How to Make Your Own RCA to USB Adapter Cables
RCA cables are a simple but effective way of delivering audio-video signals between devices. Three RCA cables are used to deliver audio-video signals. Each RCA cable has two wires: one to carry the signal and one to provide grounding. More complex and developed to transfer data and charge electrical devices such as cell phones, iPods and MP3 players, universal serial bus (USB) cables have several more wires than an RCA cable. The complexity and intricacy of wiring a USB cable requires specialist tools. The most cost-effective method to make RCA to USB adapter cables is to use a USB adapter to convert the RCA cable into a USB cable.
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Things You'll Need
- Six RCA jacks (two red, two black, two yellow)
- RCA cable
- RCA to USB converter
- Small knife
- Wire strippers
- Soldering iron
- Solder
Instructions
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RCA Adapter Cable
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1
Strip 1/2-inch of plastic coating from each end of the RCA cable using a small knife or wire strippers. This exposes a red and black wire.
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2
Strip 1/4-inch of the end of each colored wire using wire strippers or a small knife. Touch each wire with a soldering iron and solder. Let the solder melt so it covers the exposed wire then remove the soldering iron and allow the solder to cool.
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3
Use a red colored RCA jack and unscrew the cap from the jack. Slide the cover over the cable with the threaded end facing the end of the wire. The RCA jack has two terminals, a central terminal and an outer terminal. Place the red wire on the central terminal then solder the wire to it. Allow to cool, then place the black wire on the outer terminal and solder it on. Allow it to cool, then slide the cap down the cable and screw it on the RCA jack.
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4
Repeat the process using a red colored RCA jack for the opposite end of the cable. This cable carries the right audio sound.
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5
Use a second RCA cable and repeat the entire process, but use black colored RCA jacks at each end. This cable delivers left audio sound.
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6
Use a third RCA cable and repeat the process a third time, but use yellow colored RCA jacks at each end. This cable delivers a video signal. The three cables will be used to connect to the USB converter.
RCA to USB Adaptor
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7
Push the red, black and yellow RCA plugs attached to your RCA cable into the corresponding colored sockets on your audio-video device.
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8
Connect the RCA jacks at the opposite end of the cable into the three colored sockets on the USB converter. The USB converter has a USB cable attached.
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9
Insert the USB connector attached to the wire that extends from the converter into your device. Turn on both devices and your converter reconfigures RCA signals into USB data signals
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1
Tips & Warnings
RCA to USB adapters are widely available from your electrical store. The converter will have a small unit on end with three RCA sockets. The unit converts RCA to USB and has a USB cable which is permanently attached to the unit and a USB connector at the other end of the wire. You can purchase an inexpensive RCA cable ready-wired from your electrical store.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit usb 5 image by Bosko Martinovic from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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****NOTE***** As stated this is an ADAPTER NOT A CONVERTER. This device attaches & is to be used with a converter (SOLD SEPERATELY). USB is a signal all by itself and a converter is needed within the wiring. RCA wires (both Audio & video) do not have ANY type of signal coversions within the wiring. It is a plain wire from one end to the other with a male or female plug on each end. Soldering a USB onto an RCA wire without using a converter is asking to burn one device or the other OR BOTH. DO NOT USE WITHOUT A CONVERTER.
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to complicated better buy an adapter.
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I did it DOES NOT WORK!
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Nice. I'm going to try this!
