Weatherproof "button"
in [Design]
|
Prev: Recommendations for inexpensive DSO
Next: Wavetek 23 croaks, anyone know of "notorious" falure areas?
From: Greegor on 27 May 2010 00:46 On May 26, 11:08 pm, "JosephKK"<quiettechb...(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > On Wed, 26 May 2010 12:53:33 -0700, mike <spam...(a)go.com> wrote: > >D Yuniskis wrote: > >> Hi, > > >> I need some sort of "button" (sensor?) that I can locate out > >> "in the elements" and use to activate the irrigation system. > >> I.e., "push this button to turn on the water supply". > > >> It need not be a traditional "button" (in the electrical sense). > >> E.g., a pressure sensitive pneumatic switch, a photoreflective > >> sensor, etc. would all provide the intended function. The > >> trick is finding something that will operate reliably and for > >> many years when exposed to sun, rain, ice, etc. > > >> Ideally, the thing will be cosmetically unassuming so you > >> don't notice it unless you go *looking* for it (despite the > >> fact that it will be "in plain sight"). > > >> And, it should be operable without requiring anything other > >> than the typical parts of the human anatomy. :> > > >> My first thought was a traditional pushbutton in a flexible > >> rubber hood. But, I suspect the Sun will eat the hell out > >> of the plasticizers in the "rubber" in short order. > > >> I then thought of a magnet sliding in a channel passing a > >> Hall effect device (i.e., put a spring behind the magnet). > >> But, you'd need something (flexible) to keep the magnet > >> "sled" from falling out of its channel, etc. > > >> Are there any other clever approaches that might work? > >> Even "weatherproof" switches fail one or more of the > >> above criteria... :< mike > Many crosswalk traffic lights have a "push for walk signal" button. mike > Go take a look at one. mike > If you go at night...and take a screwdriver...and wear a hoodie... JKK > If you want one that bad, i will send you one free. JKK > I know someone that has to throw them away JKK > (in perfect working order). This is strictly JKK > onesie, for people i consider worthy, and on JKK > request, no repeats. There are a variety of those buttons, one of them uses a rubber membrane that resembles inner tube material but with fiber reinforcement and rigidity. Behind it is a heavy duty push button so that pressing the membrane pushes the button. My favorite is one where it has a touch switch with no moving button, but beeps and sends one bright flash to an LED for feedback. http://gadgets.boingboing.net/vka-walksigns-04-thumb-200x259.jpg http://es.www.seeclickfix.com/files/0000/9647/xwalk.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placebo_button
From: memristor on 27 May 2010 09:02 Don Lancaster schrieb: > On 5/4/2010 2:05 PM, D Yuniskis wrote: >> Hi, >> >> I need some sort of "button" (sensor?) that I can locate out >> "in the elements" and use to activate the irrigation system. >> I.e., "push this button to turn on the water supply". >> >> It need not be a traditional "button" (in the electrical sense). >> E.g., a pressure sensitive pneumatic switch, a photoreflective >> sensor, etc. would all provide the intended function. The >> trick is finding something that will operate reliably and for >> many years when exposed to sun, rain, ice, etc. >> >> Ideally, the thing will be cosmetically unassuming so you >> don't notice it unless you go *looking* for it (despite the >> fact that it will be "in plain sight"). >> >> And, it should be operable without requiring anything other >> than the typical parts of the human anatomy. :> >> >> My first thought was a traditional pushbutton in a flexible >> rubber hood. But, I suspect the Sun will eat the hell out >> of the plasticizers in the "rubber" in short order. >> >> I then thought of a magnet sliding in a channel passing a >> Hall effect device (i.e., put a spring behind the magnet). >> But, you'd need something (flexible) to keep the magnet >> "sled" from falling out of its channel, etc. >> >> Are there any other clever approaches that might work? >> Even "weatherproof" switches fail one or more of the >> above criteria... :< > > > Try your closest hot tub store. > > > A touch button could fit your needs. You don't even have to drill a hole in the casing. The technique uses is capacitive sensing. The drawback is, that it isn't as simple as a mechanical button, because of the electronics involved.
From: JosephKK on 27 May 2010 22:24
On Wed, 26 May 2010 21:46:39 -0700 (PDT), Greegor <greegor47(a)gmail.com> wrote: >On May 26, 11:08 pm, "JosephKK"<quiettechb...(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> On Wed, 26 May 2010 12:53:33 -0700, mike <spam...(a)go.com> wrote: >> >D Yuniskis wrote: >> >> Hi, >> >> >> I need some sort of "button" (sensor?) that I can locate out >> >> "in the elements" and use to activate the irrigation system. >> >> I.e., "push this button to turn on the water supply". >> >> >> It need not be a traditional "button" (in the electrical sense). >> >> E.g., a pressure sensitive pneumatic switch, a photoreflective >> >> sensor, etc. would all provide the intended function. The >> >> trick is finding something that will operate reliably and for >> >> many years when exposed to sun, rain, ice, etc. >> >> >> Ideally, the thing will be cosmetically unassuming so you >> >> don't notice it unless you go *looking* for it (despite the >> >> fact that it will be "in plain sight"). >> >> >> And, it should be operable without requiring anything other >> >> than the typical parts of the human anatomy. :> >> >> >> My first thought was a traditional pushbutton in a flexible >> >> rubber hood. But, I suspect the Sun will eat the hell out >> >> of the plasticizers in the "rubber" in short order. >> >> >> I then thought of a magnet sliding in a channel passing a >> >> Hall effect device (i.e., put a spring behind the magnet). >> >> But, you'd need something (flexible) to keep the magnet >> >> "sled" from falling out of its channel, etc. >> >> >> Are there any other clever approaches that might work? >> >> Even "weatherproof" switches fail one or more of the >> >> above criteria... :< > >mike > Many crosswalk traffic lights have a "push for walk signal" >button. >mike > Go take a look at one. >mike > If you go at night...and take a screwdriver...and wear a >hoodie... > >JKK > If you want one that bad, i will send you one free. >JKK > I know someone that has to throw them away >JKK > (in perfect working order). This is strictly >JKK > onesie, for people i consider worthy, and on >JKK > request, no repeats. > >There are a variety of those buttons, one of them >uses a rubber membrane that resembles inner tube >material but with fiber reinforcement and rigidity. >Behind it is a heavy duty push button so that >pressing the membrane pushes the button. > >My favorite is one where it has a touch switch >with no moving button, but beeps and sends >one bright flash to an LED for feedback. > >http://gadgets.boingboing.net/vka-walksigns-04-thumb-200x259.jpg > >http://es.www.seeclickfix.com/files/0000/9647/xwalk.jpg > >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placebo_button > > I doubt that i could get any like that. |