Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!fuhrman From: fuhrman@Apple.COM (Cris Fuhrman) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Novice question about CD headphone wire Keywords: headphone wire Message-ID: <7601@goofy.Apple.COM> Date: 9 Apr 90 05:02:24 GMT Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA Lines: 45 Hi, Ok, here's a situation that I've not been able to figure out. I'm not an Electrical Engineer, but I do know a little about electronics and how a basic circuit works, so maybe someone can enlighten me. I just bought a new set of headphones for my CD player (portable) and while cutting them out of the box, I goofed and actually cut the headphone wire in half, about 2" up from the jack. No problem, I thought. I've fixed this kind of stuff before; it only requires stripping the wires and connecting them up again. Well, to my surprise, after stripping the two severed ends of the wires, I found inside four shiny NON-INSULATED wires (each coiled around some fiber) all next to each other. Hmmm, I thought. How does this work if they're not insulated? I'm a novice, so I continued connecting. There were a total of 4 wires on each severed end: a red, a green, and two coppers (indistinquishable). They are very fine wires, and each one is wrapped around some sort of fibererous core. the green wire connects to the green wire, the red wire connects to the red wire, one of the remaining two copper wires connects to one of the remaining two copper wires, etc. When all is connected, I get no sound. Figuring I've incorrectly connected the two copper wires that were indistinguishable, I reverse them, but still no sound. Can someone out there tell a novice what's going on? These headphones were $25 and I don't feel that a stupid mistake like the one I've made should cost me that much. Thanks in advance. -Cris -- +---------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Cris Fuhrman | fuhrman@apple.com | | 10250 N. Foothill Blvd., #D5 | "I'll do the best that I can" | | Cupertino CA 95014 | - Geddy Lee | +---------------------------------------------------------------------+