Broke my headphone socket!

Fredrik-Larsson · July 13th, 2008, 05:38 PM

Today we broke the audio-video adapter on my camera when moving it a bit (I had a field monitor plugged in). Seems as if always to unplug when doing any kind of movement is a golden rule even though the distance is almost zero. To me it looks like a designflaw since those connections seems to be only loosely connected. If I compare it with a mp3-player or the phone output on my computer the XH-A1 sockets seems way cheaper implemented. It would strike me as odd since the camera costs way more than my mp3-player or phone output. Well, I will see if I can manage to be without it for a short while when it's getting fixed.

Bill Pryor · July 13th, 2008, 07:25 PM

If you step on a cable, you can break almost any jack. I've had the BNC jack on a DSR500 ripped loose when somebody stepped on the monitor cable. The elbow connector is a pretty good idea; in theory the cable would pull out of the downward facing connector before trashing the one in the camera back.

What I do with monitor cables, and it would be fine for other cables too, is use long rubber bands. I got a bag of rubber bands from an office supply store that are heavy duty and about 6 or 8" long. I loop one around the cable a couple of feet down from the connector, then hook it over the handle or hotshoe, whereever is convenient. This makes a loop in the cable, and if somebody trips or steps on it, it would have to pull out a foot or more to put force on the socket. The rubber band just holds the loop up. Sort of a shock absorber.

Fredrik-Larsson · July 14th, 2008, 02:40 AM

I am quite sure it wasn't stepped on but anyway it has happened so it's just a matter of moving on... I like your idea about using rubberbands to have connected to the cables. It sounds like a cheap safety. The elbow connector seems like a good idea to but the s-video-audio seems to be a special connector to me...

Howard Wilczynski · October 29th, 2008, 07:10 AM

I just found another solution to the problem.
ThinkGeek :: Replug Breakaway Audio Jack

July 13th, 2008, 05:38 PM	#16
Fredrik-Larsson Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Malmö, Sweden Posts: 395	Broke the audio-video adapter Today we broke the audio-video adapter on my camera when moving it a bit (I had a field monitor plugged in). Seems as if always to unplug when doing any kind of movement is a golden rule even though the distance is almost zero. To me it looks like a designflaw since those connections seems to be only loosely connected. If I compare it with a mp3-player or the phone output on my computer the XH-A1 sockets seems way cheaper implemented. It would strike me as odd since the camera costs way more than my mp3-player or phone output. Well, I will see if I can manage to be without it for a short while when it's getting fixed. __________________ The Russian Captain (upcoming feature) http://trc-movie.blogspot.com/ My movies http://www.larssonfilm.com/

July 14th, 2008, 02:40 AM	#18
Fredrik-Larsson Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Malmö, Sweden Posts: 395	I am quite sure it wasn't stepped on but anyway it has happened so it's just a matter of moving on... I like your idea about using rubberbands to have connected to the cables. It sounds like a cheap safety. The elbow connector seems like a good idea to but the s-video-audio seems to be a special connector to me... __________________ The Russian Captain (upcoming feature) http://trc-movie.blogspot.com/ My movies http://www.larssonfilm.com/

October 29th, 2008, 07:10 AM	#19
Howard Wilczynski Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canyon Country, CA Posts: 71	New solution to problem I just found another solution to the problem. ThinkGeek :: Replug Breakaway Audio Jack

July 13th, 2008, 07:25 PM	#17
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	If you step on a cable, you can break almost any jack. I've had the BNC jack on a DSR500 ripped loose when somebody stepped on the monitor cable. The elbow connector is a pretty good idea; in theory the cable would pull out of the downward facing connector before trashing the one in the camera back. What I do with monitor cables, and it would be fine for other cables too, is use long rubber bands. I got a bag of rubber bands from an office supply store that are heavy duty and about 6 or 8" long. I loop one around the cable a couple of feet down from the connector, then hook it over the handle or hotshoe, whereever is convenient. This makes a loop in the cable, and if somebody trips or steps on it, it would have to pull out a foot or more to put force on the socket. The rubber band just holds the loop up. Sort of a shock absorber.