Negative line ran outside of an e-cig case

[FandZ]

Hi all, I'm wondering if I ran the negative line of the battery outside of it's case and used a break in the line, could a human finger be used to bridge the negative line and turn the unit on? Basically I'm trying to get rid the button. So the line on the outside would look like ( ___ ___ ).

I'm thinking that's how a wire tester works. The case would be made of derlin or hdpe.

 

[Rocketman]

But wouldn't you get SHOCKED !8-o

 

[candre23]

Yes and no. Your finger, if moist, would complete the circuit. But since your finger isn't a perfect conductor, there would be a noticeable voltage drop across it. You probably wouldn't feel it, but your atty would. I suspect it would perform very poorly.

 

[Bobnoxious]

Isn't this what transistors are for?

 

[Rocketman]

Tongue?
Or wear a thimble?

Now that's novel. No switch to wear out. Your could turn it on with your keys also, or nickles and dimes..
Like in your pocket.

The Rocket

 

[FandZ]

Hrmm... Than how does it work on a wire tester? I have one that looks like a screw driver but has a pointed tip. I just poke it through a wire I want to test and touch the top and if there is power it lights up. My finger is what is bridging the connection.

Also would there be a voltage drop? You could touch the negative side of a battery terminal on a car all day and you won't get shocked no matter what you touch. The positive side is a different story.

 

[Rocketman]

FandZ,
Just kidding.
The tester is using a small Fet transistor switch to sense either the conductance (only a few megaohms) or capacitance ( 10 to 20 pf) between you (connected to the positive voltage of the car) and the car body.
Touch sensing has been used in at least one mod I know of.
I wonder if the circuitry in your tester can be cannibalized to drive a larger FET switch for attomizer current.

You may have found even another source for MOD parts.
Keep the imagination churning, everything can be a MOD part if you think hard enough.

Rocket

 

[Mr.Frost]

I would think your finger isn't bridging the gap at all, but allowing whatever charge is coming from the lead to disapate in your body and ground out thru your feet.


Frost

 

[Rocketman]

I would think your finger isn't bridging the gap at all, but allowing whatever charge is coming from the lead to disapate in your body and ground out thru your feet.


Frost

Doesn't that hurt?

LOL

 

[FandZ]

FandZ,
Just kidding.
The tester is using a small Fet transistor switch to sense either the conductance (only a few megaohms) or capacitance ( 10 to 20 pf) between you (connected to the positive voltage of the car) and the car body.
Touch sensing has been used in at least one MOD I know of.
I wonder if the circuitry in your tester can be cannibalized to drive a larger FET switch for attomizer current.

You may have found even another source for MOD parts.
Keep the imagination churning, everything can be a MOD part if you think hard enough.

Rocket

I have a cnc machine that I'll be using to mill out the traces in copper or another metal sheet. I just want to make sure it's doable. So if it's on the negative line, you agree that I should be able to bridge the negatives to turn the atomizer on with my finger?

The top of my wire tester is two circles, something that looks like this (0). I guess that's what I'll try.

BTW, I'm in Baton Rouge Rocketman.

Bah... I reread your post and now I understand. It's 2 am, what do you expect? My dream of just bridging the connection won't work. Moving on to a button

 

[Mr.Frost]

Doesn't that hurt?

LOL

Hahaha, I'm not sure.
Closest to it I've ever done is the old "9volt on the tongue".


Frost

 

[TonyLoco2]

Wouldn't this work long as the gap is small enough?

I've been curious about this as well. I've done some very light reading on the subject. Might also consider looking into how touch lights (like on lamps) function.

If done properly it could rid us of all our switch/button headaches.

 

[40bikes]

I'm thinking "magic decoder ring".
Contacts below the surface,grooved to proper depth between contacts, when gripped correctly ring on appropriate finger matched to groove would "short" neg contacts to complete circuit. You did say you have machine tools.
Couldn't be casual but with proper,custom design could be made comfortable to use. Good luck, bikes

 

[muldrick]

Wouldn't this work long as the gap is small enough?

I just tested this "theory" with an ohmmeter. No, it would not work, the ohms reading is all over the place, so it would not have a good connection to complete the circuit.
Darn good and simple idea though.
How about a wire that "hoovers" over the top of the second wire. When you push it down the circuit completes.

 

[TonyLoco2]

It can be done I'm just not sure of how to construct it. Look up resistance touch switches. It's been done with numerous devices, and I'm sure theres a way to make it useable for out needs.

 

[FandZ]

I just tested this "theory" with an ohmmeter. No, it would not work, the ohms reading is all over the place, so it would not have a good connection to complete the circuit.
Darn good and simple idea though.
How about a wire that "hoovers" over the top of the second wire. When you push it down the circuit completes.

It can be done I'm just not sure of how to construct it. Look up resistance touch switches. It's been done with numerous devices, and I'm sure theres a way to make it useable for out needs.

Thanks for testing it Muldrick, would have been nice. Below is how I was planning on implementing it. The top unit is my Tornado without the cone as a size reference. I guess now I'll either put a button in the space or relocate a button on the bottom curve part to be activated by thumb.

I'm going to give the wire touching idea some thought. I'm just not sure on how to do it without wearing the wire out.

Tonyloco2, in my searches I came by resistance touch switches. It all seemed more than I wanted to get into. Rocketman's Idea of using the wiring of my wire tester isn't a bad one. I may just have to look more into that.

 

[Connman]

I really think that design looks nice you have there.

 

[petercro]

google
mosfet touch switch.

The answer is coming...................

 

[FandZ]

I really think that design looks nice you have there.

Thanks man. Hopefully it'll come out nice. The plan was to do a wood mockup this weekend but surprise! My in-laws decided to come spend the long weekend. It's amazing how they have a 6th since of when I'm eager to tackle a project.

google
mosfet touch switch.

The answer is coming...................

Oi! That would do the trick. I think I'm going to post on one of those electronic forums and ask for some recommendations. I'm very mechanical but electricity is like voodoo to me. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[FandZ]

Just thought I'd share a moment of stupidity. I just got in 2 18500 batteries. I meant to order the 18300's but that's a different story. Anyhow I was getting the measurements on it with my metal digital caliper to make a cad drawing of it. I measured from the negative all the way to the positive, long story short, it made some nice little sparks. In case any fellow dummies read this thread, do not ground your negative and your positive with your metal caliper.

It measures 2-1/8" btw.