Y-Cable, help!

beatdownvictim · « **on:** 5 Nov 2005, 12:14 am »

okay, okay, i feel completely outclassed here by a HUGE margin, everybody here is talking about how to make felicias and i'm here struggling to make a bloody 3.5mm -----> 2 rca plug (y-cable). Can somebody here help me, i searched and even pictures can't really help me! wtf am i suppose to do?

Am i nuts or am i right when i have an 3.5mm plug, and connect 2 cables to the ground (one each for lef and right channel), connect those to the rca grounds. AND THEN have another 2 cables for the left and right signals. connect the left/right cable to the 3.5mm and then solder the other ends to the rca? basically i made rca ----> rca cable before, but never a y-cable. please help me, i dont want to become grenade components. Regards, your friendly neighbourhood beatdownvictim

JohnR · « **Reply #1 on:** 5 Nov 2005, 01:03 am »

It sounds like you have the right idea. Couple thoughts, is it a mono 3.5mm connection or a stereo one? Also, a cheap multimeter would be a good investment

beatdownvictim · « **Reply #2 on:** 5 Nov 2005, 02:50 am »

thanks john. i wasn't really sure, but blah! anyway, which is right and which is left? it makes little sense to me

i know where the ground is, but which is left/right? damn it why'd they make it complicated?

j-leaman · « **Reply #3 on:** 6 Nov 2005, 09:09 pm »

Do you still need help with this ? I can draw a nice picture for you ?

beatdownvictim · « **Reply #4 on:** 7 Nov 2005, 01:40 am »

yes! please! which is the left and right???? thanks for the help guys! much appreciated!

mellowman · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Nov 2005, 11:05 pm »

Hi Carson,

I can't easily draw you a picture, but as you look at the plug, you will see 2 black lines on it. These separate the plug into 3 sections. The tip is the left channel, the middle part (known usually as the "ring") is the right channel and everything else on the plug, including the barrel if it is metal, is the ground.

To match the internal solder tabs with the tip and the ring, you may need be able to tell just by looking or you may need a circuit tester/DVM/ohm-meter to check. You can get a cheap DVMs from Canadian Tire that will suit your purpose just fine. Since different plugs may have different solder tab configurations, I can't say definitively which one will connect to what.

beatdownvictim · « **Reply #6 on:** 11 Nov 2005, 09:45 am »

Thanks for the help all, i'll try it out this weekend and let you all know if i grenade anything

mellowman · « **Reply #7 on:** 15 Nov 2005, 03:10 am »

So did it work out?