Why do cables go bad so easily

[BrightSideSC]

Generally, Why do monitor cables crap out SO easily? Same with Cell phone usb charger cables? Even the “fancy” expensive ones. Why, just why? This isn't just a vent post – I'm really wanting to know, because things like vacuum cleaner cables and other power cables last nearly forever.

 

[Soundmanred]

I've had very few cables "go bad" over the years. Only when I really mistreat them like cell phone charger cables.
They go bad because there are multiple TINY wires wrapped inside, and if they get pulled too much they stop working. It's pretty simple really.

 

[seepy83]

Basically, what Soundmanred said. In order to make them more flexible, most of these cables use stranded copper wire inside. There are also multiple pins on USB, Monitor, Ethernet, etc cables, so they each need their own separate wires inside. Bend, smash, stretch, twist, and crush the cable enough and you're going to end up breaking one of those wires.

Power cables, on the other hand, don't need to transmit different data streams...they just provide power, so they're much more resistant to abuse.

 

[bononos]

Never had monitor cables go bad on me yet. I do notice though that cables are looking thinner and more flimsy as time goes by.

 

[videogames101]

they're thin wires made cheap as hell, nothing else to say

 

[corkyg]

Never had a monitor cable go bad - I never mess with mine after connection. Micro USB connectors are delicate - they can be damage by pulling them out by the cable instead of grasping the connector and pulling straight out.

 

[Six]

I think it's a quality issue too. Fancy hardly ever equates to better quality. For my uncommon cables, I usually reinforced about two inches of the part where the wire joins the connector with aluminum tape or electrical tape.

As for cell phone cables, I'd avoid any Motorola brand. They make good phones, but their cables are the worst proprietary piece of crap ever. If my cable goes bad, I'd look for a Nokia branded one.

 

[Sheep221]

I had few of the CRT monitors in which I had replaced cables, seems that newer simplified interfaces such as USB, HDMI and DP are less prone to bending than let's say PS2, COM, LPT, D-Sub and Scart cables due to nature of lesser wires and stripes within the cable, that however doesn't mean it's a towing rope or catenary wire which doesn't break if you harshly manipulate with it.

 

[master_shake_]

imo the charge/data port on cellphones and other things goes bad before the cable does...

have yet to have a monitor cable go out on my though.

 

[Dr-Kiev]

The cables which are more often bended, die faster.

 

[zCypher]

I've never had a bad monitor or USB cable. Hard drives on the other hand, I've seen some of those fail!

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Generally, Why do monitor cables crap out SO easily? Same with Cell phone usb charger cables? Even the “fancy” expensive ones. Why, just why? This isn't just a vent post – I'm really wanting to know, because things like vacuum cleaner cables and other power cables last nearly forever.

My vacuum cables don't last "nearly forever" especially when i run them over with the vac. Conversely, I've never had a monitor cable "crap out".

The question becomes why do YOUR monitor cables die so easily? Why, just why?

 

[Cerb]

Generally, Why do monitor cables crap out SO easily? Same with Cell phone usb charger cables? Even the “fancy” expensive ones. Why, just why? This isn't just a vent post – I'm really wanting to know, because things like vacuum cleaner cables and other power cables last nearly forever.

Either you abuse them, or are buying crap to start with. I've never had a VGA or DVI cable go bad, and very few USB cables (however, these include cables included with WD and Seagate external HDDs--it gives me so much confidence in them!). If you have to pull on them, or kink them, to get them where they need to go, FI, you really need a longer cable.