user24015: I am not sure an Arduino forum is the right place to ask this question, but since I'm using Arduino here I thought it would be a good starting point. I am trying to connect a lever (you can think of it as a switch, when it's pressed it's ON, and otherwise it's OFF) to an Arduino via a USB connector. My setup worked perfectly fine when I connected the lever directly to the Arduino, but via the USB it doesn't work. Since I already built and invested in USB connectors I would like to solve this issue, or at least understand what I am doing wrong in here.
I've attached a photo to demonstrate the wiring. Note that it works if I bypass this USB connection. I'm trying to understand why this doesn't work via a USB. 

user24028: I'd suggest using a multimeter to figure out what's connected to what after hooking up the complete wiring scheme; there aren't that many options and you should be able to figure out what's connected to what soon enough. On a more philosophical note, it's only a bad idea if the alternatives weren't worse.

24015: <p>I am not sure an Arduino forum is the right place to ask this question, but since I'm using Arduino here I thought it would be a good starting point. I am trying to connect a lever (you can think of it as a switch, when it's pressed it's ON, and otherwise it's OFF) to an Arduino via a USB connector. My setup worked perfectly fine when I connected the lever directly to the Arduino, but via the USB it doesn't work. Since I already built and invested in USB connectors I would like to solve this issue, or at least understand what I am doing wrong in here.</p>

<p>I've attached a photo to demonstrate the wiring. Note that it works if I bypass this USB connection. I'm trying to understand why this doesn't work via a USB. <a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Fge6i.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Fge6i.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
 24028: <p>I'd suggest using a multimeter to figure out what's connected to what after hooking up the complete wiring scheme; there aren't that many options and you should be able to figure out what's connected to what soon enough. On a more philosophical note, it's only a bad idea if the alternatives weren't worse.</p>
