lucky.
[Acer Iconia A500] gears177:
That's easy just check my tut and I'm sure you'll have a new wire SPLICED in their in no time.
[Acer Iconia A500] FloatingFatMan:
I don't need your tutorial thanks, not unless I want to end up with a house fire. :p

IF I were going to splice, I'd use my soldering iron and some heat shrink tubing for a professional job.
[Acer Iconia A500] JdgM3NT4L:
Funniest thing I've read in a while. Zing!

Nothing like a great sense of humor, thanks.
[Acer Iconia A500] gears177:
plz do an experiment for me connect two nine-volt batteries together thats 18 volts and about 1.2A depending on the type.....go through EVERYTHING in your house and tell me what catches on fire when you touch it
[Acer Iconia A500] internetpilot:
You don't need a licensed electrician to handle an extension cord. That's the purpose of an extension cord -- for a layman to be able to safely extend the cord of an electrical appliance.

Anything else you do to fix or otherwise modify any electrical cord (DC or AC) can result in a short, which can in turn very easily cause a fire (not being melodramatic). How do you think most home fires start?

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/electrical.shtm

"Most electrical distribution fires result from problems with 'fixed wiring' such as faulty electrical outlets and old wiring. Problems with cords (such as extension and appliance cords), plugs, receptacles, and switches also cause many home electrical fires."

Melodramatic, overly cautious -- you can call me whatever you want. In the end, it's your house. You can explain to your family why all you can do in your house is toast marshmallows or, worse, explain why some of your family members are now dead. If that's how you weigh out the risks of doing a hack job on your power cords because an extension cord isn't "kewl" or techie enough for you or "clutters up your desk", then that's all on you.

Frankly, I call it natural selection.

---------- Post added at 03:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:27 PM ----------

It's not necessarily the voltage, amperage, or current that's the cause -- it's the short you create with the bad, amateur wiring job that results in a spark, and that's all any home fire has ever needed.

If you don't think DC power can do that, then perhaps you should talk to 46% of people who lost their boats to fire according to insurance statistics. 18% of all automobile fires are due to simple 12v DC short circuits or ground faults. When you're using DC in your house by way of an AC adapter, you need to remember that you're still feeding 110v into it -- not that one type of current is safer than the other anyway, but you're actually using both to charge your tablet.

The main point that a few people (myself included) have been trying to make, is that there are better ways to do this. Simply using a commercial extension cord is the safest and easiest, but if you insist on modifying appliance cords there are proper ways to do it that will greatly reduce the chance of a short and subsequent fire.
[Acer Iconia A500] holmanm:
The main point I'm trying to make is that this is a forum set up for pushing the boundaries of our gadgets. The OP described a perfectly safe DIY method for extending the power cord, even including:

I'd worry more about most the people I see post in these forums starting a fire with a soldering iron than with a spliced power cord. I have no desire to rag on you, but when you rag on someone for posting what the whole purpose of this once awesome now so so forum is supposed to be about I hate it. I know you are trying to "help" but those post are for the esfi.org or osha.gov forums.

Nobody has to do anything suggested on this site. It's your responsibility not to brick your phone, void your warranty if you don't want to or burn down your house. The XDA moderators have plenty of sticky post reminding everybody of that on just about every corner of the forum. If someone is not comfortable doing something just don't do it but please don't try to stop others from throwing out ideas, that's the good kind of sparks.

If Mrs Graham-Bell had ran around the house yelling "Alex your going to burn down this house splicing all those wires together making that dang voice sender contraption!" none of this would be possible.

I know I'm using a teaspoon to bail a sinking ship but I still love XDA even though it's listing in the ocean and I plan on riding it to the bottom of the sea if necessary and will not stumble into the lifeboat. If you ignore the "am downloading now" type post there is still a lot of good info hidden in the cracks. This thread may not be ground breaking but at least it's information.
[Acer Iconia A500] internetpilot:
Risking bricking your personal phone is a far cry away from risking burning down your house due to bad electrical advice from a novice electrical hobbyist on a hacker forum.

I'm criticizing the method -- not the act. There's nothing entirely wrong, per se, with extending your power cord by splicing (hell, some 12-year-old in Chinese sweatshop probably assembled it), but pigtailing the splice and wrapping it with electric tape is not the way to do it.

