Stylus arm switch.........

[Spoon]

Hi people.
I'm after a stylus arm switch.
The brother-in-law is doing a little project where when the record is playing a few LED's light up. Now the circuit is simple but we can't find a suitable switch. He doesn't want a prox switch as he doesn't want it powered all the time.
The switch will have to be activated with very little effort. I haven't seen the player what hes thinking of doing this too but there must be a micro switch out there that activated with very little effort.
Any idea's?

 

[pirate]

No expert here, but I'm thinking a suitable reed switch? Need to balance the arm, obviously.

 

[westward10]

The longer the motion arm on a micro switch the better.

 

[ruston]

It is a pity that you do not know the type as you could maybe tap into the auto start stop as on the old type turntable/arms.

 

[Spoon]

It is a pity that you do not know the type as you could maybe tap into the auto start stop as on the old type turntable/arms.

That may be an option. He just rang me to see if his idea was ok.
It's just a pity that the micro switches I've been looking at doesn't specify how much force is needed to activate them.

 

[Spoon]

No expert here, but I'm thinking a suitable reed switch? Need to balance the arm, obviously.

Could be an option. Trying to make the switch as small as possible as it will be visible.

 

[ruston]

That may be an option. He just rang me to see if his idea was ok.
It's just a pity that the micro switches I've been looking at doesn't specify how much force is needed to activate them.

If it is an old turntable you may be able to get a micro switch on the mechanical gearing underneath the turntable .
There maybe cams or levers that you could utilize with latching relays if necessary.

 

[Spoon]

If it is an old turntable you may be able to get a micro switch on the mechanical gearing underneath the turntable .
There maybe cams or levers that you could utilize with latching relays if necessary.

Thanks @ruston.

 

[Devonchris]

Have you considered an acoustic switch placed near the speaker?

 

[telectrix]

Have you considered an acoustic switch placed near the speaker?

was just about to suggest same. .... simple solution.

 

[Spoon]

Have you considered an acoustic switch placed near the speaker?

No mate. But that might have to be powered all the time. He doesn't want that.

 

[SparkyChick]

Have a look at some of the microswitches at RS.

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/microswitches/0150710/
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/microswitches/1614981/

These have very long actuators so quite low operating force.

I guess it depends how 'integrated' the final thing needs to be with the turntable as to what will be suitable. Personally, if it was going to be a permanent fixture on a particular turntable, I'd be looking to take a feed from the motor drive.

 

[westward10]

We get the drift SC

 

[SparkyChick]

FFS... something went completely awry with that.... I was trying to post, but it kept failing... normally if it appears to have failed I refresh and hey presto I see my post so I don't retry.

@GMES , @Leesparkykent , @Marvo - Could one of you staffers tidy up the excess posts please? Thank you

 

[Spoon]

Thanks @SparkyChick , I completely forgot about RS.
I really like the idea about taking the feed from the motor drive.