Repair a Broken Ethernet Plug

The locking tab of RJ45 plugs breaks very easily. Replace it by two nylon cable ties (aka zip ties), in minutes.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
- This must be regarded as a temporary "Mac Gyver" solution, for home usage.
- Definitely not for IT staff! (no crimper? asking for one in the budget won't get you fired!)
- Before the tab breaks, consider protecting the plug.

Step 1: On Broken RJ45 Locking Tabs...

There are always some Ethernet cables around with a broken tab. Did you remember to exchange the cable?

Now the RJ45 plug no longer locks properly, making the connection unreliable. You firmly push the plug into the socket, hurray you're connected again! so you forget about the plug until the next lost connection some weeks later, wasting a long time to figure out that it's this damn broken plug again. And so on.

Now it's time to act and grab your RJ45 crimp tool. Oh, you don't have one? Or you're reluctant to use it? so read on...

Step 2: Needed Stuff

Tools:

• Cable tie tool (optional)
• Sharp knife
• Cutting pliers

Materials:

• TWO CABLE TIES (small size)

They are true heroes of this instructable.
Their exact size matters, this is discussed in the next step.

Step 3: Find the Right Size of Cable Ties

The head of the cable ties must have the proper width to snap into the socket, and be easily released.

To test, insert the head into the socket as shown in the first picture below. It should snap.

Then gently pull the cable tie. You should feel some resistance.

I measured a head width of 4.3mm.

Step 4: Cut the Cable Tie #1 to Length

Cut approx 4.5 cm (1.8 inches).

Step 5: Make its Head Thin

With the sharp knife, and preferably on a piece of scrap material, cut the head of the cable tie, to make it flat.

Step 6: Bend the Cable Tie #1

Bend it as shown.

Step 7: Use the Cable Tie #2

With the second cable tie, tighten the first one.

Step 8: Done (Almost)

Now it looks funny. Is that meant to work? Read on...

Step 9: Tune it

Tune the position and bends of the cable tie #1, so that it acts as a spring.

Step 10: Now, Use it !

Insert the repaired plug as shown.

You should get this beloved "click" noise again!

Comments

[Doncans]

ingeniosamente simple y espectacularmente útil

felicitaciones

[ljuwana]

nice trick...so simple

[x burn]

really brilliant

[Fat Aido]

I am in love with you man! xxx

[softenersreviews]

Great job on the ties!

[dmesser]

This might be fine s a temporary fix. But seriously, just crimp on a new end. They're as cheap as cheap as pull-ties, and you won't have to fiddle with getting the cuts just right. Any home improvement store carries the crimper and ends.

[roseuz]

Ah!!!!!!!!!! What a waste of time and disappointment. I wish I could be as positive as the others, but sorry, that's just not the case. I tried this, which took probably at least an hour with the cutting the head of the tie being the longest. It cracked to the top, but I managed to change the direction of the cut to get it even and finish the job. I also super-glued it and wiped off any excess. It eventually cracked again though.

Once I finally reached the last step, I am able to put it into my Ethernet port, but sometimes must fidget with it to get it pushed in all the way so that when I tug on it I can feel resistance. The second thing that bothered me the most is that it's too difficult to get out and I usually have to pull out my Ethernet cord as I have a non wireless printer that's not in my room and this would frustrate me every time I have to take the cord out.

I guess the easiest and fastest solution, would be to buy a coupler as someone else suggested and a one foot cord and tape the damaged end of the cord into the coupler.

[mmcpherson4]

MUAHAHAH!!! NEVER will I EVER be disconnected from Xbox Live because of that cursed cable!!! :D Thanks a bunch dude! 

[hunter999]

same here dude - no getting booted from cod or gears!

[socalsmiley]

haha same exact reason im doing this!

[Lawrence.Frewin]

An excellent fix for an all too common problem. Saved me hours of laying new cables or renewing connectors. A simple and annoyingly obvious fix once you have seen it done once.

[eddles777]

thanks mate for showing this. i applied to to my own cat-5 cable and also used the same application modified for my old telephone wire cable.

[pratyushpmhptr]

(removed by author or community request)

[muckquomp]

The Home Depot electrical department has them. Various sizes. Try the hardware department as well depending on store.

[RCGuru]

Poundland in Uk and dollar world in other places

[prodo123]

I can't cut the friggin nylon tie with an extremely sharp razor. Now what, sand it flat?

[laxap]

Because the nylon is quite hard, a sharp and sturdy blade+handle is necessary. Use a utility knife (stanley, or snap-off).

Side cutting pliers may also be used.

[prodo123]

I used a Stanley utility knife and it still won't cut...
Then I used wire cutters and it completely deformed the end
Then I used needle nose pliers and it did the same thing

[Horus9339]

Sorry but you made me laugh. Have you got a sharp blade installed in the knife? If you use a little backwards and forwards motion and gently push you will make it through the plastic clip. You could use some mineral oil to help with the friction. You have to have some patients, they are tough little pesky things.

If you have a little modelers drill you could use a small sander tip but that would defeat the whole point of this genius repair. Which can be done with little to no tools, I have managed to do this with a set of True Utility Nail Clippers. So keep going and you will succeed.

Good luck.

[prodo123]

I got a new Ethernet cable, problem solved.
And yes, it was sharpened at that time. In fact, laying my finger over it got me a small cut. So it looks like there's something wrong with my cable ties. Or maybe it's some industrial-grade cable tie? I don't know.

[muckquomp]

Oh well . . . got here too late to tell you to try a finger nail clipper. The big ones with a wide flat Jaw for toe nails. This is what I plan to use instead.

[throbscottle]

This rocks more than a very rocky thing! Thank you!

I have a cable where the tab broke off from being plugged/unplugged every day, so this will be much better than the original tab because it's almost unbreakable!

[lmlei]

Can people that tried this way confirm if its safe for my laptop...? I LOVE the idea i just hope its safe to use haha

[Rybka30]

I used it for few months... and then PC engineer said me it can break ethernet card in computer... i dunno how, but he said it can... :/

[mmykle]

It can only break the port if you misjudge the how small to cut the ziptie. If it is too big the cable will get stuck in the port. However in most cases you should be able to get it out by sliding a knife in between the ziptie and the ethernet port.

[PaulMakesThings]

Finally gave this a try on my cable that keeps coming loose. For a moment I thought it hadn't worked but then I nudged the ties forward a bit and it clicked and locked. Excellent job on this!

[julietaodio]

How clever!!!!!!!! ithis is the most amazing solution for something sooo annoying thank you for reminding me of things like these make the world interesting. I know, a little drama hasn´t killed anybody but it is true 8)

[rquader]

Great fix. I'll try this out on my cables!

[Electronics Man]

This is awsome! Good Job :)

[trustr]

You Sir... are a genius!

[weldam]

cool

[brssnkl]

replacing it is easier

[kkroflin]

Well done!

[qdexheimer]

Had a RJ-45 network cable with both plugs broken. After some hard time, it works perfectly for both sides. Thanks for this wonderful idea, I'll repair a lot of Ethernet Plugs with that method.

Quentin, from France

[stsvolga2]

nice technologies ))
construction of cottages in Volgograd

[sabladask]

your the best!!

[the pvc bike guy]

Thank you!

[WildBlueRhino]

Such a useful little trick. A bit fiddly, but it's worked perfectly. :)

[zamg0d1]

Great way to kill your Ethernet cable.... Ingenious but the tie around the cable itself will will the cable due to the tightness of it..

[Mooch07]

Just did this and it works great! Thanks