Can a power ribbon be spliced together?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of splicing or repairing a damaged power ribbon connector found in an HP notebook. Participants explore the nature of the ribbon cable and the implications of its material composition on repairability versus replacement.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation, Debate/contested, Practical application

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about the repairability of a snapped ribbon connector, questioning whether it can be fixed or if replacement is necessary.
  • Another participant suggests that replacing a low-cost cable is preferable to risking damage to an expensive notebook.
  • A third participant notes that the repair difficulty depends on the material of the cable, indicating that copper flex circuits are difficult to repair, while conductive ink types are nearly impossible to fix. They conclude that replacement is the best option.
  • A later reply indicates that a replacement cable costs about $10, suggesting that attempting a repair may not be worth the effort.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that replacement is the most practical solution, though there is some discussion about the specific materials and their impact on repairability.

Contextual Notes

Participants do not provide detailed information about the specific type of ribbon cable or the exact nature of the damage, leaving some assumptions about repair methods and material properties unresolved.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in laptop repair, particularly those dealing with ribbon connectors or similar components, may find this discussion relevant.

ppppparker
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i was taking apart HP notebook to replace HD and when I was pulling the housing for the keybaord up I didnt notice this ribbon connector thing that was threaded through the housing. It snapped apart. It connected straight to the power connector. I don't understand how ribbons work but it looks like that it would be impossible to put back together because there are 4 or 5 strips of metal underneath the plastic sheath..so i guess you have to just replace it (?) .. But is this right? Is there a way to repair it? thanks
(I can post a pic if this explains the prob better)
 
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Which is easier to replace? A $5 busted cable, or a $500 fried notebook?
 
It depends on what material the cable is made out of. If it is a copper flex circuit the the answer is with great difficulty. If it a conductive ink type then it is pretty much impossible to fix it. Either way replacement is the best answer.

BoB
 
ive since looked it up and its about $10 replacement so i guess its not worth it to even try to fix.
thanks for the answers though.
 

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