How to harvest a piezo element from a window alarm

In this short instructable I will demonstrate how I harvest Piezo elements from dollar store window alarms.  Why you ask? Because these things are awesome pickups for guitars or any other acoustic instrument you are building. Also I am doing this to answer a question from a viewer of one of my instructables http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-build-an-Electric-Guitar/. 

Step 1 Take things apart

Open the battery compartment and remove the screw that holds everything together. Pull the back off. Pull the circuit board out and isolate the wires to the piezo.

Comments

[tmuck]

Friger, you're still my hero. and by the way, i've started designing my electric uke. or (electruke). I can't wait to get to work on building it. :D

[friger]

I love the name, quick, patent it.

[mnmc10]

this thing will make a noise when the magnet is removed but will turn off once the magnet is put back. you guys have an idea to prolong the sound for a few seconds even if you put back the magnet back? kinda like a delay?

[arnefl]

And the leftover can be used for lots of things. I have one for a fridge/freezer reminder. I soldered a LED where the piezo used to be and it blinks if either freezer door or refrigerator door is open

[friger]

I've never thought of that, great idea.

[Bongmaster]

normally they have a hal effect sensor too, unless they cheapskate

[Bongmaster]

im guessing the long folded metal pins overlapping each other are the reed switch, so cheap they didnt even bother with a real one O_o