This blog post was originally written in Japanese(the original post is here) and translated using a translation service (PLaMo Translation).
Please feel free to leave a comment if you find any unclear
sentences or expressions. 🙇🏻
HDMI connections tend to develop poor contact quickly after repeated insertion
and removal. This happens frequently—like when you're trying to connect your
laptop to a shared monitor at work and think, "Ugh, not working again..." This
kind of issue happens all the time.
And it's not uncommon for TVs (or
monitors) to develop poor contact over time without you even noticing.
This
time, I decided to tackle the "HDMI connector contact failure problem."
Attempting to Fix HDMI Connector Contact Issues
● Estimated cause: Contact deformation
Compared to USB connectors, HDMI connectors are larger in size and the cables
are thicker, making them particularly prone to applying significant stress to
the contact points. Despite this, the contact electrodes are surprisingly thin
and small, making them unable to withstand significant force—unlike the large,
robust electrodes found on AC power plugs, for example. Frequent plugging and
unplugging can cause contact deformation when inserted improperly, leading to
intermittent connections.
The same issue can occur on the
TV/monitor side due to the weight of the cable itself or bending forces (since
HDMI ports are typically located high up, where cable weight tends to apply
pressure).
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| The weight of the HDMI cable and connector applies significant force (stress) to the contact points |
● Countermeasures
To address this issue, we'll examine two potential solutions based on the idea that reducing mechanical stress on these contact points can help prevent intermittent connections.
• Option 1: Use a conversion connector that reduces stress on the contacts
- An HDMI adapter with a movable contact mechanism
The first solution is actually the conversion adapter we actually implemented in our own home setup.
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| HDMI L字型アダプタ 90°-270°(オス・メス) 角度自由調整可 - Amazon |
The key feature is the adjustable pivot mechanism. This design helps
distribute the force applied to the connection points, effectively reducing
stress on the contacts. (Product reviews frequently mention concerns about
"cheap construction," but precisely that "cheapness" actually helps dissipate
the force applied to the contact points. 😁)
In fact, when our TV
started experiencing intermittent connection issues—which would resolve itself
when we jiggled the connector—we tried using this adapter and haven't had any
further connection problems since.
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| HDMI Connector Contact Issue Solution: Option 1 |
*Note: If the connection issues occur extremely frequently or completely
fail, this method likely won't work since the contact points have likely
become significantly deformed.
*Note: If the connection issues occur extremely frequently or completely
fail, this method likely won't work since the contact points have likely
become significantly deformed.
- A potentially even better conversion connector
While the conversion connector mentioned above has only one direction of
movement, this alternative connector moves in two directions, which should
further reduce stress on the connection and likely prevent more contact
issues.
Note: I haven't actually used this connector, so I can't confirm its
performance or functionality. The author and this blog bear no
responsibility for any purchases or usage. Please use at your own
discretion.
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| オーディオファン HDMIアダプター 19ピン オス-メス 曲がって捻じれるコネクタ 1080p - Amazon |
• Option 2: Use a cable design that minimizes stress on the connector
Option 2 involves replacing the cable entirely. The key considerations for selecting a new cable are:
- The cable section should be flexible and lightweight
- has a short, lightweight connector section
The key point is avoiding any stress on the contact points—this approach shares the fundamental concept with Option 1.
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| エレコム HDMI ケーブル 極細 ハイスピード 50cm スーパースリム 4K・2K 【HIGH SPEED with ETHERNET認証済み】 3重シールド 金メッキ ARC テレビ・パソコン・ゲーム機など対応 黒 ECDH-HD14SS05BK - Amazon |
This cable is extremely thin, with a tiny and lightweight connector end.
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| Amazon商品ページより |
The load on the device-side connector is significantly reduced, and I believe
this should improve contact reliability similar to Option 1.
I
actually tried using it.
While the cable section is thin, it's not
particularly flexible. However, the overall weight—including both the
connector and cable—is extremely light, which means the stress on the
connector contacts should be significantly reduced.
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| Solutions for HDMI Connector Contact Issues: Option 2 |
(I chose a 50cm cable length specifically to prevent any extra weight from the
cable itself from affecting the connector on the device.)
The
results are looking promising so far! 😊
Since HDMI was originally
designed primarily for connections between TVs and recording devices, repeated
plugging and unplugging likely wasn't considered in its design specifications.
Still, couldn't they have at least implemented some basic safeguards against
this issue?