Chromecast On/Off Switch

by MatthewM232

27K13141

Intro: Chromecast On/Off Switch

As any of you Chromecast owners will know, when you use the TV as the power supply for your Chromecast, your Chromecast will be on as long as the TV is on. Typically this isn't an issue, but we use an aerial to get our live TV and having the Chromecast on interrupts the signal. This switch was a project I did just so it could be turned off without unplugging it, enjoy.

Tools:
-Soldering iron/solder

-Wire stripper

-Hot glue gun (optional)

-Drill

Materials

-Enclosure

-On/On toggle switch

-Chromecast power cable

STEP 1: Strip the Cable

Use your wire stripping tool to split the cable that came with the chromecast at two points about an inch apart. Then use an x-acto knife to cut the length of insulation in half and remove it. After that, you'll have to cut/peel off the outer shielding for the cable. Then there will be a bunch of uninsulated wire, this is also the ground so just peel that back until you only have the positive, negative, and ground wire showing. Now cut all three right down the middle, and use a stripper to peel back the insulation so the three wires can be soldered later.

STEP 2: Creating the Housing

I just used a project enclosure I bought from radioshack at a clearance price. You can find these online or at your local electronics project store. I drilled two holes on either side for the USB to go through, and one on top for the toggle switch.

STEP 3: Soldering

Once you've fed the cable through each side of the enclosure, solder the negative wires together and the ground wires together. Now if you have an on/on toggle switch with three prongs, just solder the two positive wires to any two prongs that are directly beside each other. After this I hot glued everything to prevent a short. I also hot glued where the usb cable enter and exits the enclosure to stop it from being pulled and damaging the switch.

STEP 4: Done!

I added a little on/off emblem for ease of use, and the chrome logo from the box. Hope this guide helped :)

41 Comments

LarryF29 8 years ago

I also use just antenna, did not see a difference with Chrome Cast on or off

ksexton1 7 years ago

Ssome TVs automatically switch to the live connection, this is what I thought the issue might be.

LarryF29 7 years ago

Ok got you, never seen that happen myself

MatthewM232 8 years ago

Im not sure there is, my dads the one who made the claim and kept unplugging the chromecast, so this was a resolution.

Fly4aWhiteGuy 8 years ago

Does this completely turn off Chromecast? Sometimes my wifi on my phone connects to Chromecast, and I don't realize it did. That means I end up eating into my data plan without knowing it.
We don't use Chromecast much, so I'd love to turn it off when not in use.

ksexton1 7 years ago

If it's connecting through the wifi, it shouldn't be using your data. the connection is phone-router-chromecast, and never gets to the cellular data or house data. The data is used when you are actually doing something like streaming from youtube or or browsing the web, etc. Also background connections on apps on your phone. Even then, if on the wifi, it's not using your phone's data.

MatthewM232 8 years ago

Absolutely! The chromecast is powered by the USB cable that either plugs into your TV or the wall for power. This switch is just halfway down the USB cable and it disconnects the positive lead when switched off, we found that the built in standby mode just wasn't enough.

Gadget93 8 years ago

This would be great if you also please explain what a "chromecast" is. Perhaps it's something British. I don't know. In my part of usa, we've never heard of such a thing. Please explain.

MatthewM232 8 years ago

It's a device made by Google that plugs directly into the HDMI port of your TV (like a flash drive) and is then powered by the USB port on your TV. You can use it to stream videos, music, play games, or even mirror the screen of your phone or laptop. It costs $45.

ErnestK8 7 years ago

I have mine plugged into my surround sound system, no interference at all.

MatthewM232 7 years ago

Yeah, I dont even think it actually interferes with anything, it was just to stop my dad from unplugging it because he thought it did haha.

More Cowbell 7 years ago

Congratulations on a good build and being featured on the instructibles facebook feed!

EsaE 8 years ago

Or you could supply power to the Chromecast with an extension cord with an on/off switch.

MatthewM232 7 years ago

Well this is a DIY site. Plus it's powered from the USB port on the TV, not a wall outlet. And even then you'd have a ton of extra cable and it would look pretty messy.

EsaE 8 years ago

I had no idea trolling was a thing on Instructables...

sl0j0n 8 years ago

Hello, "2yz4cory":
JIC you're 'for real', the "Chromecast Device" is micro computer that connects to the internet via a wireless router, & let's you 'play' the internet on your TV, though a HDMI port. [also for Gadget93]
A "HDMI port" is a "High-Definition Multimedia Interface", "a proprietary audio/video interface for transferring uncompressed video data and compressed or uncompressed digital audio data from an HDMI-compliant source device", such as a Chromecast. []Check out wikipedia.org, fmi.]
USB is the "Universal Serial Bus, an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and communications protocols used in a bus for connection, communication, and power supply between computers and electronic devices".
Basically, these a different ways to connect a TV to other 'entertainment devices'.
Hopefully helpful.
Have a GREAT day, Neighbors!

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