Almost every major piece of equipment that supports audio and video uses HDMI cables. Due to their high definition, they’re the go-to solution for things like watching movies and listening to music. So what do you do if your HDMI cable fails to work?
You can splice an HDMI cable by soldering the wires together and using splice connectors to secure the connection. You must connect the correct wires to each other to ensure it works. Cover the connections with a sheet of aluminum to eliminate any distortion.
This article will discuss the correct procedure for splicing an HDMI cable to ensure you create and maintain a strong connection without any distortions or complications. I will talk about whether you should splice an HDMI cable and what to understand before attempting the task.
Is It Worth It To Splice an HDMI Cable?
A HDMI cable transfers large amounts of data at high speeds. Therefore, it requires a strong connection to work properly. When you have a broken cable or if your HDMI plug has been broken off, the best solution is to replace the entire line.
However, replacing an HDMI cable isn’t always practical. For example, you may have it running through your walls without a conduit. Your budget may not allow it — and let’s be real: Longer HDMI cables aren’t cheap.
In that case, your best option is to splice your HDMI cable without compromising its integrity.
That’s impossible — or, at least, most people say it’s impossible.
Actually, there is a way to properly splice your HDMI cable without going through the trouble of replacing it. If you’re ready for a somewhat-technical-but-not-really explanation on how to do just that, read on.
Things You Need To Know Before Splicing an HDMI Cable
Before you can successfully splice an HDMI cable, you need to understand what the cable is made of so you can handle this project properly and effectively. This part is important because it will help you with the steps that come after.
The HDMI cable is made from several materials. For our purposes, you’ll want to pay close attention to the cover protecting the tiny wires inside the line.
The outside of the cord is made of PVC material which needs to be cut open to expose 15 or more tiny cables that make everything work. Between these cables and the top PVC cover, you will find sheathing made of aluminum and tinned copper braided over the small wires.
In turn, the small wires inside the braided sheath are covered with a material that protects the copper wire inside.
Now that you understand what an HDMI cable consists of, let’s move on and learn how to splice it.
How To Repair an HDMI Cable
Let me emphasize that any cable can be spliced, and an HDMI is no different. Although its numerous wires can make a splicing job seem intimidating for a non-professional, trust me when I say that — with enough care and patience — you will be up to the task.
1. Get a Spare HDMI Cable
The first thing you need is a spare HDMI cable that you can use to join with the damaged one. Ideally, you should get a cable made by the same company since they will have the same color-coded wires, which will make it much easier to connect wires with the same colors.
For example, you’d typically join a blue wire with a wire of the same color. This wouldn’t be a problem if both of the cables come from the same company and therefore have the same color patterns.
Suppose you weren’t able to find a cable from the same manufacturer, meaning the wires on the spare cable would have different colored wires. In that case, you’d have to perform an extra step to ensure that the correct wires are connected to each other.
You can refer to the video below for the extra step I referred to above.
2. Strip Down the Cable and the Inner Wires
Once you have a spare cable, you need to strip it down to get to the wires. This is arguably the trickiest part, because it’s the step where you’re most likely to make a crucial mistake like cutting a wire. So, make sure you put all your focus into the task at hand while you’re doing this.
Fortunately, you can find special tools to help you out. Of course, these tools should help you cut cleanly without damaging the wires.
Typically, you have to cut through the cable’s outer layer and remove it.
Once that’s done, cut the metal wrapping around the wires inside.
Now, strip the thin wires carefully to expose the copper core. You must connect the correct wires with each other to ensure proper connectivity.
3. Get Yourself Some Splice Connectors
With the wires stripped down on both cables, you’d have to splice them together. You can do this by soldering the wires and using heat shrink splice connectors or UR splice connectors to make both ends meet.
I have found that Klein Tool’s UR IDC Connectors (available on Amazon.com) are perfect for this project. These connectors are durable and offer moisture resistance which works really well with this type of work.
4. Cover Everything With Aluminum Foil
After stripping the HDMI cable, you’ll notice metal sheathing over the wires. The sheathing is there to eliminate distortion. After you’re done splicing your HDMI cable, you need to cover the wire with aluminum foil the same way the original sheathing did.
Then, connect the other end of the HDMI cable to your output device to see if it worked. If you follow the above steps closely and carefully, you should have flawless video or audio without too many issues.
Conclusion
Splicing an HDMI cable isn’t as difficult as it sounds. In this guide, I have walked you through everything you need to know to splice an HDMI cable while keeping potential issues to a minimum.
