How To Make A 3.5mm Audio Switch

Tired of having to get off from bed to unplug your ps3 audio wire from the speaker and then getting on all fours so you can try to find your computer audio wire and finally plugging it back into your speaker? Try these easy steps to make a switch that costs less then $15.00. It'll take no more than 45 minutes from start to finish.

Step 1:

 The switch has to be a 3PDT switch. If you take a look at it behind the switch there should be 9 terminals. When it's all said and done there should be 9 wires attached to the switch. Got it? Good. This is important.

Parts:
Project enclosure 3x2x1 (radio shack)
3PDT switch (make sure the nut comes with it)
(3) 3.5mm mount jack (radio shack)
drill
1/4 or 5/16 drill bit; I don't remember. :/ I recommend to use the 1/4 first. ;) 
screwdriver
soldering iron
speaker wire

Comments

[metrometro]

Great tutorial. Two suggestions:

1) A word about ground loop might be useful. This causes speaker hum when you have components plugged in to different electrical sources. Ground loop isolators run around $10. 

2) Your design has a the speaker cords up top, and the switch down below. To me, this is backwards. I'd probably put the speaker inputs out the "back" flush to the "floor" surface, with the switch up top where the hands are. This allows a tidy wall mount, or just easier reach.

Nice work.  

[eyd84]

Thanks!

[murriano]

I have a question:

If I wanted to add an led to show which is connected, what connectors would I solder it to and would the voltage/current through the wires be enough to power the led and would it affect the sound in anyway.
Thanks

[justanoldguy]

Thanks to eyd84 for coming up with a great design. I needed a switch to 'switch' between my GPS and my radio on my motorcycle while riding. Unfortunately Radio Shack did not have the 9-pin 3PDT but they did have a DPDT with 'middle off'. I made the three ground wires from all of the audio jacks common so they didn't need to be connected to the switch at all.

Just tested the new switch on my motorcycle and it works great. I also added a tiny eyebolt to the top so I could hang the switch around my neck with a lanyard for easy access while riding.

Can't imagine why some enterprising electronics manufacturer hasn't already put one of these on the market.

Thanks again eyd84.... a big problem solved for my touring.

[danger89]

Thanks for the tut. I should note that you draw the lines of the 9 terminals wrong (at least if I compare it with mine 3PDT switch). The lines should be vertical, otherwise it will NOT work.

Attachment for the end result.

[eyd84]

I'm assuming you're referring to which direction the switch functions that is should the switch move from left to right or down and up before soldering? With my switch after it was metered out (to determine output) what I could do is move the position of the switch all the way to the left. Then when I rotated the switch so that I could see the terminals I knew that the middle column was output and the right column was ps3 or whatever. The lines as you adequately put it will vary between each switch so that's why it was recommended to use a voltmeter otherwise by method of elimination which isn't that bad either. Nice picture by the way. :)

[danger89]

Thanks!

I see, I think my switch was just another type. But after all it works great thank you ;) Who knows which projects I gonna make from this website in the future ;D

[flamekiller]

I'd like to build one of these for switching my computer audio between speakers, headphones, and headset. I don't really want/need a switch with an "off" position, just on-on-on. Any recommendations?

[gord_oh]

for the 3pdt toggle, is the center supposed to be off? (on/off/on)

[eyd84]

Yes because the system becomes an open circuit.

[Vspec]

I just built this the other day, I accidentally built a "mono" version of it though instead of stereo.

everybody, make sure you buy the jacks that have three prongs, not two.


mine still works but on my 5.1, one of my front speakers doesn't work, but a y cable fixed that.

also, great instructable eyd84, i've been needing one of these for awhile.

[eyd84]

Thanks. Happy to see people getting some use out of the effort.

[ithinkmynameisbob PunkyRC]

was this the jack that you bought? i cant find the one that you have and not sure about the others http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103452

[eyd84]

Yes in regard to provided link these were the jack(s) used for this instructable.

[ithinkmynameisbob PunkyRC]

Thanks!

[sjoobbani]

Very nice!
What's the blue stuff you used on the connections on the switch?

[eyd84]

The blue stuff was already there when I bought the switch. My local electronic shop has a plethora of them but not every switch comes with a nut so just remind yourself before you leave the store to make sure the nut comes with it. I hope this helps.