My initial idea for this project was to create something that would be helpful in some way for me. I began by thinking about making some sort of mechanism that would somehow remind about items or things that I usually forget to take like my wallet or keys. Through some brainstorming I ended up with the idea to make a switch that would activate through weight. The title of my project is a reference to game storages and how they track your items for you. In that spirit, the “container” I made can help keep track of items by showing a red light when something is missing but then lighting up green to signify that your “items” are there and the storage is full.

– Materials –

Scissors

Wires

Tape

Electrical tape

Wooden sticks

Durable copper wiring

Coin Battery

LED

Carboard

Hot glue gun

 

 

Step 1

Create a container and platform out of cardboard to your desired shape, in my case I made a rectangular shape to accommodate my phone size. I added guides in the corner so that it stabilizes and stays in place.

 

 

Step 2

Create a spring that fits the container and put it under the platform in the middle so that the weight is distributed as evenly as possible and the spring goes back to starting position when no weight is present.

Step 3

Begin creating the main component of the circuit which will be the piece that completes the circuits and changes the LED turned on based on how much weight is present on the platform. The metal wire moves with the platform.

Step 4

Begin by wiring the two circuits with the all the negative diodes wired up together, I used a wire cap so that I can re arrange the wires later if necessary. This is so that one power source can be used for both circuits.

 

Step 5

Line up the positive diodes with the wooden piece that has conductive wiring on it so that the movement from the eight completes the red and green LED circuit respectively. It’s because there are two circuits that two led lights can light up depending on if the platform goes all the way down.