Ipod audio cables

[Valodier]

I have a fifth generation Ipod, and since my audio jack stopped working, and has since then been ripped out, ive been using a... bottom jack I guess. A friend of mine gave me a cable that plugs into the bottom where you would plug in your usb cord. This cord broke, or rather the solder points broke and stopped working, so I took it apart and the cable itsself has since gone missing and Im left with the connector alone.

I feel a bit like a jackass saying this after meandering around the site and reading up on this specific manufacturer, but I used to be all about monster cables. Heh, I apologize for my ignorance and naivete.

Having said that, I also own a cable (monster of course) for my ipod that plugs into the now missing audio jack, and then into my HT system. I kept it because I like to mickey mouse alot and I figured id get bored someday and use it for something.

That day has come and, ever since my HT sytem died due to my own DIYing, and I cant exactley figure that out, I ripped an old audio jack out of an old mp3/cd boombox, I took a set of surround sound speakers that my step mom thought were too 'high quality' for her computer, a pair of regular AV cables and my monster cables, which is now soldered onto the bottom connector, or whatever its called, for my ipod.

I plugged the speakers into the audio jack, and I took the audio and ground wires and wrapped the audio wires to the corresponding AV cable connectors, literally wrapped the wire around the male connector,and since its an in progress thing I just grounded it to a metal casing. Now the AV cables were plugged into my cable box, I just wanted to see if what I was doing worked, and it does which whoever responds to this probably already knows.

My questions are as follows;

1. Would the monster wires actually work with the bottom connector?

The monster wires are much bigger than the original wires and it was broken to begin with so I couldnt test to see if it actually worked. This is a problem for me, since several other little projects ive tried have failed miserably due to, im pretty sure, the difference in the gauge of the wire. That or im just hopelessly lost, but im pretty sure its the gauge.

2. Would I be able to splice the wires from the audio jack to the monster audio wires?

Not only is I think gauge a problem this time, but the wires are different materials, the monster cables being copper and the old boombox wires being what looks like silver or something. They have a silver color but I just cant for the life of my think of what they would be at the moment. I have some electronics experience, not only from little DIY things but also from school.

Sorry this is really long and drawn out.

 

[Halon451]

I plugged the speakers into the audio jack, and I took the audio and ground wires and wrapped the audio wires to the corresponding AV cable connectors, literally wrapped the wire around the male connector,and since its an in progress thing I just grounded it to a metal casing. Now the AV cables were plugged into my cable box, I just wanted to see if what I was doing worked, and it does which whoever responds to this probably already knows.

Huh? Anyone get this, or am I just tired tonight?

 

[Halon451]

Man... I'd love to give you an answer on this one, but I'll offer some advice instead. For the amount of hacking you're trying to do, it might help to take a step back and educate yourself on a few fundamentals before you destroy all your nice things.

The bottom connector on any iPod is proprietary first of all - you may be able to find an accurate pinout somewhere on the web, but I wouldn't mess with it at all. Not only does it pass audio, but control functions and power (charging) as well. You'll end up putting the wrong wire to the wrong spot and zap! Bye bye, $300 iPod.

Secondly - I'm not sure I followed a bit of anything else you said, sorry...

 

[Valodier]

Heh sorry, I was trying to describe it the best I could, and it still came out a bit garbled.

My questions pretty much boil down to two things;

Can wires of different gauges be crossed and still work properly?

and

Can wires of different materials be crossed and still work properly?

Besides, I learn through experience, so even if I do end up breaking something I still walk away with some new knowledge.

And I just enjoy messing around with stuff like this...

The cable I previously had for the bottom connector has l/r audio and ground like a mm below the actual pins, and they're lined up with the corresponding pin. Theres a little board in there, so as long as I stay lined up and dont cross anything I should be fine.

If I wanted to know which ones not to mess with (power, controls, etc.) all I would have to do is look at an Ipod usb connector cable. They dont have boards in them, the wires actualy are soldered right onto individual pins. So they only have like three pins in the female part itsself.

 

[Halon451]

My questions pretty much boil down to two things;

Can wires of different gauges be crossed and still work properly?

and

Can wires of different materials be crossed and still work properly?

Yes and yes. I wouldn't recommend it, but I also tend to be a bit meticulous when doing my own projects and like everything to be consistent and put together as professionally as possible.

As long as the conductors are mating the proper end points together, gauge shouldn't be a concern, as far as different materials - most wire conductors use copper, so I'm not sure what you have there - but either way, the electrons that make up the signal aren't going to notice a difference, as long as the connection point is solid, the signal will still flow.

Ha - I do understand the need to tinker. Hell, I broke several of my own items tinkering back in the day long before I had any formal electrical or electronics training. You do learn a lot in the process, even if it's at the expense of some of your possessions.

Best of luck to you.