make/brake contacts

Thread Starter

Torbek

Joined Apr 19, 2019
61
Hey folks I want to have a hinged lid with some contacts capable of making only a few volts at low current. I want a overly large contact area to make with flat brass strip and the surface will be allowed to slide. I was thinking to use copper rivets like these with springs... Is copper a good choice or too soft and prone to tarnish?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32869151588.html?spm=2114.12057483.0.0.3fba224a7Y4hy5

Or would brass be a better choice?
 

jpanhalt

Joined Jan 18, 2008
11,087
It's hard to tell whether those rivets are brass or copper:
1596454879027.png
Either metal will work. I don't think you will notice a difference. You may want Cu-Be (or other solderable allow) springs that you can solder to the rivet and conductor rather than depending on a sliding fit. A washer under the spring may suffice rather than the spring itself.
 

jpanhalt

Joined Jan 18, 2008
11,087
Solid and split copper and brass rivets are pretty standard fare in US hardware stores. Electronic suppliers also have "pogo pins" ("spring contacts"), but they are generally less than 2.5 mm in diameter.
 
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