[R D S]

I have a PCB with a U shaped switch/sensor on it.
One side is a beam of something, the other side a sensor, it will read on or
off depending whether there is an obstruction within.

What is the name of such a switch, so I can find one at maplins/cpc?

Cheers,

Rick

[Grunff]

R D S wrote:
I have a PCB with a U shaped switch/sensor on it.
One side is a beam of something, the other side a sensor, it will read on or
off depending whether there is an obstruction within.

What is the name of such a switch, so I can find one at maplins/cpc?

It's called a slotted opto switch.

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/s...ct&R=030456 0


--
Grunff

[jkn]

On Jan 21, 12:02 pm, "R D S" wrote:
I have a PCB with a U shaped switch/sensor on it.
One side is a beam of something, the other side a sensor, it will read on or
off depending whether there is an obstruction within.

What is the name of such a switch, so I can find one at maplins/cpc?

Cheers,

Rick

Could be a microswitch - they come with all sorts of actuating
mechanisms; levers, rollers, etc. It's not clear to me from your
description whether the 'obstruction' causes the switch to switch, or
something to be sensed (either other-than-mechanically).

Best to look at a few pictures of microswitches to see if this is on
the right track.

J^n

[George]

"R D S" wrote in message
...
I have a PCB with a U shaped switch/sensor on it.
One side is a beam of something, the other side a sensor, it will read on
or
off depending whether there is an obstruction within.

What is the name of such a switch, so I can find one at maplins/cpc?

Cheers,

Rick



As Grunff said a slotted opto switch commonly found on video
recorders,perhaps you could salvage one from an old video? usually found
around the take up pullys

[R D S]

"Grunff" wrote in message
...
R D S wrote:
I have a PCB with a U shaped switch/sensor on it.
One side is a beam of something, the other side a sensor, it will read
on or
off depending whether there is an obstruction within.

What is the name of such a switch, so I can find one at maplins/cpc?

It's called a slotted opto switch.


http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/s...ct&R=030456 0

That's the bugger.

Many thanks, I wouldn't have guessed that!

[The Natural Philosopher]

R D S wrote:
I have a PCB with a U shaped switch/sensor on it.
One side is a beam of something, the other side a sensor, it will read on or
off depending whether there is an obstruction within.

What is the name of such a switch, so I can find one at maplins/cpc?

Cheers,

Rick


Optical sensor.

[Grunff]

The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Optical sensor.

Nah, that's way too generic - it could mean an ldr, a photo diode, a
reflectance proximity switch, or a slotted opto switch. It's a slotted
opto switch.


--
Grunff

[George]

"Grunff" wrote in message
...
The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Optical sensor.

Nah, that's way too generic - it could mean an ldr, a photo diode, a
reflectance proximity switch, or a slotted opto switch. It's a slotted
opto switch.


--
Grunff

Other items U can find them on are...

Floppy drive
Tape data drives

Thang is are they all a common voltage?

[Dave Osborne]

George wrote:
"Grunff" wrote in message
...
The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Optical sensor.
Nah, that's way too generic - it could mean an ldr, a photo diode, a
reflectance proximity switch, or a slotted opto switch. It's a slotted
opto switch.


--
Grunff

Other items U can find them on are...

Floppy drive
Tape data drives

Thang is are they all a common voltage?



Pretty much, as they comprise an infra-red led and an opto transistor.
Forward drive current for the led varies and peak reverse voltage and
max forward current for the transistor vaies, but as I say, they are all
much of a muchness.

You can find them in the opto-electronics section of any supplier,
including RS, Farnell, CPC, Rapid, etc. Couldn't find them in Maplin,
though.

[R D S]

"Dave Osborne" wrote in message
...
Couldn't find them in Maplin,
though.

It's a shame, Maplins have recently opened around here but they seem to sell
fekk all these days.

[Skipweasel]

In article ,
says...
Rick

Is that you, Stooks?

--
Skipweasel.
Never knowingly understood.

[geoff]

In message , R D S
writes
"Grunff" wrote in message
. ..
R D S wrote:
I have a PCB with a U shaped switch/sensor on it.
One side is a beam of something, the other side a sensor, it will read
on or
off depending whether there is an obstruction within.

What is the name of such a switch, so I can find one at maplins/cpc?

It's called a slotted opto switch.


http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/s...?method=getPro
duct&R=0304560

That's the bugger.

Many thanks, I wouldn't have guessed that!

I might have one lying around somewhere ...

--
geoff

[R D S]

"Skipweasel" wrote in message
.uk...
In article ,
says...
Rick

Is that you, Stooks?

I don't think so, what's a Stooks?

[Frank Erskine]

On Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:37:34 GMT, geoff wrote:

In message , R D S
writes
"Grunff" wrote in message
.. .
R D S wrote:
I have a PCB with a U shaped switch/sensor on it.
One side is a beam of something, the other side a sensor, it will read
on or
off depending whether there is an obstruction within.

What is the name of such a switch, so I can find one at maplins/cpc?

It's called a slotted opto switch.


http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/s...?method=getPro
duct&R=0304560

That's the bugger.

Many thanks, I wouldn't have guessed that!

I might have one lying around somewhere ...

I have a slack handful of those slotted optoswitches - I think they're
in a cardboard box downstairs in the living room somewhere alongside a
load of sweetspot emitters and photo-darlington sensors for which I
convinced myself a few years ago that I'd find numerous
applications...

--
Frank Erskine

[R D S]

"Frank Erskine" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:37:34 GMT, geoff wrote:

In message , R D S
writes
"Grunff" wrote in message
. ..
R D S wrote:
I have a PCB with a U shaped switch/sensor on it.
One side is a beam of something, the other side a sensor, it will
read
on or
off depending whether there is an obstruction within.

What is the name of such a switch, so I can find one at maplins/cpc?

It's called a slotted opto switch.


http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/s...?method=getPro
duct&R=0304560

That's the bugger.

Many thanks, I wouldn't have guessed that!

I might have one lying around somewhere ...

I have a slack handful of those slotted optoswitches - I think they're
in a cardboard box downstairs in the living room somewhere alongside a
load of sweetspot emitters and photo-darlington sensors for which I
convinced myself a few years ago that I'd find numerous
applications...

It turns out I possibly didn't need them. I had a suspected cable problem so
had fitted a new ribbon cable. The problem persisted so I changed the opto
switches and the problem yet persisted. It seems that the original cable and
the replacement one werent wired to the same pins in the plugs at each end,
much cable codging later and it is running.
The machine in question is of American manufacture, I guess each one is
built to order and it is touch and go as to whether any consistensy is
managed.

[[email protected]]

On 21 Jan, 12:55, "George" wrote:
As Grunff said a slotted opto switch commonly found on video
recorders,perhaps you could salvage one from an old video? usually found
around the take up pullys

Also found in many ball-type mouses.

Owain