WANTED Jap Plug, please help

[Melnie Mouse]

for a CREATIVE ZEN MICRO Mp3 player

I've done such a stupid thing, my dad bought me (the above) for Xmas and I've stupidly (with the speakers he got me aswell for use instead of headphones) plugged the ac/dc socket into the headphone socket of the mp3. They look very similar in size, both small and round, but obviously that plug is bigger than the headphone socket. - It's not making contact with head phones in now.

I'm absolutely gutted, and my dad is disappointed not half as much as me, he got 2 on the internet at special price so i guess it's not covered by warranty which is why my Dad has tried taking it apart to fix it. It basically needs a new componet, and I've tried Maplin Electronics (very good website) but they don't have exact bit, and I've been on Creative's website, and they only offer accessories.

Does anybody know anywhere I could try, or does anyone have an old broken Zen with that bit still ok that I could have or buy from them, it's the small silver bit square casing holding the white plastic circular bit (from outside) and it's held on the pcb by 2 immensely small screws left and right from it...

any help or ideas would be gratefully received... Thank you

One Stupid Mouse :(

[Scotty]

try

these here (http://www.rapidelectronics.co.uk/)

as another maplins type place

[manwithredbike]

wouldn't be overly hopeful but you could contact their customer support

http://uk.europe.creative.com/support/contact/emailform.asp

also for parts try RS components

it sounds like you forced a larger plug than intended into the speaker socket implying that you've bent or forced the contacts wide so they don't fit the smaller plug now. if all else fails, perhaps a suitably equipped electronics person or similar with good goggle boxes and fine tools could repair the socket by bending the contacts back into shape .... possibly

[A Yerbury]

the only downside to these players is that socket, it is vulnerable and there has been an issue with standard headphone jacks failing to make contact after a while. For the above reason any duff ones on ebay will probably have the piece you are looking for also broken or not 100%..that is a silly thing to do though! I have seen non working ones on ebay up for repair or spares so try there.

[Fosse Foxfight]

Dont even bother looking in electronic spares shops you wont get one. You've just inflicted the worst damage you can to an MP3 player and although as Alex syas you can piked shagged ones up from Ebay the chances rae theyre shaged for the same reason. The worst culprit for shagging headphone sockets are those cassette adapters with just slightly longer and wider jack plugs (not JAP plug or socket)

You're only real chance is thru Creative Customer service and it has to be said theyre quite good, unlike iRiver who dont even flippin answer.

ta ra

[Fosse Foxfight]

wouldn't be overly hopeful but you could contact their customer support

http://uk.europe.creative.com/support/contact/emailform.asp

also for parts try RS components

it sounds like you forced a larger plug than intended into the speaker socket implying that you've bent or forced the contacts wide so they don't fit the smaller plug now. if all else fails, perhaps a suitably equipped electronics person or similar with good goggle boxes and fine tools could repair the socket by bending the contacts back into shape .... possibly
It is possible as Man point out to readjust the contacts in the socket.

[Melnie Mouse]

thanks everyone, Scotty - i've tried in there, not as good as maplin, but thanks anyway.

man with red bike, thanks for that site, that's great, I've left them a message, so i'll have to hope they get back to me...

and yeah, i have a friend who has ebay who's looking for a 2nd hand one, thank you

[Melnie Mouse]

It is possible as Man point out to readjust the contacts in the socket.

Ok thanks, i have found an electronics engineer who said he'd have a look at it monday for me.. guess i'll see how i get on then, thanks guys...

[Pedro]

Mel

is the connector out of the player? If so, let me have it and I'll see if it's repairable (seeing as I work for a connector company..). I'm sure we could sort something

Ped

[Melnie Mouse]

Thank you, I'll pm you then...

[bod]

Worst case open player and solder 2 wires to socket on back of PCB making socket redundent and add new socket of choice to leads coming out of player easy to repair if socket packs up again.

[Pedro]

Thank you, I'll pm you then...

