Building a "Billie Jean" Sidewalk

Step 3 Wiring

The circuit I came up with was a pretty simple parallel arrangement of two switches and two LEDs (first image). This wiring would be repeated for each step.

Things got trickier though when I had to figure out how to actually run the wiring to have the switches and lights in the desired locations. After folding the schematic around, the circuit for each step became more complicated (second image).

Each step is modular in that each was wired separately, and tested, and later they were all interconnected. Running the wires was tedious. The first step probably took 45 minutes to wire, and each to follow went progressively faster. By the time I got to the sixth one, I was running wire and soldering without thinking and finished it in about 20 minutes.

Through testing (the specs weren't published) the LEDs I bought needed around 3 volts. Since the LEDs were in parallel and each step parallel with each other, I found I could run the whole thing off only two AA batteries (in series). I did add a second set of AA's in parallel, just to ensure long battery life, but it wasn't necessary since the bulbs are generally only on for short durations.

Comments

[StkMtd]

I suppose this is pedantic, but you really ought to have some resistors on those LEDs. Awesome project otherwise. Any reason you used 2 switches here?

[flaming_pele!]

The two switches is just for added sensitivity. These panels are large enough that just stepping toward one edge may not trigger the switch on the opposite side.