How to Make Simple "motion" Sensors

Well, sometimes we need to switch something by position change or movement... It is easier than you thought!!!! I am going to cover 2 kinds of "motion" sensors in this instructable.

The first one is a ball-based vibration detector. It detects any kind of movement. It's only disadvantage is that the contact time is really short at this sensor, so you have to connect it to a very sensitive circuit or prolong the signal length by a programmed PIC, somehow like Xyzzy did in his DIY RumblePak for Nintendo DS.

The second one is a tilt sensor (well, it is ball-based, too). This is the sensor used in my other project, home-made Guitar Hero controller. It is very simple and still quite effective!!!

Step 1: First Type - Components Needed

So you gonna' need the following components:

- a piece of thicker and harder copper wire
- a spring (e.g. from a pen)
- an iron ball (e.g. from a ball bearing system) - of course proportional to the other components
- soldering-iron and some solder
- and of course a bit of hot glue

So here it is how it worx:

The spring starts to move (or rather vibrate) because of the mass of the ball (you know, the friggin' inertial force ^_). If the movement is big enough, the ball makes contact with the copper wire (both physically and electrically).

Step 2: First Type - Construction

You need to solder the ball and the spring together like you can see it on the picture. Then solder a piece of the hard copper wire (from the mentioned one) to the other side of the spring. Next you need to make a circle at the end of the remaining wire - the bigger the circle the less sensitive will the sensor be (but maintain the proportions - or position the spring correctly). You can also set the sensitivity of the sensor by shortening the spring (or by stabilizing the root of the spring - e.g. by soldering). I know it is a little bit hard to tune it properly for your needs, but it is possible.

Step 3: First Type - Done!!

Now you need to solder 2 wires to the 2 separate parts of the sensor. After that glue them together as seen on the picture. Warning! Don't let the two wires make contact nowhere - the only place where it can make contact is the upper part - the ball and the copper circle!

And voila, it's done! Enjoy! For the next one go to the next step!

Step 4: Second Type - Components Needed

You need the following components:

- 2 pieces of thick copper wire
- copper tube (our tube was chromed - harder to solder)
- an iron ball (e.g. from a ball bearing system) - of course it must fit to the tube
- soldering-iron and some solder
- a bit of hot glue

How it worx?

As you change the position of the sensor (a few degrees from horizontal) the ball rolls to one side of the tube (that damned gravity... ^_) and if it's the side where the central contact is (made from the wire), the ball makes electrical contact between the tube and the wire - and that's it!

Step 5: Second Type - Construction

Place the ball to the tube and make sure it won't fall out from on side of it (glue, solder or plug there something - or hit it with a smaller hammer). My tube was cut in a way that it wasn't an issue. Remove the insulation from the ends of the 1st wire then make small circle on one end. Then make a shape from the whole wire according to the shape of the tube (as seen on the 2nd pic). It will hold itself in place. Place it on the tube (like on the 3rd pic) - you know, the small circle must be on the side which is not plugged... Make sure there is no el. contact between the copper wire and the tube. Glue it the wire to the tube as it is now.

Step 6: Second Type - Done!!

Wrap the second copper wire around the tube (see the pic). To make a better el. contact, solder it to the tube. If yours is chromed too, scratch the soldering place of the tube a little bit with a Stanley knife and try to solder it after that. In the end, hot-glue it a bit and it's done! Enjoy! it works very well as the sensor of the Guitar Hero controller.

Comments

[imW2]

I used the same idea for a cosplay arc reactor. But I used a bit of chain.

A few AA and LED, it looked like it was sparking when you walked.

[JohnA541]

can i use my sensor to switch power like door open?

[JohnA541]

how many volts do i requre

[DechenTshomo]

How does this motion sensor work

[TamilHagilan]

How does i supposed to connect it with my arduino board.... The normal one have 3 pins but this one have 2 pins only..... If anyone have any idea...pls email me on [e-mail]..... Thank you....

[Anisya]

hi there, school project is coming..so my project gonna be a math mechanical compasses where they can draw and measure the angle at once.. can I use sensor? how can I do it?

[Cboy1100]

stupid question...I have a h20 dispenser and it's in a dark corner, I can't tell when my cup is full. I'm not blind and the finger in the cup sucks, well I'm visual. I need a small,tiny light that wakes up when I get to the handle and shuts of when I'm way. I think I can do this for under a 1$.... oh don't tell me to flip on the light switch,ill reach out...I'm in a dark room where my eyes,and others are adjusted to the movie,game etc..and when you look away your blind..having a light pop on at waist level would help stop stupid...and stop any problems in the dark. Thomas ty

[ArifSae]

Thank you , helped me in making something similar, with slight different approach.

https://www.instructables.com/id/Vibration-Sensor-Homemade/

[raralorgat04]

do you know how to make a sensor that senses things coming close

[ArifSae]

this might be helpful to what you are asking

https://vimeo.com/60642111

[ArifSae]

or better

http://hackaday.com/2012/04/05/quick-and-easy-arduino-powered-theremin/

[raralorgat04]

do you know how to make a sensor that senses things coming close

[AshwinV4]

wonderful...ideas

[ceasar.barrera]

Hey man, that's a cool tip thank you. Now is there anyway you can use this sensor to pick up wind speed and convert it to a digital relay? To show the wind speed digitally? Now we have a weather station with your standard anemometer, but it keeps breaking. I work in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska and the high wind speed tear the damn thing apart, do you have any solutions?

[dentsinger]

Very nice. You can make the first switch more sensitive by stretching out the spring a little so the the mass of the ball reacts more. Kinda makes me think of a switch similar to a mercury switch whereby you don't need mercury. Using a drinking straw, and a bb. Insert your leads into the end of the drinking straw, melt with a lighter and then clamp the end with pliers. A clear drinking straw would be best. Insert your ball bearing into the other end and burn and clamp it in. You now have a switch like a mercury switch.

[Bilal Cena]

I like the first sensor. Thought Ill like to know HOW it exactly works

Meaning like is this an alarm type of thingy? When there is a motion it (the spring and the ball) would make a buzzing kind of sound?

Also where does the two wires go?? Some information on this would be very very helpful. Thank You

[ajanevski]

where we should put outlet wires ?? :D

[joeny1980]

perfect! I was looking for a way to make a motion sensitive switch for a bird toy. Your version 1 is perfect.

[joeny1980]

By the way I just found the ball bearing that is the perfect size and a nice weight, from the inside of a paint marker. Its a ball thats in the ink cavity to help mix when you shake the pen. Also, to adjust sensitivity, I suggest trying different pens. I was surprised that there was a nice range of spring sensitivity in all different pens I tried. I am going to likely further use the ballpoint pen to build the switch inside of it. This should work perfectly.

[Aplonis]

Congratulations! You have almost exactly re-invented the firing switch for a US Navy Mk 37 electric torpedo.