Published November 3, 2017 © GPL3+

Light in the Dark of a Handbag

Things that we men have always suspected in a women's handbag now come to light.

BeginnerFull instructions provided1 hour560

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Adafruit Gemma Sequin Starter Pack

Needle set - 3/9 sizes - 20 needles Stainless Thin Conductive Thread - 2 ply - 23 meter/76 ft 2 x 2032 Coin Cell Battery Holder - 6V output with On/Off switch Adafruit GEMMA V2 - Miniature wearable electronic platform Adafruit LED Sequins - Warm White - Pack of 5

Handbag

a large handbag at will - if possible with inner lining

CR2032

2 pieces

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

not possible to use the WebIDE

Story

Overview

You men have already guessed: it's about your wife's handbag!

normal handbag - not a "klatsch" (very small and mobile bag)

Today, there is a light in the dark: I imagine how you with the Gemma v2 - a small Adafruit device - a circuit controlled and so with an open handbag an LED turns on.

1 / 2 • Gemma Device with green Power on LED and closed Hook & Loop tape

Part 1

For the features of a Gemma v2 Device and to set up in the Arduino IDE, please follow this unboxing project with help on the Adafruit website. Calculates this with just under 20 minutes training period.

Before going into the purse (one or your wife's), I advise checking the flashed code (remembering to turn on the Gemma switch so it's in flash mode) with crocodile plugs.

In my implementation, only one of the five LEDs is used (they are super bright). This is marked with "+" and "-" and so is sewn "+" to D2 and "-" to GND.

the order with 5 white LEDs

Part 2

The hook & loop tape also conduct and are in turn connected to D0 and also to GND. Simply thread a long, conductive thread from the set below the inside lining of the bag.

conductive Hook & Loop Tape

You should sew the items in advance to the inner lining, in the further course then sew the conductive thread with the contacts of the Gemma.

1 / 2 • the bag with LED on in a dark room - with/without items

In the end, the handbag wearer can even decide on the switch on the battery compartment when it wants to turn on the Gemma or not. Order in advance a few CR2032 button cells (you need 2). For testing purposes, a LIPO can also be connected. The weight was crucial to switch to the button cells.

Conclusions

In case of a problem, the seams will go down! Maybe even a little solder on the contacts of the Gemma helps.

You thought so, did not you? The items shown in the handbag are found only in this youth-free version. I have not talked to a man who really knew what his wife carries around.

Handbag

    // constants won't change. They're used here to 
    // set pin numbers:
    const int internalLED = 1;  // blink 'digital' pin 1 - AKA the built in red LED
    const int buttonPin = 0;    // the number of the pushbutton pin
    const int ledPin = 2;       // the number of the LED pin
     
    // variables will change:
    int buttonState = 0;        // variable for reading the pushbutton status > the Hook&Look Tape or a Reed Switch
     
    void setup() {
      // initialize the LED pin as an output:
      pinMode(internalLED, OUTPUT);  
      pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);  
          
      // initialize the pushbutton pin as an input:
      pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT_PULLUP);   //  INPUT_PULLUP
    }
     
    void loop(){
      // read the state of the pushbutton value:
      buttonState = digitalRead(buttonPin);
     
      // check if the pushbutton is pressed.
      // if it is, the buttonState is HIGH:
      if (buttonState == HIGH) {     
        // turn LED on:    
        digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);  
        digitalWrite(internalLED, HIGH);  
      } 
      else {
        // turn LED off:
        digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); 
        digitalWrite(internalLED, LOW);  
      }
    }

Credits

Ingo Lohs

182 projects • 194 followers

I am well over 50 years and come from the middle of Germany.

Thanks to my wife, who gave me a look in the bag and Becky Stern, Adafruit.

Light in the Dark of a Handbag

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Overview

Part 1

Part 2

Conclusions

Code

Handbag

Handbag

Credits

Ingo Lohs

Comments

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Light in the Dark of a Handbag

Light in the Dark of a Handbag

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Overview

Part 1

Part 2

Conclusions

Code

Handbag

Handbag

Credits

Ingo Lohs

Comments

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