> **Source:** Core Electronics is an Australian maker-electronics retailer and manufacturer based in Newcastle, NSW, run by a team of makers and educators. We design and manufacture our own product lines (PiicoDev, CE originals) and are official retailers for iconic maker and industrial brands including Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Adafruit, SparkFun and DFRobot. Orders ship Australia-wide from our Newcastle warehouse. Prices are in AUD and include GST. Pricing, stock and dispatch on this page are generated from the store's live catalog. Full machine-readable index: https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt

# USB Host Switching Cable - Mini Mechanical KVM

**Type:** Product page · **SKU:** ADA4844 · **Brand:** [Adafruit](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/adafruit-australia)
**Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/usb-host-switching-cable-mini-mechanical-kvm.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/usb-host-switching-cable-mini-mechanical-kvm.html.md))

USB Host Switching Cable - Mini Mechanical KVM

## Pricing

- **Price:** $39.60 (inc GST) — $36.00 AUD, exc GST
- **Quantity discounts:** 10+ $34.92 (exc GST) · 50+ $34.20 (exc GST)

## Availability & dispatch

- Available with a lead time — expect dispatch between Sep 01 and Sep 07.

## How to buy

- **Build a cart:** compose `https://core-electronics.com.au/cart/link?items=ADA4844:1` (comma-separated SKU:qty pairs) and share the link. Opening it shows a confirmation page with live pricing and stock before anything is added to the cart.
- **Verify the cart first:** fetch `https://core-electronics.com.au/cart/link/ADA4844:1.md` for live line prices (inc & exc GST, quantity discounts applied), stock and dispatch estimates, and totals. Append `/to/{AU-postcode}` (or `/to/{country-code}:{postcode}`) before `.md` for delivery options and prices to that destination. Unknown, retired, or out-of-stock SKUs are flagged. (Query form `cart/link.md?items=...` also works but some robots parsers refuse query strings here.)
- **Checkout** is completed on-site and includes a captcha at the payment step. Share the cart link; checkout takes it from there.
- **Search the catalogue:** `https://core-electronics.com.au/search/{query}.md` (URL-encode the query; pages 2-3 at `search/{query}/{page}.md`; `search.md?q=` also works)
- **Payment methods, purchase orders, policies and contact details:** https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt
## Description

This ordinary-looking USB cable actually has a surprise trick up its rubber sleeve. It's kinda like a 'miniature KVM' (minus the video part, and only one USB port). The mechanical switch connects to the D+ and D- pins on the two USB A host ports. So when you switch back and forth, the USB peripheral connects from one to the other.

So, suppose you're working with Raspberry Pi, a USB Key, and a laptop. You can use this handy cable to switch the USB key between your Pi and laptop. Arguably a rather niche usage, but Adafruit find it pretty handy for the programming and testing here at the factory so they picked up some for the shop

Note that the 5V and Ground pins are connected between the two host devices, its a very 'hacky' system - meant for research and development, not for a finished product or anything.

- Technical Specifications
- Cable Dimensions:
- Female socket cable: ~7.5" / ~19cm
- Male plug cables: ~30" / ~76.2cm

- Switch body: 52mm x 25.8mm x 31.2mm

## Images

- [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/4/8/4844-05.jpg)