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Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: vatz098 on April 15, 2012, 01:40:16 AM

Title: Micro Switch as a bump sensor
Post by: vatz098 on April 15, 2012, 01:40:16 AM

Hi,
How do I wire a micro switch and an LED light? I want the LED to light up when I bump the micro switch. My micro switch is  SPDT SUB-MINIATURE MICROSWITCH.

Title: Re: Micro Switch as a bump sensor
Post by: Soeren on April 15, 2012, 06:12:11 AM

Hi,

Quote from: vatz098 on April 15, 2012, 01:40:16 AM

How do I wire a micro switch and an LED light? I want the LED to light up when I bump the micro switch. My micro switch is  SPDT SUB-MINIATURE MICROSWITCH.

What do you want to wire it to?
If you just want the switch and the LED connected to a battery, you'll need a series resistor as well, to limit current to the LED, but give a little more info on what you want to accomplish.

Title: Re: Micro Switch as a bump sensor
Post by: vatz098 on April 15, 2012, 10:42:57 PM

Just wire it to a battery so when I press the micro switch, the LED light goes on

Title: Re: Micro Switch as a bump sensor
Post by: jkerns on April 16, 2012, 06:41:12 AM

Your switch probably has a normally closed and normaly open connection - power goes to the center pin most likely. Connect the resistor and LED to another contact and then to the battery negitive - don't hook up the LED backwards. If it is always on except for when you push the switch - move it to the other contact.

Title: Re: Micro Switch as a bump sensor
Post by: Soeren on April 17, 2012, 11:11:12 PM

Hi,

A microswitch usually have the common terminal at one end (generally marked "COM") and the other terminal needed is "N.O." or just "NO" (for "normally open").

To calculate the resistor value for a red (1.9V) LED with 15mA on a 6V battery:
(6V-1.9V)/0.015A = approx 270 Ohm (180 Ohm to 470 Ohm will be fine for 6V).