Magic: The Mini-magic Switchboard should I make it a kit?

[blueroomelectronics]

Off PCB toggle switches are pretty common. SPST is all one needs.

 

[3v0]

Knife switches are cool but I do not think they go well with the illusion. The regular switches and bulbs make people think it is simple not strange.

I have seen switches with handles like a rod. One could slip caps over them but you would have to find or make the caps. Maybe heat shrink oVer a tube with a magnet sort of thing. Or maybe polyclay.

 

[blueroomelectronics]

Coloured (painted) washers might work.

 

[Marks256]

Or small painted wooden dowels with holes drilled in the bottoms with a magnet in them.

 

[kchriste]

These switches have the option of snap on caps for their K toggle switches:
https://www.electro-tech-online.com/custompdfs/2008/01/Btoggles.pdf
You'd need to file the bat handle a bit, or drill out the cap, to make it easier to move the colored caps around.

 

[blueroomelectronics]

This one uses a plastic washer approach.
**broken link removed**

 

[3v0]

These switches have the option of snap on caps for their K toggle switches:
https://www.electro-tech-online.com/custompdfs/2008/01/Btoggles-1.pdf
You'd need to file the bat handle a bit, or drill out the cap, to make it easier to move the colored caps around.

They would be great, do you know who stocks them. Digikey has there products but does not stock these.

I sort of missed what you were talking about on the SMD solder pads. The concept is/was new to me. I took a while but I got it. Thanks

 

[kchriste]

Digikey has there products but does not stock these.

That's where I found them.... Didn't notice the non-stock issue.
Bill's idea of colored washers is looking better and better. Just choose an oversized washer that fits over the switch, paint it and drop it over the bat on a toggle switch so it settles on the mounting shaft.

I sort of missed what you were talking about on the SMD solder pads. The concept is/was new to me.

Where I used to work they used SMD jumpers on all their PCBs for rarely used options and regular 0.1" header types for more commonly used options.

 

[3v0]

Bill's idea of colored washers is looking better and better. Just choose an oversized washer that fits over the switch, paint it and drop it over the bat on a toggle switch so it settles on the mounting shaft.
Where I used to work they used SMD jumpers on all their PCBs for rarely used options and regular 0.1" header types for more commonly used options.

I will be using the washers at least to start with.
But I do think that the removable handles are better for the illusion. It makes the prey think they are fixed to start with.

Rev 1B now uses SMD jumpers. See previous post.
Anyone who wants to do their own board should download Eagle 4.92 and print directly from it. The foil provided here should work but is not as neat.

 

[wmmullaney]

Bill, you mentioned a pic16f628a at 35 k hertz, how do you tell the pic to operate at that speed? (It is NOT in the configuration word)

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Bill, you mentioned a pic16f628a at 35 k hertz, how do you tell the pic to operate at that speed? (It is NOT in the configuration word)

According to the datasheet it's 37KHz, it's explained in the config word section.

 

[Pommie]

I thought it was 48k and controlled by the PCON register. See section 4.2.2.6

Mike.

 

[blueroomelectronics]

Bill, you mentioned a pic16f628a at 35 k hertz, how do you tell the pic to operate at that speed? (It is NOT in the configuration word)

Most PICs with a programmable oscillator are 31.25kHz, I recalled the 16F628A has an odd frequency (not 31.25kHz)
It's infact like Pommie said 48KHz.
That said the current the PIC uses compared to the bulbs is trivial.

 

[Gaston]

you may want to check some of the autopart stores for the toggles switches. especialy truck stops or truck accessory stores. thats the kind of switches you see in road tractors

 

[Gaston]

i did a quick search and found these **broken link removed**

they have different colors, i didnt search the whole site...there may be other types on there..and just my 2 cents worth...i think the screw in bulbs add to the illusion

 

[Pommie]

I think that pieces of coloured tape in front of each switch would maybe improve the illusion. Imagine the amazement when you say "go on then, move the sticky tape around".

Mike.

 

[blueroomelectronics]

We've included another routine using four white bulbs and playing cards. The bulbs tell you which spectator picked each card. Instead of four playing cards you can use four different objects or product cards. Great for trade shows! The board measures 16 inches by 9 inches. Harry Anderson has used it on TV's Tonight show and The Late Late Show.

I wonder what the playing card variation trick is?

 

[bananasiong]

I think that pieces of coloured tape in front of each switch would maybe improve the illusion. Imagine the amazement when you say "go on then, move the sticky tape around".

Mike.

ahahhaa
The game will become more magically
So for sure, the magnet has nothing to do with it

 

[picasm]

Here is some more info on making it from a Dutch electronics forum:
https://www.circuitsonline.net/forum/view/51240/1/truuk+gloeilamp

Unfortunately I cannot read Dutch. The Babel Fish or Google translators can translate some of it.
Nice to just look at the photos of some of their design ideas though.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Most PICs with a programmable oscillator are 31.25kHz, I recalled the 16F628A has an odd frequency (not 31.25kHz)
It's infact like Pommie said 48KHz.

Interesting, the datasheet I looked at said 37KHz?, perhaps it wasn't for the 'a' version?.