How to Make your Own USB On The Go OTG cable
In order for your Android phone or tablet to host a USB device such as an Arduino, you need a USB On-The-Go (OTG) cable. You can buy these for a few bucks online, but if you have old USB cables around it’s more fun to make one! Step 1: All you need are two donor USB cables, one with a female type A end like you’d find on a USB extension cable (shown in the first photo here) and one with a male micro B end (second photo). When you’re finished, you’ll have a cable that plugs into your phone on one side and accepts a standard USB cable on the other. First, cut your 2 donor cables to expose the red, black, white, and green wires within, and strip the insulation off the tips. Match up the wire colors from both sides of your soon-to-be Frankencable and solder them together. Insulate the soldered joints from each other using shrink tubing, electrical tape, or hot glue. Don’t forget to connect the braided shielding as well — that’s the uninsulated stranded wire that surrounds the 4 colore...