This is sort of an odd question - and not even directly related to car audio, but someone here probably knows what's up....
I'm going to build a tiny little box with inputs and outputs on the front of it (it's actually for my pc, but all the jacks will be either headphone-style audio jacks or one RCA-style video jack)
I want to have switches controlling some of these jacks - (some on/off switches for one jack - and one left/right switch for two jacks) and also some random splitters and such....
My question is:
I don't want to use trashy low quality parts - and I don't know where (on-line) to find such parts.
Does anyone know a place / company that makes or sells these types of little connections which are high quality?
I know this is pretty random,
Thx 4 N E help as always guyz,
Robert J. Digital
Replies (6)
Swez on 10/24/2003 05:52:12
Bobby D,
You can probably find all you need at: www.partsexpress.com
You have a good idea and yes, it will work out well if you plan it right and use high quality parts.
NOTE: When you install switched input/outputs, always use the "hot" lead for your switches. (not grounds) All will be parallel rails of outputs off the inputs.
Radio Shack has a variety of "work boxes" you can use to house all your wiring, switches and jacks. They are plastic (some all metal) boxes in several sizes and use a screw off metal plate top panel for installing your hardware. I have used them for home stereo and recording studio patch boxes for head phones etc.
Swez
bobbi-digi on 10/24/2003 07:02:26
Thx a lot Swez.
Since U seem to know a lot about the subject..
Will the switches need some sort of power supply?
Or will I be able to wire them and run them just through
my existing outputs?
bobbi-digi~~~
Swez on 10/24/2003 07:45:43
No power supply needed unless you use a preamp to boost signals from input side to outputs. Just passive switches and jacks operating at low signal voltages that come from your PC outs to whatever you wish to connect that output to. (headphones, stereo, video etc.)
I don't know much about video signal management, but as for audio... just AC signals being routed from one device to another. I would think Vidio is similar, but more wires to get all video/audio signals to the proper devices you want connectivity to.
If you need some additional help, throw me a personal e-mail and we can hash it out that way.
Swez
swezdp@juno.com
bobbi-digi on 10/24/2003 07:59:10
Will do, thx again.
Pinch on 10/24/2003 11:37:37
www.digikey.com is another great site for all things electronics
bobbi-digi on 10/24/2003 19:33:51
Did U get my e-mail Swez?
...well I've managed to get a much better idea what I'm doing here anyway, so some (prbbly most) of the questions I asked U in that e-mail I now know the answers to.....
Looks like if I want stereo sound from 3.5mm cables they will have 3 wires - left, right and ground.
I guess the unit has to have grounds in it - but all the cables would normally have a ground built in and connected wouldn't they?
I think I'm just confused about why I wouldn't just connect the grounds straight from the inputs to the outputs like it would normally run as one cable...
oh well. I'm babbling now....
I'm going to build a tiny little box with inputs and outputs on the front of it (it's actually for my pc, but all the jacks will be either headphone-style audio jacks or one RCA-style video jack)
I want to have switches controlling some of these jacks - (some on/off switches for one jack - and one left/right switch for two jacks) and also some random splitters and such....
My question is:
I don't want to use trashy low quality parts - and I don't know where (on-line) to find such parts.
Does anyone know a place / company that makes or sells these types of little connections which are high quality?
I know this is pretty random,
Thx 4 N E help as always guyz,
Robert J. Digital
Replies (6)
Swez on 10/24/2003 05:52:12
Bobby D,
You can probably find all you need at: www.partsexpress.com
You have a good idea and yes, it will work out well if you plan it right and use high quality parts.
NOTE: When you install switched input/outputs, always use the "hot" lead for your switches. (not grounds) All will be parallel rails of outputs off the inputs.
Radio Shack has a variety of "work boxes" you can use to house all your wiring, switches and jacks. They are plastic (some all metal) boxes in several sizes and use a screw off metal plate top panel for installing your hardware. I have used them for home stereo and recording studio patch boxes for head phones etc.
Swez
bobbi-digi on 10/24/2003 07:02:26
Thx a lot Swez.
Since U seem to know a lot about the subject..
Will the switches need some sort of power supply?
Or will I be able to wire them and run them just through
my existing outputs?
bobbi-digi~~~
Swez on 10/24/2003 07:45:43
No power supply needed unless you use a preamp to boost signals from input side to outputs. Just passive switches and jacks operating at low signal voltages that come from your PC outs to whatever you wish to connect that output to. (headphones, stereo, video etc.)
I don't know much about video signal management, but as for audio... just AC signals being routed from one device to another. I would think Vidio is similar, but more wires to get all video/audio signals to the proper devices you want connectivity to.
If you need some additional help, throw me a personal e-mail and we can hash it out that way.
Swez
swezdp@juno.com
bobbi-digi on 10/24/2003 07:59:10
Will do, thx again.
Pinch on 10/24/2003 11:37:37
www.digikey.com is another great site for all things electronics
bobbi-digi on 10/24/2003 19:33:51
Did U get my e-mail Swez?
...well I've managed to get a much better idea what I'm doing here anyway, so some (prbbly most) of the questions I asked U in that e-mail I now know the answers to.....
Looks like if I want stereo sound from 3.5mm cables they will have 3 wires - left, right and ground.
I guess the unit has to have grounds in it - but all the cables would normally have a ground built in and connected wouldn't they?
I think I'm just confused about why I wouldn't just connect the grounds straight from the inputs to the outputs like it would normally run as one cable...
oh well. I'm babbling now....
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