electronics question: switches for battery power

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 9:47 am

hey, to electronics experts here.
I'm trying to add a power switch to a toy camera that other wise uses a timer to shut off its power. I checked radioshack and saw that switches have 2 parameters: amps, and VAC, which I assume limits what sort of current can pass through them. Given that the battery power is 2 AAA batteries, is there any way to choose which switch to use? (or is there more to the equation?)

I'm trying to get one of these puppies:
http://www.aiptek.com/Merchant2/merchan ... re_Code=AS

Because I want to casually take photos without feeling threatened.. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but you can't be too safe.

Post by **garyb** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 10:04 am

it's probably not too critical for that application, as far as which switch. i'd bet that they'll all work.

yeah, NYC is instituting a no camera policy for the streets, both as policy(currently) and proposed law( http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/nyreg ... nted=print ), ostensibly for anti terrorist purposes. really, it's just another sign of the creeping police state. the reports are that the new law can be very selectively enforced, meaning many people will never know of it's existance, but many others are finding their cameras smashed and their bodies bruised....good idea to keep it on the down-low....

bassdude · Post by **bassdude** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:59 pm

As gary says, you are dealing with very low power so you can use pretty much use whatever switch you like. You really only need to worry about switch ratings when you know you are dealing with high power applications.

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 7:29 pm

thanks guys. It's just funny gary mentioned the photography ordinance, as I was actually talking about being threatened by thugs and street watchers (drug dealers who lookout for their share of the block, whatever they're called) instead. But after all, the difference between the two in this chaos are minimal eh? There's so much peace keepin', that it's turned peace upside down.

Anyway, I'll keep you guys updated about my modifications.

Post by **garyb** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:35 pm

Ken,
about the thugs of all kinds, you bet.

it's kinda cool to have that small camera in any case. you never know when the right picture will present itself and that little thing is never in the way...