Topic: Core Sound HEB Wires Cracking

[bhoy]

I'm just wondering if anyone else has had the cables on their Core Sound HEB's or DPA 4061 wires start to crack.  The black coating on the wires is cracking and breaking off in certain small spots, exposing the wires underneath.  My mics are about 10 years old and have been out taping in the dead of winter, and the scorching heat, so I guess this is the end of the road for them.

Will the wire below eventually crack and break?  I can use electric tape, but it's not going to last forever.  I'd love to hear from anyone who has had similar problems or knows of a temporary fix.

Thanks,
Bill

[live2496]

Electrical tape can get sticky after a while.

If I was going to do a repair like this I would put as thin as possible piece of rubber tape (available at hardware stores). This is usually used for waterproofing electrical wiring. Then overtop of that I woud put some heat shrink.

Another good repair would be to use a glue gun to insulate the wire and then overlay that with heat shrink. You can get a cheap glue gun at a hobby store or walmart.

[guysonic]

Most these cords have a vinyl type plastic jacket with plasticizer chemicals inside to keep plastic flexible, but like auto seat covers, can dry out and the vinyl cracks like you've experienced. 

Suggest using a vinyl 'tool dip' product available in some hardware departments to recoat the cracked portions (use a brush rather than a sprayable type) of the cord to continue being durable against the elements.

[boojum]

I wonder if ArmorAll would help these things last longer?  It used to be the answer for everything plastic.  Kind of like Marvel Mystery Oil is for engines. 

[pjdavep]

I think the manual calls for an occasional application of olive oil to the cable in order to clean it and keep it 'lubed' and flexible.

Later,
  pjdavep

[Church-Audio]

I'm just wondering if anyone else has had the cables on their Core Sound HEB's or DPA 4061 wires start to crack.  The black coating on the wires is cracking and breaking off in certain small spots, exposing the wires underneath.  My mics are about 10 years old and have been out taping in the dead of winter, and the scorching heat, so I guess this is the end of the road for them.

Will the wire below eventually crack and break?  I can use electric tape, but it's not going to last forever.  I'd love to hear from anyone who has had similar problems or knows of a temporary fix.

Thanks,
Bill

Mineral oil would be fine. Part of the problem is your sweat it breaks down the cable over time, So one very important thing to remember is to clean your cables after each use to minimize the effects of sweat on your cables. Its always been a problem with ALL lav mics after a while the cable drys out from the salt in your sweat causing the cable to lose its flexibility and crack.

[johnnyb]

been done this road before lol then again i sweat alot

[Church-Audio]

I have also been recabling these mics as well with mogami wire for $100 a set this includes sennheiser as well.

[bhoy]

I would love to have these re-cabled.  Can you drop me a line at: bhoy@eaw.com?

The cracking and breaking is about 4-6 inches from the mic capsule.  Is this enough to work with, or is it too close to the capsule?

Bill

[guysonic]

Treating vinyl cable jackets with oily liquids is a 'double-edged sword' where it may help, but also may speed up the leaching out of needed plasticizers inside the vinyl formulated jacket. 

Some peoples sweat is more leaching than others, and only experience with a particular person/cable plastic formulation will one know how much concern is appropriate over a period of years for body contact service. 

It is possible to obtain vinyl restoration solutions (like available for water bed vinyl plastic) that especially when moderate heat (short of melting the vinyl) is also applied, greatly helps for driving additional plasticizer deeper into the plastic cable jacket, and this has proven to me a benefit for prolonging the cables flexible service life.

However, if things have gone too far to having portions of the cable jacket split-open, then the tool-handle vinyl brush repair remains only option to at least repair the cable for having a bit more useful service life where the internal copper wire conductors are protected from breaking.

[Church-Audio]

I would love to have these re-cabled.  Can you drop me a line at: bhoy@eaw.com?

The cracking and breaking is about 4-6 inches from the mic capsule.  Is this enough to work with, or is it too close to the capsule?

Bill

I replace the wires going right to the capsule I rebuild the back end of the capsule housing with epoxy and paint so that it can be re soldered. They dont look exactly the same when they are done but they do perform the same.

Chris