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How to Improve HDMI Cable Retention

HDMI cables are unique cables designed to transmit high-definition signals to your television from a source such as a PlayStation 3 or cable box. However, because these cables are so thick, they weigh more than many other standard audiovisual cables and do not always stay connected, especially when they must be plugged in underneath a particular piece of equipment. There is not much you can do about the weight of the cable, but you can take certain precautions to keep your cable strong and attached on both ends for the duration of its life.

Instructions

    • 1
      When cables are locked, they cannot fall out of the socket by natural forces such as weight.

      Purchase an HDMI cable with a locking feature. The components to which you attach this cable must be able to accommodate the locking screw of the cable.

    • 2
      If you have more than one cable, bundle them together in the clip.

      Purchase cable clips if your cable will run along a wall or another surface for more than a few feet. Follow the provided instructions for installing the clips and use them to keep your cable from moving. This also holds much of the weight of a cable, thus making any parts that may hang lighter.

    • 3
      Tangled cables are prone to a shorter lifespan.

      Unwind only as much cable as you need if you are not using clips and your two connecting devices are close to each other. Your goal is to keep the weight in a central position, so you should leave the majority of the cable wound to reduce the stress put on either end. In many cases, the cable will resemble an "L" shape, as the bulk part should be directly below the port in the television and to the side of the second device. If there is no room to place the would cable near the second device, it can be placed on the floor as well.

    • 4
      The cable should be as straight as possible.

      Keep the cable from being bent near the head, if possible. Thick cables will often stop working without falling out of the sockets if they bend too far for too long.

    • 5

      Do not leave the cable exposed to hands or feet traffic areas. Every time somebody trips over the cable or accidentally yanks the cord out, it can lose its ability to remain seated. If possible, run the cable through a wall or underground.

    • 6
      Pulling a cable by its cord damages it by loosening the internal solder.

      Unplug the HDMI cable when necessary by grabbing the thick head and not the actual cable. Cables are soldered to the conducting metal pieces, not the heads. The heads are meant to protect them from being torn apart on the inside.

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