LilyPad E-Sewing ProtoSnap Hookup Guide

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Contributors: Gella
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Exploring the Sample Circuit

Let's try out the circuit!

The LilyPad Battery Holder at the corner of the ProtoSnap holds a 20mm CR2032 Coin Cell Battery. With the battery installed, slide switch on the battery holder to the ON position.

Power Switch

Using the LilyPad Slide Switch

The LilyPad Slide Switch has a small switch labeled ON/OFF. When moved to the OFF position, parts inside the switch move away from each other and open the circuit (disconnecting it). The LEDs will not light up. When the toggle switch is moved to the ON position, the two sew tabs on the switch are connected, allowing current to flow through and close the circuit. You should see the two LEDs below the switch light up.

Side by side illustrations: left of current not flowing through the circuit when the slide switch is turned OFF and right of current flowing through circuit when slide switch is turned ON

Using the LilyPad Button

The LilyPad Button Board is also a type of switch. The circuit that is connected to the far right LED is open when the button is left by itself. When you press the button in the middle of the board, it connects the two sew tabs and allows current to flow through. When you let go of the button, the connection is opened again, and the button springs back into place. This button is an example of a momentary switch – it is only active when an action is applied.

This is slightly different from the slide switch, which is an example of a maintained switch, meaning its state remains the same until changed.

Left: Illustration of current not flowing through the button. Right: Illustration of current flowing through the button and circuit to light up LEDs below an illustration of a finger pressing the button

Learn more about buttons and switches in our Switch Basics tutorial.