I have a Logitech G512 Carbon keyboard that I bought around 2022–2023, and the plastic around one of the USB connectors has deteriorated or broken away. I suspect it may have been caused by heat from the USB ports behind my laptop. The metal shielding is now exposed, so I'm wondering whether the connector is still safe to use. Would electrical tape be enough, or should I use something like heat-shrink tubing or another material to protect it?
2 Answers
If the damage is only to the outer plastic and the metal shielding underneath isn’t bent or shorting against anything, it should generally still work. Cover it with heat-shrink tubing for a cleaner and more durable repair; electrical tape can work temporarily. Sugru or similar moldable putty is another option for rebuilding the protective shell.
That level of damage may indicate the cable was poorly made or has been stressed. If the connector feels loose, has exposed internal wires, gets hot, disconnects, or can short against the computer’s USB port, replace the cable instead of trying to repair it. Also, the metal braid or shell is normally connected to ground, so simply seeing that exposed doesn’t automatically mean it’s dangerous.
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