We’ve seen touch-based mobile phones, touch-based laptops, and television screens. Everything’s becoming touch-based; so why should our dear ol’ switches be left behind? Come in: DIY touch-based switchboard! No more worrying about stuck or broken switches. What is more, it is easy and fun to make!

So, ready for some DIY electric fun? Let’s begin!

Step 1: Things That You'll Need:

evive
Bulbs
Bulb Holder
Relay Switches
Aluminum Foil
Crocodile Pins/ Alligator Clips
Jumper Cables
Electric Cables
M3 bolts of 12 mm
M3 Nuts
Thick Cardboard
Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

You will get the most of the components and even more in the evive IOT Kit . As there are lots of projects listed on Instructables which are made with the help of it.

Step 2: Making of the Touch Switch Board

To make the Switchboard take the cardboard and mark the number of switches you want to make and of what size. We have made the switchboard of 4 switches.
Next, take the Aluminum Foil or the Tin Foil at the places you marked.
Cover the remaining cardboard with the colored chart paper.
On the other hand, solder the jumper cables to each of the crocodile pins. Finally, attach the pins to each switch.
Thus, your switchboard is ready.

Step 3: Making of the Base Box

We have laser cut the MDF sheets with the following dimensions. You can use either thick cardboard or even add layers of cardboard for stability.

Take the base plate and attach the side plates with the help of M3 bolts of 12 mm length and M3 nuts.

Take the Upper Plate and in the holes made, insert the Bulb holder.

Step 4: Interfacing the Relay

Take the Electric wire and cut it in small parts.
Take the relays and similar small 8 electric wire pieces.
Connect them to the COM terminals and Normally OPEN terminals of each relay.

Attach 4 relays on the upper plate using a glue gun.

Then, take the wire connected to the Normally OPEN to corresponding to each bulb holder’s one of the terminals of the bulb.

Take the wire connected to the COM terminal and connect it together and finally connect it to the remaining terminal of the plug.
Take the 4 such pieces and attach each one to them to each terminal of the bulb holder.
Next, connect all these 4 wires to one and connect them it to one of the terminals of the plug.
Connect the jumper cables to the VCC, GND and SIGNAL terminals of the relays.
Connect all the VCC in one and GND in another.

Step 5: Completing the Assembly

Finally, insert bulbs in the bulb holder.

Thus, our assembly is finally complete.

Step 6: Logic

We are using capacitive touch sensors which can detect a change in charge. Hence, whenever we touch the crocodile pin, charge corresponding to that sensor will change and gets detected.

Thus, to make our touch detect over the entire switch, we use the foil.

Now, once we touch the switch, the status of the touch-pin varies from HIGH to LOW and LOW to HIGH and the Relay will act accordingly.

Step 7: Circuit Diagram

The pins are connected as follows:

VCC – 5V on evive
GND – GND on evive
SIGNAL – Digital Pins (2, 3, 4, 5)

Step 8: Code:

The Arduino code for the working of the Switch Board is given below:

You can download evive library by clicking the link below:
https://thestempedia.com/wp-content/uploa...

To know more about Arduino visit here:
https://thestempedia.com/tutorials/arduino-ide/

Step 9: Conclusion:

With this, your DIY touch-based switchboard is ready! Now you can light up your life with vivid colors with something as simple as a touch. Happy lighting!

To explore more projects, visit: http://thestempedia.com/projects