Old TV USB Hack for $0.00

by Withered Perception in Circuits > Electronics

70572 Views, 138 Favorites, 0 Comments

Old TV USB Hack for $0.00

temp_-819763245.jpg
I have an old crappy TV I got as a floor model at Circut City when they closed their doors.

It's got a built in DVD player and 2 HDMI ports but no USB port...

Now, We just bought a new house and I figure why not stick this thing in garage? I dont care if it breaks, gets packed with saw dust etc....

I could just run a micro USB cable threw the low voltage box along with the AC adapter cord, but I hate wires. so logically I figured.... INSTRUCTABLE TIME!

Instagram: withered_perception

Opent the TV

temp_224146498.jpg
temp_1524982179.jpg
temp_1965596419.jpg
temp_1365474945.jpg
temp_1086691886.jpg
So TV's are dangerous! Make sure yours is completely discharged or you know what the hell your doing before you do this!

Any electrical device could cause serious injuries or death! Modifying one could cause fire or worse!

Now, for every one else... Remove the wall mount and all the screws you can find.

Pop the TV open and look for the 120v ac adapter and cut any tape, wires, cable ties etc...

Instagram: withered_perception

Drill

temp_-1199361512.jpg
temp_-1275591091.jpg
Drill a hole in a discreet place that is big enough to fit your micro USB threw.

Note: You may need to step threw bits to get the optimal size.

Quick tip: Use some scrap paper to catch the shavings. This will help to prevent shorts and keep metal shavings from sticking to the speaker magnets.

Who Doesn't Have This Crap Laying Around?

temp_-815151837.jpg
temp_2120448206.jpg
temp_-227525059.jpg
temp_-1370647631.jpg
Take an old crappy 120v to USB adapter... Preferably one that is slow like this thing unless you have others or something else which demands more power.

The output on this adapter is only 0.7 A! Enough to power a chromcast or take 30+ hours to charge your phone...

Take some spare wire that matches or exceeds the current TV wiring. I just happen to be running a bunch of electrical so I have 100's of feet of 14-3 laying around...

Take 2 short pieces and bend the wires threw the holes in the prongs.

Scratch the prongs! This is a nessisary step to get solder to hold to the slick prongs. Mine just happen to already have been scratched threw years of sliding around a junk drawer.

Next solder! Preferably not with the crappiest soldering iron ever!

Once cool slather it with liquid electrical tape, heat shrink it, electrical tape it, plastidip it.... Just makesure it cant arc!

Snip Amd Strip

temp_-667635319.jpg
temp_992107686.jpg
temp_-149394757.jpg
You dont need the ground. So just cut the + and - or, Hot and Neutral or Power and Ground...What ever term works for you.

Strip the wires...

Wake Up the Cat

temp_-1869753326.jpg
temp_-1718180343.jpg
There is no reason for this step. It is optional. You can skip it at any time... If your any reason you get lost durring this Instructable . Please revert back to this step before proceeding.

Be Anal

temp_34947536.jpg
temp_-1819584681.jpg
I wrapped it again cause I could. Sue me!

Nuts!

temp_-1085522315.jpg
Wire nut the adapter in. Now I should suggest that you could locate this port where it could be accessed if you plan on using this port for other things. That or pick up a USB extension and make that external.

Stuff It In

temp_-1132280716.jpg
temp_595073481.jpg
Where ever works... Use tape, cable ties, velcro, double sided sticky tape... I don't care what you use its your TV!

Now pull the wire through!

Close Up Shop

temp_-1735175008.jpg
temp_1449653338.jpg
Put the screws back in. Pull the cable all the way out... or what ever you need... Your call...

Plug It In

temp_-545390035.jpg
DM me if you need instructions on how to do this.

Also please leave your phone number, address, full name, checking account info, credit card number / date of experation and the 3 numbers on the back. Also your social security number and a copy of you birth certificate to verify you are who you say you are!

Make Sure It Works

temp_-1388080612.jpg
Just make sure it works before you go all crazy.

No Visable Wires

temp_-1759802186.jpg
temp_-2103205130.jpg
temp_-138912180.jpg
temp_1312666960.jpg
temp_1464571886.jpg
Well just 1 wire. At least it's manageable vs. 2 wires, extension cords etc... Still need to clean it up a bit but a zip tie works until I paint.

Instagram: withered_perception