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Step 14Install the Reed Sensors
After experimenting with Hall Sensors, Reed Switches and Reed Sensors I decided that the Reed Sensor was the best for activating the switch that changes the LED pattern. Both the Hall Sensor and Reed Switch didn't work well because they needed very close contact with my magnet (1-2cm) and that was too close. I didn't want to have to be that careful or even bash my LEDs together by mistake. The Reed Switch would also occasionally get stuck and the glass breaks very easily.
I got two Reed Sensors on Ebay. A magnet will activate the switch up to 3cm away. The plan is to install one at the toe end of one sneaker and the other at the heel end (with corresponding magnets to trigger them). So each sneaker has one Reed Sensor and one magnet.
Left
On my left sneaker I installed the Reed Sensor at the inside, toe end (about 4 inches from the shoe tip). Your Reed Sensor may have come with wiring attached (great!). Solder a wire from GND on the RS to the ground wire on your LED strip. (Modify the length as needed for the GND connection.) You can pull off part or all of the LED strip in order to do the soldering.
Thread the other two wires from the RS (for PIN and 5V) through your shoe laces. These wires will terminate at a place near your ankle once the other hardware is complete, so for now just make sure there is enough wire to reach with a bit to spare.
Right
Similar procedure for the right sneaker, but place the Reed Sensor near the inside, heel end.
Secure
At this point it might be helpful to put a small square of velcro to secure the Reed Sensors in place.
I got two Reed Sensors on Ebay. A magnet will activate the switch up to 3cm away. The plan is to install one at the toe end of one sneaker and the other at the heel end (with corresponding magnets to trigger them). So each sneaker has one Reed Sensor and one magnet.
Left
On my left sneaker I installed the Reed Sensor at the inside, toe end (about 4 inches from the shoe tip). Your Reed Sensor may have come with wiring attached (great!). Solder a wire from GND on the RS to the ground wire on your LED strip. (Modify the length as needed for the GND connection.) You can pull off part or all of the LED strip in order to do the soldering.
Thread the other two wires from the RS (for PIN and 5V) through your shoe laces. These wires will terminate at a place near your ankle once the other hardware is complete, so for now just make sure there is enough wire to reach with a bit to spare.
Right
Similar procedure for the right sneaker, but place the Reed Sensor near the inside, heel end.
Secure
At this point it might be helpful to put a small square of velcro to secure the Reed Sensors in place.
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It's a self-contained unit. There's not much to it, just a protected Reed Switch (the red thing) and a small PCB with 3 wires coming off of it.
If you mean the places on the sneaker where I installed the Reed Sensors, see the photos in step 18.
Hope this helps!