The Amazing Magic Flashlight

Amaze and frustrate your friends with The Amazing Magic Flashlight. This very simple project should take you no more than 30 minutes to construct. When completed you will have a flashlight that no matter how hard anyone tries, the flashlight can not be turned on or off. However, you, with the secret, can turn it on or off at will. The "magic" is a magnetic reed switch wired in series with the flashlight's on/off switch. When a magnet is brought into proximity of the flashlight case, the magnetic reed switch will close and the light will turn on!

This video shows The Amazing Magic Flashlight in action. A concealed magnet (taped to the bottom of my hand) is brought close and then pulled away from the flashlight causing the light to turn on and off. In the last step of this instructable is another video that shows how the push button switch appears to have no effect but when switched on and a magnet is near, the light turns on and off.

Step 1 Parts List

All you need to construct The Amazing Magic Flashlight is:

1. A "normally open" magnetic reed switch.  I obtained mine from Jameco Electronics. The switches are part number 171872 and cost $0.85 each. As you can see in the images, these switches are made of glass, so I recommend you buy several just in case you break one.
2. 24" of flexible wire. I used speaker wire but you can use whatever you have handy as long as the wire is very flexible.
3. Magnets.
4. Electrical Tape.
5. 6V Flashlight/Lantern.

You'll need the following tools:

1. Soldering iron and solder.
2. Wire cutters.
3. Wire stripper.

Comments

[roccopeterbilt]

A cool addition to this trick would be one of these rings.  I'm not affiliated, nor have I tried one, but seeing how well these switches worked for you makes me want to order one.

[luvit]

this is magical. like mary poppins. thank you.

[twocvbloke]

Very cool, can be useful to stop people "borrowing" (aka taking and not returning until it's broken) your light.... :P

Just a note though, Step 1, Pic 2, you labelled the reed switch as "Normally Closed", a typo I guess, but could confuse the confusables... :)

[talk2bruce]

Thanks for the note, I just fixed the notes on the pics. I must have proof read the instructable at least four times but missed it. It's like the old diagram that says "Paris in the the spring". :-)