DIY Battery Interrupters for Switches
Recently we worked with two wonderful occupational therapy students from TN Wesleyan University and our good friend (and volunteer toy adapting expert), Alan. We taught the students how to make an easy battery interrupter to use with a switch. What is a battery interrupter? A battery interrupter is a quick, simple, and affordable way to adapt an electrical device like a toy that may require a high level of fine motor function and strength to turn on and off to instead be activated with whatever type of accessible switch that works easiest for that specific user. We chose one that doesn’t require soldering, to make it easy and quick! It’s best if the toy or device you are using operates with an on and off switch, and the toy does not have multiple functions since the switch may not be able to activate all of the options.
The materials you’ll need:
Adhesive backed copper foil
index card, business card or small piece of poster board
3.5 mm mono cable with female jack
electrical tape
tools:
scissors
step 1: cut foil circles approximately 1” round or a small square that can be trimmed to fit in a battery holder.
step 2: using the two split wires on the cable, place one wire on each side of your index, business card or piece of poster board.
step 3: attach wire with the foil.
step 4: repeat for the other side.
step 5: cut around the foil. it’s fine to leave a small amount of the paper showing around the foil.
step 6: now that it’s complete, it’s time to test it with a toy or device! Take one battery out of the device you are testing. Place the interrupter against the spring or the positive side, then put the battery back in. It may be necessary to file a small notch into the battery compartment of the toy, so the wire can hang outside easily. You can also add more electrical tape to hold it more securely.
Plug in your switch to activate!