Cables & Adapters

Customers of Electropapa benefit from the purchase of cables and adapters

With our Electropapa online store and our own brand, vhbw, we hope to not only provide our customers with low-cost electrical accessories and spare parts, but also to contribute to environmental protection. E-waste is becoming an increasingly important issue. Every year, more electrical appliances are used, but this unfortunately means that the amount of electrical waste produced grows larger and larger.

We want to encourage our customers to repair their appliances and thus extend their service lives by providing high-quality and low-cost spare parts for electrical appliances. As a customer, you will benefit as well: by purchasing spare parts under our own brand, you will save money. We also fill gaps with our large selection of electronic accessories, such as when certain original spare parts are no longer manufactured by the manufacturer and thus no longer available. Cables and adapters for Apple, Huawei, Xiaomi, and Motorola, among other brands, are available in our large selection. Shipping is free within Germany.

Audio and video adapter application scenarios

No office or home office can be imagined nowadays without audio and video adapters. Small and lightweight laptops, in particular, usually only have a USB-C port. An adapter is required if you want to connect additional devices, such as a keyboard or monitors. LAN cable adapters, HDMI Thunderbolt adapters, Mini Displayport to HDMI adapters, monitor adapters, and many more are available in our store. We provide both traditional cables and adapters that work with popular manufacturers' devices, as well as USB-C adapters for Apple that are compatible with Apple's Lightning system. Another issue that the majority of people are probably aware of is the absence of a headphone jack on modern smartphones. While there are headphones that can be connected to the USB-C port, it can be very inconvenient if your favourite headphones still have an old jack plug.

We also provide a cost-effective solution for this issue at Electropapa. Headphone plug adapters and USB headphone adapters are available in our online store, allowing you to continue using your favourite headphones. An auxiliary adapter is required if you want to listen to your own music or make phone calls in a car that does not have a multimedia system with Bluetooth. The vhbw Aux adapters are compatible with a wide range of smartphone manufacturers and allow you to not only transfer media but also charge it at the same time.

LAN cables, like Ethernet cables, are considered network cables. These cables can be used to connect a terminal device to the WLAN router, such as a PC or laptop. In comparison to a wireless connection, a cable connection not only provides faster speeds but also more security. LAN cables in the performance classes CAT5, CAT6, and CAT7 are available from Electropapa. CAT6 cables are usually adequate for private use. If your end device lacks an Ethernet port, a USB LAN adapter can easily replace it. Of course, these adapters are also available in our online store.

Cinch cables are also available at Electropapa under our own brand, vhbw. Video and audio signals can be transmitted through such a small cable. An MP3 player or a smartphone, for example, can be linked to another device. Normally, signals cannot be transferred from a SCART socket to an HDMI input. In reality, new devices only have HDMI connectors.

However, there are times when you want to connect an old DVD player or play a game console from your childhood. A converter, also known as a Scart cable adapter, is required to make this work. This converts your output device's analogue signal into digital data, which can then be played back. Our VBHW antenna adapters are made of high-quality materials, making them particularly robust and corrosion-resistant, ensuring perfect signal transmission. You can easily create your own antenna cable with your preferred connection combination or extend an existing antenna port using these antenna cable and adapters.

Signal transmission characteristics of analogue and digital signals

Cables transmit data in a variety of ways. The various transmission paths are referred to as signals. There is a distinction between analogue and digital signal transmissions. Analog signals are typically based on a continuous data stream, whereas digital signals are more likely to occur explosively and, as a result, must be buffered. When selecting the right cable for analogue signals, capacitance and resistance must be taken into account. The capacitance should be low because the signal is less attenuated and thus can be transmitted over longer distances without attenuation. The resistance should also be low, as this allows for more signals to be transmitted. Some devices include a digital-to-analog converter, abbreviated as DAC.

These devices can then be linked using passive cables and adapters that only transmit the analogue signal. If your device does not have a built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC), you will need a cable with a DAC; otherwise, digital audio signals will not be transmitted. If you are unsure whether your device has a digital-to-analog converter or whether the cable you have chosen is the correct one for your application, you can contact our support for prompt and competent assistance. We'll search our extensive inventory for the right cable or adapter for you.

Although many data transfers are now handled via WLAN and Bluetooth, traditional PC connection cables continue to exist. They not only allow for faster data transfer but also increase the security of the connection. The transmission direction must always be considered when choosing the appropriate cable or adapter. This is usually printed on the adapter or the packaging. The transmission direction specifies how the signal is sent by the cable or adapter. Signals can be transmitted in both directions using cables or adapters labelled for two-way transmission. This is frequently the case if the adapter or cable also contains a chip capable of converting signals, such as an HDMI signal.

How to Spot Defective Cables

USB cables, whether used to charge a laptop or a smartphone, have become an essential part of our daily lives. However, we don't always treat these cables gently—they're stuffed into pockets, pulled on, and occasionally run over by the office chair or severely bent. As a result, it's not surprising that cables break from time to time.

When the charging process or signal transmission no longer works properly, you have a broken cable. In this case, you can attempt to repair the loose contact by stabilising the cable. If the cable is broken, you will need to replace it. At Electropapa, you can quickly and easily buy new cables for your devices.

Recycle old cables properly

When a cable's useful life has expired, for example, because it is simply too old or has been damaged, it must be discarded. When disposing of cables, however, there are a few things to keep in mind. Cables for computers, LAN cables, HDMI cables, and even simple extension cables should not be discarded in the household waste or the yellow garbage can. This is due to the fact that cables contain a variety of raw materials, some of which are extremely valuable.

So, if you properly dispose of your old cables, these raw materials can be recycled, thereby protecting the environment. For proper disposal, you have several options: Cables are usually accepted for free at recycling centres; alternatively, you can take your worn-out cables to an electrical retailer. Since 2019, they have been required to collect electronic waste. It makes no difference whether you purchased the cable or adapter in question from this retailer or not.