Have sent you an email

Ped

[A Yerbury]

Worst case open player and solder 2 wires to socket on back of PCB making socket redundent and add new socket of choice to leads coming out of player easy to repair if socket packs up again.

that is an option but on such a nice player will this not be a bit heath robinson??

[bod]

that is an option but on such a nice player will this not be a bit heath robinson??

For the sake of a 5cm bit of audio twin and a phono plug,,,,,,maybe but cheap.

Or go buy a new player,don't they fall out of cornflake packets in this day and age?

[Melnie Mouse]

For the sake of a 5cm bit of audio twin and a phono plug,,,,,,maybe but cheap.

Or go buy a new player,don't they fall out of cornflake packets in this day and age?

thanks that sounds like a good idea, but i'll get this chap to look first, maybe he'll think of that too as just handed it to him this morning,

Sorry Ped, didn't get your email til this morning, and the guy that said he'd look at it monday, came in to see me this morning.. he's an electronics engineer, so hope he can fix it..

[Melnie Mouse]

Just had phone call from this guy who's looked at my Zen, and it works fine through the computer, and he says it's not the ear plug socket, it's the circuit board where the sound chip is, where the ear plug socket is fixed on..

Still no reply from Zen help desk, so I guess that's the only place i'm going to get one from ...

woe is me...

stupid mouse

[Melnie Mouse]

Ped, don't suppose you can get sound chip for pcb in your work can you?

[Pedro]

Hiya Mel

what model is the player, I'll see if our asian office can find something in the way of spare parts

Ped

[Melnie Mouse]

Hiya Mel

what model is the player, I'll see if our asian office can find something in the way of spare parts

Ped

Ah thanks Ped, it's a Creative Zen Micro a 5 is it MB or KB sized one.. it holds 1500 songs... sorry i'm not good with computers and all these acronymns

I was going to ask heidi who has ebay account to look to see if they do 2nd hand ones on ebay and maybe have that or nick the parts from it too.. I'd obviously like my one fixed though, as my Dad gave it me for xmas.

[Pedro]

Hiya Mel
I'll see what I can do. If you do get another in the meantime, don't take it apart or handle the circuit board if you can help it as it may be static sensitive - give me a shout and I'll help!!

Ped

[A Yerbury]

I did find a url with pictures of a guy fixing a board, sadly the pictures or link did not work on the mac at work, google-repair zen micro, brings up an mp3player blog. chip wise it would have been the creative chip as no doubt found on the blaster or audigy sound cards.

[Melnie Mouse]

Hiya Mel
I'll see what I can do. If you do get another in the meantime, don't take it apart or handle the circuit board if you can help it as it may be static sensitive - give me a shout and I'll help!!

Ped

Thanks Mate.. it's with an electronic guy at the moment,g et it back thursday, so i wouldn't be working on it anyway. Got a friend who might be getting a broken one, which i can nick bits off... so maybe you or him could make a good one out of the broken one.. thanks

[Melnie Mouse]

Just to keep people updated if anyone interested, a friend who works for diagnosys company in Petersfield has now got it, and has ordered the part from Texas! (free sample she said) and her specialised guys will fit it, and all looks for working again in about a week.. yeahhh all hasn't been lost, and fingers crossed all will be ok..

Thanks for your help guys :)

[A Yerbury]

I can stop worrying now...this electronic guy, did he come with batteries included or is he rechargable?

[Melnie Mouse]

I can stop worrying now...this electronic guy, did he come with batteries included or is he rechargable?

ha ha, it's not actually with the electronic guy now, its with the electronic lady! :) :eyepopping:

AND she's ordered a few spare parts, which will be great for Dad or myself too. yeahhhhh

[Melnie Mouse]

Another update, my friend, the electronics lady, fitted the new part 'free sample' but still didn't work, rang Creative and they said they've had a few problems, took the serial number, realized it was still under warranty and said if we send it back and it's that problem, they will replace it FOC, if it's not then they'll send it back as it is.

14 days later, my friend rings to chase it, they email her saying they will release one to me within 10 days!

YES... i'm getting a new one, and it's all thanks to Hayley, What a star she is.....
xxx