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Cracking open wall warts, how do YOU do it?

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    #1

    Cracking open wall warts, how do YOU do it?

    I have about 5 wall warts to repair. 4 just have frayed wires at the wall end, so I just need to chop an inch off and re-solder. These are from Dlink switches that our field staff take out to client sites, and they wrap em too tight when they return them.

    The fifth is a switching 5v adapter from a Netgear router. Probably a bad cap (it's 5v with no load, down to 3.2 when the router is plugged in) but it really doesn't want to open for me.

    I've tried various techniques over the years, freezing, and spacking with a hammer, heating and prying, squeezing in a vise (not a good idea) and good old exacto knife.

    Does anyone have any tried and true methods?
    And what about re-assembly. Epoxy is good, but you'll have trouble opening it again. Hot glue is a bit weak...
    36 Monitors, 3 TVs, 4 Laptops, 1 motherboard, 1 Printer, 1 iMac, 2 hard drive docks and one IP Phone repaired so far....
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    #2
    Re: Cracking open wall warts, how do YOU do it?

    Only other way apart from what you mention that i can think of atm is cutting it open with a dremel with one of thoose circular flat bits in it. If one knew exactly what kind of compound hold them together there might be a solvant that could dissolve it, however it would probably melt on the plastic as well so maybe not viable solution.

    As to holding it together someone else on the forum wrote about just putting cable ties to hold them together. If they are going back out to customers that might not look very good though so maybe glue them back together?

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      #3
      Re: Cracking open wall warts, how do YOU do it?

      I use a flathead screwdriver and a hammer... Leaves only one mark, one hit is enough to crack most of the glue on that side, then i simply pull it apart with my hands. I use super glue to put it back together.
      Originally posted by PeteS in CA
      Remember that by the time consequences of a short-sighted decision are experienced, the idiot who made the bad decision may have already been promoted or moved on to a better job at another company.
      A working TV? How boring!

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        #4
        Re: Cracking open wall warts, how do YOU do it?

        dremel with a thin cutting wheel on lowest speed.
        superglue or "liquid plastic" to put it back together.

        (liquid plastic is some gooey black stuff that bonds with the plastic and hardens up after a few hours. sort of like the glue stuff to fix bycicle tires, just for plastic. if done right, you wouldn't notice it at all and it's probably stronger than the original ever was..)

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          #5
          Re: Cracking open wall warts, how do YOU do it?

          Wall warts are only seen once before they are placed into the wall. Only the most sensitive people will notice a black zip tie around a black transformer.
          sig files are for morons

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            #6
            Re: Cracking open wall warts, how do YOU do it?

            Sometimes they are ultrasonically welded together and in those cases a good hit with a hammer on the join lines will crack it apart.

            Comment

              #7
              Re: Cracking open wall warts, how do YOU do it?

              Get a block plane blade refill from the big box store place the blade between the two case halves and whack the end of the blade with a hammer. The blade is made of thick steel so it can take a beating.

              The blade acts as a wedge to pry the halves apart most supply manufacturers cheap out on the adhesive so it comes apart easily. Others take a bit more hammering.

              Any marring is minimal thanks to the blades thin profile.

              To put it back together fill the channel with a bead of super glue and hold the case together with two spring clamps until it dries. As for disassembly in the future don't count on it they weren't designed to be opened to begin with you'd be stretching it to open it up a second time.

              This is the only low damage method that I use. Another member once recommended the blade of a cheap knockoff Swiss army knife and hammer on that which would work too.
              Attached Files
              Last edited by Krankshaft; 03-02-2011, 09:28 AM.
              Elements of the past and the future combining to make something not quite as good as either.

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                #8
                Re: Cracking open wall warts, how do YOU do it?

                Thanks all!
                Krankshaft, your method looks really good, will try it.
                36 Monitors, 3 TVs, 4 Laptops, 1 motherboard, 1 Printer, 1 iMac, 2 hard drive docks and one IP Phone repaired so far....

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                  #9
                  Re: Cracking open wall warts, how do YOU do it?

                  Still haven't found a block plane blade (Home Depot, Lowes, and Canadian Tire don't have 'em) but substituted a chisel, and it worked quite well.
                  36 Monitors, 3 TVs, 4 Laptops, 1 motherboard, 1 Printer, 1 iMac, 2 hard drive docks and one IP Phone repaired so far....

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Re: Cracking open wall warts, how do YOU do it?

                    Originally posted by smason View Post
                    Still haven't found a block plane blade
                    ebay is an option if you really want one. See

                    http://cgi.ebay.ca/BUCK-BROTHERS-1-9...item5add9d804f
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                      #11
                      Re: Cracking open wall warts, how do YOU do it?

                      Opening an AC adaptor of the switching type is a bit of a hit and miss affair. You either get it open without damaging any components inside or not.
                      My first choice in quality Japanese electrolytics is Nippon Chemi-Con, which has been in business since 1931... the quality of electronics is dependent on the quality of the electrolytics.

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                        #12
                        Re: Cracking open wall warts, how do YOU do it?

                        I've never damaged any components the heat sinks are usually U and shaped cover the top and come down past the sides which usually protects the internals from any damage during opening at least on the sides.
                        Elements of the past and the future combining to make something not quite as good as either.

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                          #13
                          Re: Cracking open wall warts, how do YOU do it?

                          cheap china crap fleamarket grade pocket knife.
                          place its(dull)edge in the seam and smack with hammer.move and repeat.works well for ht batteries too.

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Re: Cracking open wall warts, how do YOU do it?

                            this is the best and fastest way. take a big square transformer with nice sharp edges, place one side of the wart against the transformer but only the side corner of it, make sure the seam is flat against the sharp edge of the transformer and bang with a rubber mallet, then do the same for the next three corners, works like a charm, no dammage.

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Re: Cracking open wall warts, how do YOU do it?

                              Hacksaw or a screw driver + hammer.

                              So far, CapXon has been the filter cap in about 75% of the wall-warts I've taken apart.

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