Reed Switch Hookup Guide

Contributors: jimblom

Example Code

Here is a simple Arduino example based on the circuit above. Copy and paste this into your Arduino IDE, then upload!

language:c
/******************************************************************************
Reed_Switch_Example.ino
Example sketch for SparkFun's Reed Switch
  (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8642)
Jim Lindblom @ SparkFun Electronics
May 3, 2016

The reed switch is a two-terminal, magnetically-actuated, normally-open switch.
Connect one end of the switch to ground, and the other to Arduino's D2 pin.

The D2 pin's internal pull-up resistor is used to bias the pin high. When the
switch closes, the pin should go low.

Development environment specifics:
Arduino 1.6.7
******************************************************************************/
const int REED_PIN = 2; // Pin connected to reed switch
const int LED_PIN = 13; // LED pin - active-high

void setup() 
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
  // Since the other end of the reed switch is connected to ground, we need
  // to pull-up the reed switch pin internally.
  pinMode(REED_PIN, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(LED_PIN, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() 
{
  int proximity = digitalRead(REED_PIN); // Read the state of the switch
  if (proximity == LOW) // If the pin reads low, the switch is closed.
  {
    Serial.println("Switch closed");
    digitalWrite(LED_PIN, HIGH); // Turn the LED on
  }
  else
  {
    digitalWrite(LED_PIN, LOW); // Turn the LED off
  }
}

The sketch depends on an LED being attached to the Arduino's pin 13. That should be the case on 99% of the Arduino boards out there, but, if yours is different, you may need to check the serial monitor for verification of the switch's operation.

With the sketch uploaded, grab your magnet, and draw it close to the switch. It should trigger when the magnet approaches, as close as 1cm away from the body of the reed switch. Try mapping out the entire activation region of the reed switch. See how far away you can get the magnet!