Doing it right really isn't that difficult, but doing it wrong or at least questionable is a significant risk -- more than what can be covered by, "Follow my tutorial at your own risk".

All I did was point out the proper method to do it, mention the risk of doing it wrong, and suggest the safest method to accomplish the same thing (extension cord). Feel free to debate it all you want, but...sorry...I'm right.
[Acer Iconia A500] gears177:
your cool...my way is free easy and quick there s nothing wrong with "My method"its not the safest but then again this whole forum and website wouldn't have been created if people always did things the safest way....thanx for your opinion but i see no reason to do it anyway especially if its going to be stationary...if you take your time and do it right then you wont have a short. ;)....especially not causing your house to burn down killing your family...but not even stopping there catching town cities maybe even states on fire and soon the world..
[Acer Iconia A500] FloatingFatMan:
This website was NOT created to get people to do potentially dangerous hack jobs on their electric appliances. It was created to help DEVELOPERS customize mobile device SOFTWARE (the clue is in the name). Whatever else gets posted on here, isn't what the site was intended for.

Modify your cables however you want, but there's no way you're going to get a qualified engineer (me) to agree that it's a good idea to go for the OP's rather dodgy method. Do it properly, with solder & shrink tubing or connector blocks; don't go twisting power cables together and taping them. It's completely insecure and the cause of MANY house fires. Save THAT kind of nonsense for your speaker wires.
[Acer Iconia A500] internetpilot:
Just realized from looking at the pics in the second post -- this is coaxial wire, which isn't designed or meant to be spliced at all.

Think about how coaxial TV cabling is "spliced" -- special pressure connectors are used. What happens if you don't do it that way or even just add the connectors wrong? You're more than likely going to get a bad or no signal at your TV. Now, apply the idea of that bad TV connection to a coaxial power supply wire.

The irony of it is that most of you defending this project wouldn't think of rigging a coaxial TV connection like this, risking your favorite TV shows due to a bad signal, but plugging a hacked up coaxial wire into an electrical outlet? No problem... :confused:
[Acer Iconia A500] gears177:
yes
[Acer Iconia A500] OldGaf:
wow.... just wow.....
[Acer Iconia A500] gears177:
Sorry for my previous posts now that i look at them they were.....not the best way to respond i meant no offence by them. :o

I agree completely with you that this is not the best way to do this type of job, there is a chance of a short....There are also chances of a fire whether how big or small they are.

Just saying some people will look at this tut and be perfectly fine with it others will add to it and others will hate on it. All depends on you point of view me coming from electronics trade school i see nothing wrong with this as a temporary installment if it were to be permanent i would defiantly agree there are safer ways to reduce your risk of shorting/fire, such as a connector block, soldering and heat shrink.
[Acer Iconia A500] sRDennyCrane:
Oh brother...

In this case... and in many similar situations, this type of wire (PROTIP: It's shielded wire, not coaxial cable) is used because the ground wire being braided adds physical strength to the wire while still being flexible.

And, now you know.
[Acer Iconia A500] internetpilot:
Oh, sister....

I didn't say it was coaxial cable -- I said it was coaxial wire.

Pro tip: You could call coaxial wire shielded wire, but it's misleading for this application since you don't need to use shielded wire for a power cord. All coaxial means is "shared axis", "concentric shaft", or (in other words) wire within a wire.

I only mentioned coaxial cable as a commonly encountered example of coaxial wire to show what a bad idea it would be to splice it.

And now you should know.
[Acer Iconia A500] chismay:
did nobody see the quick, secure and waterproof connectors i posted in the 1st page?
[Acer Iconia A500] gears177:
guess not?

sorry
[Acer Iconia A500] sRDennyCrane:
Coax is a specific impedance. It must maintain this impedance or signal degradation will occur. Outside interference can be induced. Shielded wire, as I said, is used in cases like power cords because it allows strength along with flexibility. You bringing up splicing coax is pure sophistry. There is no worry of an RF signal degrading in a DC power cord. There is no worry of RF interference in a DC power cord. They're apples and oranges.