OK, so I’m a woodturner. I dabbled with wires 45 years ago when transistors were available individually and microchip ID numbers had just two digits.
I’ve turned a wood project which needs to incorporate a circuit with two outputs running from the same CR2032 button cell. One output is to three orange LEDs and the other will be to two white LEDs. I only have a small circular cavity 50mm diameter and 6mm deep to put the battery and electronics in. I was going to just use a SPDT, centre-off switch to control the outputs but I’d like to use a more elegant solution. Ideally there would be three touch panels instead. Touch one and output one lights up, touch the second and the first output switches off and the second output lights up. Touch the third touch panel for ‘off’, irrespective of which circuit is live. I’d be just as happy with a single touch pad that cycles between: only output one on; only output two on; and, all outputs off. I’m interested in the panels which are just a single piece of metal rather than the type where the finger makes contact between two pieces of metal. I plan on using an old brass watch cog as the touch panel(s).
Although that’s the plan, I’ve not rigged up a test to see how long the 3v button cell will keep the LEDs lit before expiring. That may be a flaw, but I plan on having the battery cradle easily accessible for changing the battery.
I’ve looked through quite a few of the ‘touch switch’ projects in the AAC history but they seem to be for higher voltages or for only one circuit. I’ve looked through eBay and seen little boxes for very little money suitable for single circuits, but it’s not obvious how they can be adapted to my multi-output requirements.
The first question is, could my project be achieved within such a tiny footprint? I will probably not use a circuit board but connect the components with bare wires and encase the whole thing in epoxy as a kind of all-round insulation. The second question is whether anyone is interested in this particular (and rather specific) challenge?
I’ve already bought the semi-circular battery cradle, the LEDs and some resistors for them and the SPDT switch. Beyond that, I’m open to suggestions – even buying different components.
Any thoughts? Any questions? Any interest?
Thanks in advance.
Steve (just north of London, UK)
I’ve turned a wood project which needs to incorporate a circuit with two outputs running from the same CR2032 button cell. One output is to three orange LEDs and the other will be to two white LEDs. I only have a small circular cavity 50mm diameter and 6mm deep to put the battery and electronics in. I was going to just use a SPDT, centre-off switch to control the outputs but I’d like to use a more elegant solution. Ideally there would be three touch panels instead. Touch one and output one lights up, touch the second and the first output switches off and the second output lights up. Touch the third touch panel for ‘off’, irrespective of which circuit is live. I’d be just as happy with a single touch pad that cycles between: only output one on; only output two on; and, all outputs off. I’m interested in the panels which are just a single piece of metal rather than the type where the finger makes contact between two pieces of metal. I plan on using an old brass watch cog as the touch panel(s).
Although that’s the plan, I’ve not rigged up a test to see how long the 3v button cell will keep the LEDs lit before expiring. That may be a flaw, but I plan on having the battery cradle easily accessible for changing the battery.
I’ve looked through quite a few of the ‘touch switch’ projects in the AAC history but they seem to be for higher voltages or for only one circuit. I’ve looked through eBay and seen little boxes for very little money suitable for single circuits, but it’s not obvious how they can be adapted to my multi-output requirements.
The first question is, could my project be achieved within such a tiny footprint? I will probably not use a circuit board but connect the components with bare wires and encase the whole thing in epoxy as a kind of all-round insulation. The second question is whether anyone is interested in this particular (and rather specific) challenge?
I’ve already bought the semi-circular battery cradle, the LEDs and some resistors for them and the SPDT switch. Beyond that, I’m open to suggestions – even buying different components.
Any thoughts? Any questions? Any interest?
Thanks in advance.
Steve (just north of London, UK)