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Anyone ever try using reed switches?

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Extreme8:
Has anyone ever attempted to use a reed switch in a CP?
While working on the artwork for my panel I was playing around with some layouts with and without admin buttons. It struck me that it would be nice to have access to the buttons without actually seeing them.
If you could use a reed switch under the wooden CP you should be able to activate the function just by touching a magnet to the top.
Of course you would only use this for seldom accessed keys (Tab, maybe some of the more useful F keys) but for those machines without a keyboard drawer it could be convenient.
I had considered using it for my coin-up keys as well. I have a working coin door and plenty of tokens, but often find myself just hitting the coin button on the CP.
Those "in the know" could use the magnet trick, everyone else - tokens in the door.

Thoughts?

steveh:
that would be really cool.  do you have any links to these types of switches. 

TOK:
Keyboard encoders have shift functions built into them so you don't have to do stuff like this. Not sure how strong of a magnet you need for a reed switch, but I don't think I'd want it within easy access of my monitor.

Extreme8:

--- Quote from: TOK on March 29, 2007, 09:02:32 pm ---Keyboard encoders have shift functions built into them so you don't have to do stuff like this. Not sure how strong of a magnet you need for a reed switch, but I don't think I'd want it within easy access of my monitor.


--- End quote ---
I know about the shift functions - I've been using an I-pac for years. Just wanted to try something different.
I don't think the power required to activate a reed switch would cause any problems with a monitor, but I could be wrong...

Crowquill:
You don't need a very powerful magnet, but you do have to get fairly close to the switch. Not that a switch embeded into a wooden panel would be out of the question. They're also fairly fragile compared to the types of materials we're normally working with on our cabinets.

I'd still get a bit scared having them around the monitors, and how would you activate them in a practical manner? Use your magnetic Donkey Kong decoder ring?  ;D

But you might as well try it and see. I definitely think the idea has merit.

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