I’m new to using LEDs so please bear with me. I’d like to make a greeting card where LEDs come on when card is opened. In the YouTube videos I’ve seen, the user has to be instructed to push a button. (Most people I know are pretty good at not following instructions.) It there a switch I could use, or would a pull tab with copper tape on it be a possibility? Is there a way I haven’t thought of to do this?
Hello bcrobins.
We don’t carry any kind of switch that’s thin enough to do what you’re wanting to do, but you might be able to build a switch out of copper tape and paper that does this.
What I’m thinking is that you’d have a bit of paper or plastic that is slid between to copper tape strips that keeps them from touching while the card is closed, and when opened the paper/plastic bit gets pulled out, allowing the copper tape strips to touch.
You’d probably have to make some sort of paper “spring” that forces the copper tape strips together with gentle pressure to make it reliable though. I don’t know of any plans for something like that, but it shouldn’t be too hard to figure out with a bit of copper tape, regular tape and paper.
I’d recommend going to the store and buying one of those cards that plays music when you open it. Tear it apart to see how it works. IIRC, many of them use a method similar to what TS-Chris suggests, but for a just a few $ investment, you can see how others do it.