Introduction: Creative Switch

I made a Creative Switch Circuit out of a chest. The movable latch acts as the switch that breaks or completes the circuit.

Supplies

Materials Used:

  1. Copper tape
  2. 2 LED bulbs
  3. 1 coin battery
  4. A chest

Step 1: Turning the Latch Into a Switch

Begin by wrapping copper tape around the movable latch, specifically around the prong--the part that locks the lid in place when the latch is closed--and the base of the prong. When wrapping around the prong itself, take caution to not use too much copper tape; the prong will become too thick, making the latch unable to close properly.

After this step, the switch has been made.

Step 2: The Circuit: Copper Tape Around the Chest and Two LED Bulbs

Laying the circuit involves wrapping copper tape around the outside of the chest.

The front side of the chest:

  1. Begin at the right side of the chest as shown in the first picture and apply a segment of tape, stopping at the right side of the lock.
  2. Then, starting at the left side of the lock, apply another segment of tape, stopping at the point above where the dark brown wooden carvings meet the wooden lining. See the first picture for reference.
  3. Get another piece of tape and wrap from the front of the chest to the bottom, going all the way down to the second beam. See the second picture for reference.

The bottom side of the chest:

  1. From the copper tape segment that runs from the front side of the chest, apply another two segments of copper tape: one that runs along the first beam and another that runs along the second beam. Stop at around the middle of chest, making sure to leave a gap for the LED bulbs.
  2. From those gaps, run two more segments of copper tape along the first beam and second beam, extending them to the right end.
  3. Attach the 2 LED bulbs where the gaps have been left.
  4. Finally, from the right end of the bottom, run a strip of copper tape up to the front again, connecting the two copper tape segments from Step 2. Stop the tape at the lid of the chest. See the third picture for reference.

Copper wrapping support: In the pictures, extraneous copper wrappings can be seen. These extra pieces of tape act as support "beams" of sorts. They basically help keep the main circuit and LED bulbs in place.

Step 3: Copper Tape Wrappings at the Lock

As stated in "Step 2: The Circuit", extraneous copper wrappings are used as support "beams." The wrappings around the lock aren't as such. These wrappings are meant to extend this portion of the circuit outward, letting the switch more readily interact with the circuit. Apply 3-4 pieces of tape on both sides of the lock.

Step 4: Completing the Circuit: Copper Tape Inside the Chest and the Battery

To complete the circuit, start at the right side of the front of the chest.

  1. From the segment of tape to the right of the lock and the segment of tape running along the wooden lining, run two strands of tape up, over, and into the basin of the chest.
  2. Attach the coin battery to the two strands of tape.

The circuit has been completed.

Step 5: The Finished Product: a Chest Waiting to Be Opened

The finished product is a chest with a glowing underbelly. Most visible in the dark, the yellow light attracts would-be looters. What treasures lie in this mystery box?