Some advice needed, switches, electrical knowledge too

[bigbadgreen]

Mods, before you move this to work log please understand that this is a post for my initial research into a mod, I'm looking for help before starting the mod. I'll make a new post when I do start.

So I came up with this idea for a case mod for my P180. A little background. For atleast the past 10 years I have been drawn to geometric shapes, and in particular circlular shapes, connected. Some people have called them crop circle like or alien like, so I have finally decided to go with a mod in an alien type of mod. Here is the idea. Don't worry no windows to show intrernals, but there is a window-esque cutout. The case will be painted gloss white where the brushed aluminum is. I'm still debating if I should paint the top. The goal is to leave the trim and front bezel black. The top is already black and I'm leaning towards painting it white. The next step is to do the cutouts, refer to the pictures, and back the hole with white plexi, that light can show through, but that appears white when no light it on, translucent i think it the technical term. Don't worry about the one shape having a piece hanging, I'll glue it to the plexi to hold it in place. In thids case I plan on using blue lighting.

Now onto my research. I need help with wiring the power switch. I want to add a panel on the top that is a touch sensitive switch. I plan on doing a trace of an alien-esque hand with metal discs flush mounted into the top of the case where the finger tips would be. It would work like a touch lamp does. In fact that is my question. Is it possible to convert the switch in a touch lamp to work in this way. other touch switches I've researched seem to cost a whole lot, in the $150+ range.
This switch plate would be covered by a clear plexi plate that is elevated, enough so that you could slide your hand in there easily, but so that it blocks accidental touches.
So any help on the switch front would be greatly appreciated.

Photoshopped pics of the idea, without work to the top, no switch done and not white.
light off

light on

 

[Destos]

Don't worry about the mods moving this over to the work log, this forum is mainly full of people asking initial questions, so no need to worry.

If you are into making your own circuits, you could make your own continuity switch. ( a touch switch ) You might be able to find plans online for some.

As I own a P180 I think it might be hard to create a window in the side panels as it is layered for acoustical reasons as you most likely found out. So cutting a nice clean widow, even if it wasn't as complex as what you have planned would be hard. Unless of course if you use a Flow-Jet, or laser cutting machine. ( probably won't happen )

Also you have turtle beach 5.1 headphones right? I can see the volume controller there on your desk. Does yours happen to be falling apart? Mine seams to want to fall apart after a month of non abusive use.

 

[DirtyLude]

QPROX makes chips for capacitive sensing touch switches. You can download the datasheets from the site:

http://www.qprox.com/products/touch.php

I have a couple of them. The basic 2 switch chips are only a couple dollars from digikey.com. When you order, you want to get the supporting capacitors that the chip needs as well. Check the datasheet.

 

[craigbru]

Also you have turtle beach 5.1 headphones right? I can see the volume controller there on your desk. Does yours happen to be falling apart? Mine seams to want to fall apart after a month of non abusive use.

I don't mean to jump in here, but I have the those very same Turtle Beach headphones myself. I haven't had any problems as of yet. However, I did add more ear padding from another pair of headphones to make them more comfortable.

 

[bigbadgreen]

Thanks for the replies. I'm looking into those switches and will be deciding soon. As for the window I'm not worried about getting a clean cut, the way I cut out my windows is with a jewelers saw, made for very fine acurate cuts. It looks similar to a coping saw, only with a very thin blade. I have one that has a 3ft deep throat. It's a handful but with patience I've been able to cut some pretty intricate things in the middle of large sheets of metal before. I am also planning on sanding with very fine files. If it's still not how I want it I'll smooth it out using bondo. i was thinking about using bondo anyways and just using a sanded finish on clear plexi instead of white.

As for the headphones. Yes I have the turtle beach ear force HPA 5.1 surround phones with the attatched mic. So far it's performance has been outstanding. there is no issue with it falling apart, and I've had them for around 6 months. My only complaint is that they squeeze very hard. I wear glasses and they can get painful after a long gaming session. I havn't found a way to lessen the tension these thigns have. I have worn them without my glasses just to test, I'm blind without them, and they were decently comfortable. Not sure what is happeneing to yours. Mine get thrown on the floor when I'm done too. I might take craigbrus suggestion and add some more padding.

While I was going over this idea with a friend he made a cool suggestion, only I'd have to really go over my budget for it. he thought a small lcd screen on the top of the case that would show alien type glyphs randomly would be cool. I agree but I don't have an lcd laying around, and I'm not sure how that would tax the gpu in game if I were to run that as the second display. I guess I could always turn that off for gaming. I think I might start shopping places for those older psone lcd screens and hack it. I have the tutorial saved somewhere.