For this recent assignment I decided to build a breath-activated switch.
How It Works
The concept is straightforward. I took a flexible tube and placed a small metal ball inside it. At one end of the tube, I positioned two disconnected wires from my circuit. When I blow into the open end of the tube, the force of my breath pushes the metal ball along the tube until it makes contact with both wires simultaneously.
This contact completes the circuit, and—voila!—a connected blue LED lights up to signal that the switch is “on.” When I stop blowing, the ball rolls back, the circuit breaks, and the light turns off. It’s a hands-free switch that’s both fun and functional.
The Build and Components
As you can see in the photo, the setup is quite simple. Here’s what I used:
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An Arduino as a power source.
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A breadboard for easy prototyping.
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One blue LED.
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Resistors to protect the LED.
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Jumper wires to connect everything.
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A flexible plastic tube.
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A small metal ball.
The circuit itself is a basic LED setup connected to the development board. The magic is all in the custom-built switch. The tube, the ball, and the carefully placed wires are what make this an “unusual” solution that perfectly met the project’s requirements.
This was a fantastic exercise in creative problem-solving and a great way to apply basic circuit principles in a new and interesting way. It proves that with a little ingenuity, you don’t always need a traditional button or switch to make things work.
Video Demo