Tilt Switches

[Patty]

I have tried both ball bearing and mercury tilt switches. So far, both
have kind of a stutter. That is, when you tilt them, the circuit is
closes, opens momentarily, then is closes again. I really need one
that doesn't have that momentary opening. Do any of you know of one
like that?

Thanks a lot for your help.

Trish

P.S. My angle of tilt requirement is flexible, but would ideally be
around 30 degrees.

 

[Sjouke Burry]

Patty wrote:

I have tried both ball bearing and mercury tilt switches. So far, both
have kind of a stutter. That is, when you tilt them, the circuit is
closes, opens momentarily, then is closes again. I really need one
that doesn't have that momentary opening. Do any of you know of one
like that?

Thanks a lot for your help.

Trish

P.S. My angle of tilt requirement is flexible, but would ideally be
around 30 degrees.

Mechanical contacts bounce, and need a de-bounce circuit(google).

 

[Rich Grise]

Patty wrote:

I have tried both ball bearing and mercury tilt switches. So far, both
have kind of a stutter. That is, when you tilt them, the circuit is
closes, opens momentarily, then is closes again. I really need one
that doesn't have that momentary opening. Do any of you know of one
like that?

Never heard of any. But, If you can arrange for a SPDT swtich (pos. 1 = not
tilted, pos. 2 = tilted), then just an R-S flip-flop will debounce it.
Otherwise, you have to resort to tricks, like a schmitt trigger and R-S
flip-flop, or a one-shot, that would "latch" the first closure.

Good Luck!
Rich

 

[Grant]

On Mon, 18 Oct 2010 19:00:04 -0700 (PDT), Patty <bonnypatty@gmail.com> wrote:

I have tried both ball bearing and mercury tilt switches. So far, both
have kind of a stutter. That is, when you tilt them, the circuit is
closes, opens momentarily, then is closes again. I really need one
that doesn't have that momentary opening. Do any of you know of one
like that?

Thanks a lot for your help.

Trish

P.S. My angle of tilt requirement is flexible, but would ideally be
around 30 degrees.

So add a debounce circuit! That's the sane option.

Grant.

 

[news.dslextreme.com]

Thanks a lot for all the ideas!

Trish

 

[Jasen Betts]

On 2010-10-19, Patty <bonnypatty@gmail.com> wrote:

I have tried both ball bearing and mercury tilt switches. So far, both
have kind of a stutter. That is, when you tilt them, the circuit is
closes, opens momentarily, then is closes again. I really need one
that doesn't have that momentary opening. Do any of you know of one
like that?

use an accelerometer to drive a schmitt trigger? A tilt switch is
after-all an accelerometer with a one-bit output.

A sliding magnet and a mercury wetted reed switch (or even a hall effect sensor)?

Just put a capacitor in parallel with the mercury switch. (or a more
elaborate debounce circuit)


--
ɹǝpun uʍop ɯoɹɟ sƃuıʇǝǝɹ⅁

 

[Jon Kirwan]

On 19 Oct 2010 07:22:45 GMT, Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz>
wrote:

snip
A sliding magnet and a mercury wetted reed switch (or even a hall effect sensor)?
snip

I almost suggested that one, myself, a few hours ago. But
then I realized from the OP's PS that this __might__ be about
30 degrees in any direction (which pools of mercury and
rolling ball bearings achieve in a curved dish) or that it
might be either to one side or the other side, even if
constrained. Might need two reeds then and let the magnet go
slide towards either.

Anyway, figured on awaiting more information about the need
and I think that is still a reasoned option here.

Jon