This easy-to-follow guide provides steps for diagnosing and repairing a broken iPhone or Android charger. Start with simple troubleshooting before moving to advanced fixes like soldering.
Before you start: Have compressed air, a toothpick, isopropyl alcohol, and electrical tape ready for basic fixes. For advanced repairs, gather a multimeter, heat-shrink tubes, heat gun, soldering iron, solder, cutting tool, and glue gun.
How to diagnose and repair a broken charger
Follow these sections in order, starting with basic checks and progressing to advanced repairs as needed.
Common solutions
- Inspect the charger for visible damage like bare wires, stripped insulation, or fraying that could prevent charging.
- Verify charger compatibility with your device, such as using an Android charger for Android or Apple charger for iPhone.
- Test the outlet by plugging in a lamp, toggling the switch, checking fuses, or trying another outlet.
- Reset the connection by unplugging the charger from both the device and power source, waiting several seconds, then reconnecting.
- Clean the device’s charging port and the charger’s USB port using compressed air, a toothpick, and isopropyl alcohol to remove debris.
Isolate the issue
- Test the cable by plugging it directly into a wall adapter or USB outlet; if it charges, the issue may be the adapter—try swapping cables.
- Check for indicator lights on the charger that confirm power from the wall, helping pinpoint cable or adapter faults.
Use a multimeter
- Test each component with a multimeter: measure AC voltage at the outlet between neutral and hot wires; check cable resistance (0 Ω is good, infinity means broken); verify voltage and continuity at the adapter’s USB port.
Using electrical tape
- Wrap any cracked or split cable sections tightly with electrical tape as a temporary fix. Note: Replace the cable for a permanent solution.
Using heat-shrink tube and heat gun
- Gather heat-shrink tubes and a heat gun.
- Cut the tubing to fit over the damaged area and slide it into place.
- Shrink the tube evenly by applying heat from the gun while rotating the cable, then allow it to cool completely.
Using a soldering iron
- Gather a cutting tool, soldering iron, solder, and glue gun.
- Open the charging head carefully to expose the wires, noting colors for iPhone (red, white, green, black).
- Solder the broken wires back together, then insulate with hot glue from the glue gun.
- Reattach the head using tape, glue, or heat-shrink tubing, let everything cool, and test the charger.
Pro tip: Always test the charger on multiple devices and outlets after repairs to confirm functionality before relying on it daily.
Repairing your charger saves money compared to buying a new one, especially for frequent travelers or families with multiple devices. It also reduces electronic waste by extending the life of existing hardware.
Mastering these skills builds confidence in handling tech issues independently. Plus, quick fixes prevent downtime during critical moments, like when your phone battery dies unexpectedly.
