DIY Touch Sensor

Step 2 Build your circuit

wire up your circuit according to the following diagram:

pin 1: Power (3.3-5V)
pin 2: Output (in this case I used a red LED)
pin 3: Ground
pin 4: Power
pin 5: Power
pin 6-7: 10 micro Farad capacitor. These pins also connect to the input wire.
pin 8: Ground

Comments

[slopes]

Is this the same Touch switch IC as sold here?

http://www.hobbytronics.co.uk/manufacturer-hobbytronics/touch-switch-ic

[lasermaster3531]

no, that one is actually a little bit better. It has two inputs, so you can control two devices with one IC.

[ooda55]

This is a realy great project, ive been looking for an easy way to do this for ages, however i cant seem to find that chip anywhere
according to farnell its no longer manufactured, are there any alternatives?

[shadowdude777]

Hi there. I think you can use the newer equivalent, which is the AT42QT1011; you can read more info about the controllers here: http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/devices.asp?category_id=170&family_id=697&subfamily_id=2109

These seem to be the newer equivalents to those old chips, and they look like they're much better, as, for instance, you only need to apply Vdd to one pin instead of the three in this instructable. It makes for a much neater setup.