Making Switches
You can buy lots of different sorts of switches to use in you circuits. Did you know that you can make them yourself as well!
Folded Switch
To complete the circuit you close this switch and hold it shut. The foil button touches the foil sheet and completes the circuit.
Folded switch in action
The circuit is compete and the device will work.
Pressure Switch
Make two identical sections. Add two small squares of wadding to one half. Put them together to make a wadding sandwich. Glue them together.
Finished Pressure Switch
Don’t use too much glue. You want your switch to spring open when it is released.
Pressure Switch Video
This version is not stuck together, it is put into a holder. Yours can be stuck, but you will need to do it very carefully.
Dial Switch
Use this switch if you want to work one device or another. The switch can be off, top device on or bottom device on.
Dial Switch
Put a paper fastener through the pointer. Attach one end of a piece of wire to the paper fastener. Allow the other end to stick out past the end of the pointer. Thread two pieces of wire up through the card and give them foil ‘buttons’. Mount the pointer and join a piece of wire to the back of the paper fastener.
The Dial Switch Circuit
dial switch pointer (in off position)
buzzer
bulb
battery This shows the special wiring needed for the dial switch. The pointer can be used to complete the bulb circuit or the buzzer circuit.
Working Dial Switch
A wire is sticking out at the end of the pointer. When the pointer is moved it can touch the bulb foil button or the buzzer foil button.
When you make your switch check that the wires only touch when you want them to. If you don’t you will get a short circuit.
By Alan Rodgers