Symptoms
- Bare metal wire strands visible through a crack in the cable jacket
- Cable sparks slightly when plugged in or moved
- Exposed section feels warm during charging
- Damage is usually near one of the connector ends
Likely causes
- CommonRepeated bending at a stress pointThe area right behind the connector flexes the most and wears through first.
- PossibleCable pinched or crushed under something heavySharp, sustained pressure can crack the outer insulation.
- PossiblePet chewing on the cablePets, especially cats and puppies, commonly damage charging cables left within reach.
- PossibleAge and general wear of a cheap cableLower-quality cables have thinner insulation that fails sooner.
What to do
- Unplug the cable from both ends immediately.
- Do not touch the exposed metal wire, especially while it's connected to power.
- Do not wrap it in electrical tape and keep using it; tape doesn't restore safe insulation against a live wire.
- Dispose of the damaged cable so no one accidentally plugs it back in.
- Route new cables away from pets, foot traffic, and pinch points like drawer edges or door hinges going forward.
- Replace it with a new, quality cable.
Tools and parts
- None required
Replacement charging cableSearch: “USB charging cable replacement”
When to call a pro
No professional repair needed; simply discard and replace a cable with exposed wire.
Safety
Use caution
Never touch exposed wire on a cable that's plugged in, and don't tape over damage and keep using it; replace the cable.