The ethernet port on my Raspberry Pi 2 is damaged, can it be replaced?


If you mean replace with another solution, yes. You could use a USB-Wired Ethernet adapter. I'm using TP-Link adapters and they work quite well.

If you mean physically repaired, while it's not impossible, the effort will likely cost more than the price of a new RPi 2B or require specialized skills. The RPi additionally needs integrated magnetics, so it's not just a simple RJ-45 jack replacement. See this article for a description.

  • Thanks guys for your suggestions, TP-link adapter should be better than surgery. – user35126 Sep 28 '15 at 4:44

Yes, but you would need to:

  1. Know how to desolder, and be able to do it carefully. There are 8 datapins on the jack, plus 4 pins (2 for each) for the LEDs, plus 2 tabs on the side. So 14 connections to desolder.
  2. Buy a new jack. The ones used on the Rpi are made by EDAC, Inc (at least on my RPi2), and this item on DigiKey is the closest one I can find. With shipping inside the US this will set you back ~$11 for one. Note that it has special tabs on the top and the side which seem to be made for holding it in place inside an enclosure - these might lead to an incompatibility with RPi enclosures, but maybe they can be removed ...
  3. Solder on the new jack, making all 14 connections correctly.

All in all, this is going to cost you money - (about 1/3rd of the price of a new one) and lots of time (Unless you're a (de)solder wizard, at least an hour of desoldering+soldering+prying the old socket out). As Bobstro correctly mentions, buying a new one might be a faster alternative, or using a USB-Wired Ethernet adapter. I have a UTechSmart lying around which I bought for $12 on Amazon.

  • I gave this solution a try but unfortunately I couldn't get it to work. It looks like this jack has magnetic coupling installed but perhaps it's somehow incompatible with the rPi. It looks like the best solution is to just bite the bullet and go for a USB adapter. – qaxf6auux Feb 15 '17 at 17:07

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