How to Fix Anet A8 Hotbed Burned Connector

Intro: How to Fix Anet A8 Hotbed Burned Connector

The Anet A8 is a cheap 3D printer very commom on the DIY community that when you put some time working and upgrading will put very good quality prints.

The Anet A8 was the reputation of being a fire hazard do to some faulty parts, one of those parts is the connector to the hotbed.

With this fix the 3D print will became more safe to use by reducing the risk of fire and prevent a failed print.

STEP 1: Burned Connector

This connector is a VHR-6N wire to board with four wires , two for the 12v supply and the two other are for the thermistor that read the hotbed temperature.

This connector can draw 10 amps in normal operation.

You can see on the hotbed the layout of the wires in the connector:

+12v

+12v

Thermistor

Thermistor

-12v

-12v

The terminal inside will became loose with time do to the vibration produce by the 3D printer, the terminal will became isolated do to the small spark and the hotbed will stop working do to the lack of 12v power supply.

STEP 2: Wire Directly

The first thing to do will be desoldering the hotbed connector and solder the wires directly to the hotbed like i did.

This will eliminate the use of the VHR-6N connector.

Take your time desoldering, this will be a little bit tricked because the aluminium in the hotbed will draw all the heat of the soldering iron.

STEP 3: Final Step

To ensure that the wires stay in place and isolated from each other you can apply high temperature silicone.

The silicone can withstand high temperature up to 300ºC, more than enough for the working temperature of the hotbed.

All done!

Now you can work with your 3D printer again in a more improve and safe way.

You can check out more projects here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL-jpfIywlIeSoJ-v...

https://www.instructables.com/member/Engineer+of+N...

Thanks!

Comments

[abdouessam60]

So if i connected the 4 wires it will need 24 v power supply or it just will be 12v

[Smiley2182]

Couldn't you also solder 2 more wires to the 12+ and 12- so it doesn't put as much load on just the 1 wire for each?

[Engineer of None]

Yes you can, our just one wire with bigger gauge.

[eliasrm87]

Soldering over a big aluminium plate requieres quite good soldering skills that most of us don't have, it is very difficult to get a decent job done...

I really doubt that silicon will do anything, I'm pretty sure that it will take no very long before the joints breaks and you got a wonderful short circuit, with all the sparks, smoke and possibly fire included.

The first thing that I always recommend, unless you have very good soldering skills, and here is very important to be honest with ourselves, is buying a new female connector with the six cables populated, so the two positive and negative wires are used. This solution is not perfect, but it is much better than making a mess with the soldering iron...

And last but not least, print one of the one million strain relief available at the web, so the contacts don't move anymore and they will not arc or get loose anymore.

That simple, that easy. No need for soldering or meassy silicones.

[Engineer of None]

Soldering over a big aluminium plate like anything it takes work but is possible with great results.
The high temperature silicon is providing strain relief and providing electrical insulation in between wires.
Replacing the burn connector for a brand new is possible but you will have the same problem in the future because this type of connectors are not ratted to work with vibrations produce by the 3D printer.
If any the joints break the security of the update firmware will kick in and stop the print.
Since this post my 3D printer is working non stop without any problem, i have 3D printed all the components of the proton pack of the Ghostbusters, so a lot of filament and a lot of hours working.