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Large, flat, flexible waterproof button?

jmsaltzman

I'm working on a ski helmet audio project, with a stereo bluetooth headset (Motorola S305) circuit wired in.

 

I'd like to have large buttons on the outside of the helmet, to be activated by gloved fingers.

 

The buttons are the trickiest part since they'd have to be big, stick securely to the helmet, and resistant to moisture.

 

I saw Ben Heck wire buttons under foam on a microphone, which is nice since it sidesteps making a button from scratch.

I also found this thread which suggests using sticky foam pads and tin foil:

http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=23041

 

I'm curious about people's experiences with different types of foam, esp. foam that might be waterproof.  I also wonder about making a sandwich of foam and (a) foil with a spring of some kind or (b) an off-the-shelf button and coating it all, maybe in latex, to seal it up.

 

Any suggestions would be most appreciated!


Thanks,

-Jeff

jmsarduino.blogspot.com

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  • 0

    Jeff,

     

    Although this one is small, you might want to look into water tight limit switches : E14 product # 25C443025C4430

     

    I use them on CNC machinery that are often soaked in coolant, oils, and other liquids. They work great for me, and they are simple NC/NO contact switches.

     

    Cabe

  • 0 in reply to Catwell

    Interesting buttons!  Thanks for the info.  I need something flat though, with a large area, that can stick to the rounded surface of the helmet.

  • 0 in reply to jmsaltzman

    In that case, start looking at membrane switches.

     

    Or place one of the water tight switches into a E-Stop E-Stop. It would be hilarious to have a big red button on the side of your helmet.

     

    Does the switch have to be on the side, or outside of your helmet? How about under near the chin? You could activate it with your chin or hand. The aforementioned water tight switches are very small and could be tucked anywhere.

     

    Cabe

  • 0 in reply to Catwell

    Membrane switches generally need a good amount of concentrated force and are usually close together.  I want to operate the buttons with my gloves on, so think of a button easily pressed with a small pillow that doesn't stick out too far from the rounded surface it's mounted to.

     

    Chin buttons wouldn't work well for what I'm aiming for, since I'll need seven buttons:

    1. pause/play
    2. phone (answer, hang up, voice command)
    3. volume up
    4. volume down
    5. next track
    6. previous track
    7. power

     

    I have a pair of Motorola S805 headphones, with three buttons on each ear piece, so I think I'll use their arrangement or something close to it:

    • Left side: phone button (centered), with volume up and down above it, next to each other.
    • Right side: pause/play button (centered), with next track and previous track above it, next to each other.
    • Power button on the back of the helmet, above the edge.
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  • 0 in reply to Catwell

    Membrane switches generally need a good amount of concentrated force and are usually close together.  I want to operate the buttons with my gloves on, so think of a button easily pressed with a small pillow that doesn't stick out too far from the rounded surface it's mounted to.

     

    Chin buttons wouldn't work well for what I'm aiming for, since I'll need seven buttons:

    1. pause/play
    2. phone (answer, hang up, voice command)
    3. volume up
    4. volume down
    5. next track
    6. previous track
    7. power

     

    I have a pair of Motorola S805 headphones, with three buttons on each ear piece, so I think I'll use their arrangement or something close to it:

    • Left side: phone button (centered), with volume up and down above it, next to each other.
    • Right side: pause/play button (centered), with next track and previous track above it, next to each other.
    • Power button on the back of the helmet, above the edge.
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