Star Trek tricorder

[directorcass]

(05-25-2010, 12:58 AM)427 Cobra Wrote: That's the problem - I don't know how to wire a reed switch in this, so that it'll work. The magnet that Roy sent me is tiny, and it won't have enough pull in it to trigger this through the acrylic. I can get a stronger magnet, but I just need to know where to put this, so that it'll work once it opens up.

~ Cobra Chris

For those who may not know, a reed switch is a glass tube with a wire on each end. It has two metal wires inside that touch. When a magnet is placed near them it will pull the wires away from each other, opening the circuit (off). When the magnet is removed the wires touch and close the circuit (on) It is just a fancy on/off switch operated by a magnetic field. The reed switch is mounted in the body of the Tric and the magnet is located in the door.

Just splice the reed into the negative wire from the battery and the board, just like an on/off switch. Grab a "Rare Earth" magnet from RadioShack for a few dollars. The magnet pulls apart the two flat pieces of metal inside the tube, breaking the circuit (off). When the door is opened, the magnetic field is removed and the two bits of metal touch and closes the circuit (on). Depending on the strength of your magnet you may have to drill a hole under the Starfleet R&D sticker and mount the magnet flush, under the sticker. This will move the magnet closer to the reed switch, typicaly mounted behind the I & E buttons.