[Intuos 3] Replacing the USB cable

scourgewarper

I have an Intuous 3 wacom tablet and recently noticed it stopped working. The cable had previously worn out where it rubs when I push and pull it out of my desk so I wrapped some cellotape around it and it seemed to work fine. Basically the tape has worn through and I think it must have shortcircuited the wires or something because it's scorched and now doesn't work/power on.

Assuming it's just the cable and I haven't damaged anything in the tablet what would be the best way of replacing the usb cable that connects the wacom to the pc? Can it even be replaced - i'm assuming it can?

MaVCArt

I know the later models with replaceable cables can use each others cables, the intuos4 can use a bamboo cable for example, but i don't think that applies to the intuos3, since that cable is actually part of the tablet. you should contact wacom themselves about this, but i'm afraid you may expect to have to buy a new tablet altogether.
i'm not trying to be a pessimist here, but seeing as the cable on the intuos3 is not replaceable as far as I know, that's what I would expect.

renderhjs

I remember having one of those early Sidewinder Force Feedback Joysticks (1st gen) and some of the cables were broken too, I found a clever computer fixing guy who knew what to do, where to connect the new cable and what stuff to replace.

Maybe try to find someone in your area that might be able to do the job, like someone who fixes computers and other technical devices for a living. Probably don't even have to pay much.

Noors

scourgewarper

Yer that's what I thought as the cable is wired directly into the tablet only had it a couple of years too ah well

scourgewarper

I was thinking I could do it myself just cut out the bad section and re-connect the wires but it looks a bit fiddly although i'd give it a try

@Noors: what's the name of that?

Noors

it's called electric dominoes here, but i don't know the name in english. It's very basic electric stuff, you can find it in any DIY store for a few pence i'm sure.

scourgewarper

Cheers i'll try and get some. Just checked and they did used to sell a replacement cable which you'd have to fit yourself but they're no longer manufactured.

Noors

"connecting strip" seems to be the term. Would be cleaner to weld them properly and put a plastic casing on it but it requires more materials and skills !

BeatKitano

I've the feeling you will have very slim electrical wire around even slimer one but isolated with plastic. Thus making dominoes pretty much useless due to the hair like wiring.

That's pretty much like that in any cable i've tried to fix... And yeah noors got it, welding is the way to go here.

Noors

heh yeah, i didn't know how usb cables were inside tbh. If it doesn't work with a domino (there are little ones, but since USB wires are shielded, there will maybe be interferences), try with the welding and isolate each wire with heat shrink tubing. Really, i don't think you need to buy another tablet.

Maph

USB to my knowledge has 4 insulated wires on the inside G, 5V, Data + and Data -. Those are your standard copper wires (several thin wires wrapped around each other).
If you have a soldering iron, just put some solder on the stripped tips and you're good to go to put it in a connecting strip.
But I personally would just test if you get current from the cable to begin with using a multimeter (you can get those for like 20$ and quite possibly less). If you do, the problem is either the broken bit in the cable or a short circuit in the board.

What I'm trying to say, is that replacing a cable is peanuts; if you fried a component in the intuos itself, you're kinda screwed (and I speak from experience ).

scourgewarper

That's a good point I may have actually damaged the board itself so obviously replacing the cable would just be a waste. The cable had scorch marks so that doesn't look good. A friend has a multimeter i'll have to test it and see what happens thx for the info.

arrangemonk

you should buy a miniusb b soket, solter it onto the remaining wires in the board, then scratch out the part were the cable came from out so the plug fits into it, and glue it in place with hotglue

then you have replacable cord

(but since wacom tablets are reasonably developped im sure you can just unplug the cord after opening the case and just solter a new cord to that plug )

BeatKitano

arrangemonk wrote: »

(but since wacom tablets are reasonably developped im sure you can just unplug the cord after opening the case and just solter a new cord to that plug )

You're probably right, you may not even have to weld it, it could be just a plastic plug for easy aftersale servicing (in that case it's even quicker to repair)