lucasp

Q: Thunderbolt Display cable WAY too sensitive...

Using 27" Thunderbolt display, with its built-in cable, with my MBR with OS Mountain Lion 10.8.1

 

I'm finding the cable WAY too sensitive, when plugged-in to my laptop... the slightest movement of my laptop (say, if I were re-positioning merely slightly on my desk), or the cable moving/being lightly bumped causes the Thunderbolt display to go black.  Only when I unplug/re-plug the cabl, will the display come back.

 

I've unplugged/re-plugged the display twice now-- as well as reset the PRAM (on advice from Apple Support).  Problem persists. 

 

This is really annoying and not practical. I mean, I really can't move a single thing/re-adjust.  The SLIGHTEST movement of the cable will cause a disconnect. This is not pragmatic-- in the real world, things move/get slighlty readjusted all the time, especially by nature of a laptop. Again, this is the lightest-feather-touch to the cable... not radical/jarring movements.

 

Yes, I am using both display and MBR on a flat, hard surface.

 

Do I happen to have a ultra-sensitive cable and/or thunderbolt port on my MBR... or is anyone else having this problem?  Do i have a defective cable or port?  should i take this to get serviced? or am i being way too expectant of how this should perform?

Posted on Aug 27, 2012 11:47 AM

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Q: Thunderbolt Display cable WAY too sensitive...

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  • by Dhruvamusik,

    Dhruvamusik Dhruvamusik Feb 11, 2014 5:00 PM in response to lucasp
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 11, 2014 5:00 PM in response to lucasp

    I have brand new retin display macbook pro and I have same problem, with any thunderbolt device I plug with one of the ports, it is only the port that is closer to the screen, it is a shame, the problem is from the harware, is manufactured, I can't work as expected, I feel frustrated.

  • by Patrick G Reed,

    Patrick G Reed Patrick G Reed Feb 24, 2014 4:15 AM in response to lucasp
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 24, 2014 4:15 AM in response to lucasp

    The problem is not software. As the jiggle-disconnect demonstrates, the problem is with the cable and port itself. One of the pins is 'hot-plug-detect' and I suspect that any momentary change in that signal triggers an immediate disconnect within Mac OS, and this is by design.

     

    AppleCare on a ThunderBolt display ought to cover a loose TB connector; it is clearly a hardware problem. [It may even be a defect, the connector is designed to operate after 7,000 plug cycles.]

     

    I have a workaround for out-of-warranty / non-warranty products. It's pretty easy as far as hardware repairs go, but it takes a gentle touch and a modest appetite for risk. It's best suited for cables that are replaceable, not 'built-in'.

     

    1. Grab a pair of needle nose pliers and a plastic spudger tool.
      Have a spare cable on hand in case you break the cable you're working on.
      If it's the built-in Thunderbolt Display connector you want to fix... well... be extra-extra careful?

    2. Orient the pliers so that the tips are on the top and bottom of the long side of the connector.
      just_a_little_squeeze.jpg
      Make sure the connector is unplugged.

    3. Gently press the connector together - you're looking to make only a 0.5mm change at most. There still needs to be room for the tab to fit into the space between the connectors you've moved closer together.

      Be very careful not to press too hard, or you'll separate the metal sleeve on either edge of the connector.

      I learned the hard way.
      (It's sometimes possible to massage it back into shape. )

    4. Hopefully it looks like this, but less blurry. Notice the slight curve of the top and bottom pieces.
      finished_connector.jpg

    5. Try plugging it in:

      1. "I can't! It's too blurry!" → Put on glasses.

      2. "It's snug and remains connected even while tapping the cord and moving the laptop around." → Time for an impromptu dance party.

      3. "It's still too loose!" → Go back to step 3, but be even more careful. Go slowly, and check often - think in microns, not millimetres.

      4. "Fiddlesticks! It won't fit anymore!" → Go to step 6.

    6. If you make it so tight that it won't fit, use a handy plastic spudger to gently make more room between the connectors.
      hopefully_no_prying_required.jpg
      You can whittle high-quality plastic cutlery into a makeshift spudger in a pinch, although this is not reccommended when you are working on a static sensitive device. (The cable, while unplugged, is not static sensitive.)

    This method has worked for me for all kinds of cables, including, as you can see, this Thunderbolt/MDP cable, and its sister (not pictured).

     

    Practice on an old USB and mini-USB cable to get a feel for how the metal moves. Remember, even when perfectly executed, there is some risk that you will break the cable –– so go slow and be careful!

  • by Guillaumekh,

    Guillaumekh Guillaumekh Feb 24, 2014 5:41 AM in response to Patrick G Reed
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 24, 2014 5:41 AM in response to Patrick G Reed

    Thanks Patrick for taking the time to share this.

  • by BeardyBoy Shong,

    BeardyBoy Shong BeardyBoy Shong Jul 1, 2015 1:14 PM in response to lucasp
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jul 1, 2015 1:14 PM in response to lucasp

    I have a cheap and effective work around for you (I know this is old, but it could hep someone lurking). The male end of the TB connector has four sides - top and bottom are wider that the narrow sides of the connector. Just pick one of the wider sides, and put a tiny square of duct tape on it. The connector will fit snuggly into the female port, and you don't ruin the connector by crimping it.

  • by djalmaaraujo,

    djalmaaraujo djalmaaraujo Aug 5, 2015 8:28 AM in response to Patrick G Reed
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 5, 2015 8:28 AM in response to Patrick G Reed

    This is great man. It worked for me, at least part of it. I think my cable is very bad. I'm still getting some flashes, but it worked and saved me some time. The thunderbolt display is a beast, 20kg to take to the support.

     

    Thanks.

  • by niru81,

    niru81 niru81 Aug 12, 2015 12:02 AM in response to Patrick G Reed
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 12, 2015 12:02 AM in response to Patrick G Reed

    Thanks Patrick!

    So simple to, yet life changing experience

    Use to have a lot of disconnecting issues with VGA adapter. Now it is solved.

    Cheers

  • by schmoss,

    schmoss schmoss Jul 27, 2016 11:57 PM in response to lucasp
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 27, 2016 11:57 PM in response to lucasp

    Hi there, I had the exact same problem, had a DVI adapter to connect my MacBook to my monitor, but it hardly worked. He detected my screen, but after the slightest I got a black screen.

     

    After much frustration and Googling around I found out that I actually had a Mini DisplayPort adapter, while my Macbook had Thunderbolt ports.

     

    I'm pretty new to Mac, so didn't even know about these different ports, but it fixed my problem :-)

  • by Malcolm J. Rayfield,

    Malcolm J. Rayfield Malcolm J. Rayfield Jul 28, 2016 7:34 PM in response to schmoss
    Level 5 (7,928 points)
    Jul 28, 2016 7:34 PM in response to schmoss

    There are no specific Thunderbolt to DVI adapters.  Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapters work in both Mini DisplayPort and Thunderbolt ports (except for the Thunderbolt ports on the back of Thunderbolt displays).

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