How to assemble male USB A connector?

Question

This one should be obvious, but I'd rather ask here then get some unexpected surprises.

One of my friends fried a proprietary USB cable which has male USB A connector at one end and TRS connector at the other end. As far as we can see, only the USB A connector seems to be damaged (one of the pins melted). I'm thinking of removing damaged connector and replacing it with something like this. How would I assemble that connector?

EDIT: Results for future users with same problem: Step one was to cut off burnt connector in such way that there is a bit of cable remaining connected to it. Then I removed metal shield from old connector and found relation between pins on connector and colors of internal cables. In retrospective, I think it would have been better to remove shield and to see which pin is connected to which ring before cutting off the connector. Maybe some crazy product uses internal wires of same color?

After that I removed piece of insulation from the healthy part of the cable, placed heatshrink and removed pieces of insulation from individual wires. To me it looked like the black part of the connector was there to facilitate cold welding, but it turned out that I had to solder wires to white plastic part. After that I placed black part on the white part. I was surprised with big metal part as it turned out that the protruding metal part should go next to the black plastic part. To me opposite it looked logical, but plastic parts would go in in only one orientation. In the end, small metal part is just placed on the exposed area of big metal part and small metal jaws are tightened. After that I moved heatshrink so that it covers the jaws and applied heat.

Answer 1

I think you'll find assembling it pretty straightforward when you have the bits in your hand. It's the 'now injection-mould the body' stage which comes next that you'll struggle with.

For a one off repair like this, you can probably do something useful with heatshrink to keep it all together.

Alternatively, cut an existing USB cable in half, and use the 'A' end with some of its attached cable. Then you'll only have to join the cables - another heatshrink job.

Answer 2

No need to buy a connector, pick up another male USB cable then:

• Cut the head off the broken one.
• Cut the tail off the replacement (leaving some excess wire underneath the connector).
• Strip about 1/2" both sides of insulation (including the 4 wires).
• (Optional) Add heatshrink to one side of the wire (but don't heat).
• Solder them together.
• Wrap each wire in electrical tape or position and heat the heatshrink.
• Wrap the whole join in electrical tape to reinforce.