What Wires Connect When Repairing a 3.5mm Headphone Jack?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Instiinct
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Wire
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the wiring connections needed to repair a 3.5mm headphone jack for earphones that include a built-in microphone. Participants explore the specifics of wire color coding and the differences between 3-pole and 4-pole jacks, as well as potential methods for making the correct connections.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the wire colors present in both the earphones and the replacement jack, noting the presence of red, green, and copper-colored wires, as well as a bare wire that appears green.
  • Another participant suggests that the original earphones likely used a 4-pole jack, while the replacement is a 3-pole jack, indicating a difference in functionality related to audio and microphone connections.
  • The same participant proposes that if the microphone is not needed, the red and green wires can be connected directly, with the other wires joined together, although they caution that there is no universal standard for the color codes of the microphone signal wire.
  • There is a suggestion to use a continuity tester or trial and error to determine the correct connections if the microphone functionality is desired.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the wiring standards and the necessity of using a 4-pole jack for microphone functionality. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact connections needed for the microphone.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the lack of a universal standard for wire color coding in 4-pole plugs, which may lead to uncertainty in making the correct connections. The discussion also highlights the potential for trial and error in determining the correct wiring.

Instiinct
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
So I have earphones with a built in mic and the 3.5mm jack was broken so I cut the cable at the base where it meets the jack. And I have another 3.5mm headphone jack from some old headphones that has the wires for the built in miss as well. I was wondering which wires go together. On the earphone side there is a red, green, and copper colored wires and they all have an enamel coating. There is also a bare wire that seems to be copper but its green colored. On the replacement 3.5mm headphone jack there are a red green and copper colored wires again with an enamel coating. There is also a bare copper wire like the green colored one from the headphones. How do I wire all of this correctly? Please help.
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
Hi
Welcome.
Any chance of a photograph of that lot?
 
sophiecentaur said:
Hi
Welcome.
Any chance of a photograph of that lot?

Thanks hi. Yeah I could take a picture when I get home from the mall.
 
From your description, I guess your earbuds with mike were wired to a 4-pole jack plug, but your other plug is the 3-pole plug that is "standard" for audio only. Note the way the plugs are divided into 3 and 4 sections by the black insulating rings.

35mm-plastic-stereo-plug.jpg
35mm-4-pole-jack-plug.jpg


The red and green wires are the two audio channels. On the 3-pole plug the other wire is the common return path. On 4-pole plugs and cables, I don't think there is a universal standard for the color codes of the mike signal wire and the common return wire.

If you don't want to use the microphone, it should be OK to join red to red, green to green, and join the other three wires together (two on one side and one on the other).

Otherwise, get a 4-pole plug, and compare the connections on the old broken one with a continuity tester, or use trial and error - there are only two unknown options!
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 72 ·
3
Replies
72
Views
21K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
11
Views
7K
Replies
7
Views
8K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
6K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
17K