Touch Switch

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A touch switch is a switch that is turned on and off by touching a wire contact, instead of flicking a lever like a regular switch. Touch switches have no mechanical parts to wear out, so they last a lot longer than regular switches. Touch switches can be used in places where regular switches would not last, such as wet or very dusty areas.

Schematic

Parts

Part	Total Qty.	Description	Substitutions
C1	1	10uF 16V Electrolytic Capacitor
R1, R2	2	100K 1/4 Watt Resistor
R3	1	10 Meg 1/4 Watt Resistor
U1	1	4011 CMOS NAND Gate IC
MISC	1	Board, Wire, Socket For U1

Notes

The contacts an be made with just two loops of wire close together, or two squares etched close together on a PC board.

When activated, the output of the circuit goes high for about one second. This pulse can be used to drive a relay, transistor, other logic, etc.

You can vary the length of the output pulse by using a smaller or larger capacitor for C1.

Related Circuits

Comments

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Dave Touch Switch Sunday, March 17, 2013 1:10:05 PM

The touch plate works great but it turn something on for as long as you hold it, so it is not a switch.

anonymous Touch Switch Friday, July 06, 2012 12:53:04 PM

Is there a way to make the switch work with a 40 volt power supply. I have LED's that are installed in series and they require around 40 volts.

jay Touch Switch Tuesday, March 09, 2010 8:00:02 AM

i need help!!!!!! how will be the out put taken and how will be the in put given their is only one out put terminal if i want connect a led how can i connect and a switch needs a input supply where should i give in put can i use ic7400 for nand gate please help me its urgent thank u

anonymous Touch Switch Saturday, February 06, 2010 10:28:44 PM

I need this to work with batteries... 3.7v, 6v, and 7.2v... all pushing up to 2amps. How can I configure this to work with all three situations?

Godofredo Gregorio Jr. Touch Switch Monday, June 15, 2009 11:27:16 PM

It's so useful. We can use it in many different way. It can be a touch switch to a 220volt lamp with a 220volt, 5amp relay connected at the output of the circiut. It's great in everyday use.... JonjonGregorio-Philippines

anonymous Touch Switch Monday, February 16, 2009 11:21:20 AM

what the output is going to be?? can i put an led to know if the circuit is working or not?? does the circuit working by touching wires by fingers or what?? any one knows the answers, please tell me cuz i am doing this device at the moment. thnks alot.

cuan Touch Switch Monday, February 16, 2009 11:08:33 AM

can i make a touch switch using two scr??? if can then how does it work. and the circuit only power by dc voltage so i have a hard time to turn off the scr.. only one touch switch is needed and the touch switch use to turn and off the bulb

anonymous Touch Switch Tuesday, December 23, 2008 10:02:21 AM

What am i going to do inorder to make the touch switch just like any other ordinary switches which "on" state is permanent unless it is turned off???

gardenyu Touch Switch Friday, November 07, 2008 5:17:59 PM

I wonder where can I buy a fairly big touch switch? ( about 1 to 2 inch diameter)?

anonymous Touch Switch Monday, October 27, 2008 3:59:51 AM

i was thinking about adding one of these touch switches to my shaved door handles, so all you do isun lock the car and hit the touch switch . probally mount it behind a window or where the door handle used to be.

jazk Touch Switch Thursday, October 09, 2008 1:56:26 PM

anybody know about this title "touch switch" ...what the function and what use for this...?

Bee Touch switch ....Main supply detection Tuesday, September 16, 2008 11:03:09 AM

Great job and works right away ! I need to get an image of the main supply (220V- 110V 50/60Hz)but do not have an access to the hot wires....just the isolated cable I need to get the Freq (not a Pb) but also the phase (Zero crossing detector) on rising edge.... any idea ?????

sadu Touch Switch on/off relay Tuesday, September 09, 2008 4:49:52 AM

I wante a touch switch on/off relat circuit digram I use the power audio amp on/off controol

anonymous Touch Switch Saturday, August 02, 2008 10:17:36 AM

Most integrated circuit pin-outs plus all other data may be found just by typing the device number into your web browser. Then select the actual device from the lists shown- Bingo

Mike Touch Switch Tuesday, June 24, 2008 6:38:52 PM

I might be the only one on this site that doesnt really know what to look for when it comes to what I am needing. I am trying to put touch sensors in my show car for different app. Could you let me know exactly what Id need to do this project. If possible to help me in any way I will reffer your site/co. as sponsers of my projects. All Im asking is for guidence. Please let me know what you can do for me Thank you.

anonymous Touch Switch Tuesday, May 06, 2008 11:20:58 AM

great job.....can i put a led in the output so that the led turns on when i touch the circuit???? thankss

istiak Pin configuration of NAND gate Tuesday, April 01, 2008 2:41:23 PM

Very nice design. But i need to know the pin-configuration of NAND gate IC. Help me please...

kartik Touch Switch Tuesday, March 18, 2008 10:35:29 AM

very usefull

anonymous Touch Switch Friday, March 07, 2008 4:10:39 AM

nice work!!! well i'm trying to make a touch alarm using 16f84,, but i got confused on its code... could anyone show me where to find such codes for my pic.... the output is only a siren and 1ed,,,thanks....!

Alan Touch Switch to earth !!!!! Monday, February 25, 2008 4:30:15 AM

Hi does anyone out there know how to make the output of this device switch to ground instead of a voltage out ?? I just need a circuit that is momentary switched to earth while touched by a finger. a touch momentary close and reset. I just cant find a simple circuit to do this one and its driving me nuts. Thanks Alan

Nate Bailey Touch Switch Monday, February 11, 2008 9:57:43 PM

i have a model L-500A touch lamp control and i clearly have a resistor that has had the smoke let out of it, i need one that has the smoke in it. the problem is, is that its burnt and i cant make out the color markings on the resistor. i know its R4 but thats it. everything else cheked out ok.

eric Touch Switch Friday, January 04, 2008 8:34:42 PM

great job!!!im looking for touch switch conect to relay that trigger on/off. regards, eric

Alex Touch Switch Monday, December 31, 2007 7:37:31 AM

I am not familiar with 4011 CMOS NAND Gate IC, could you make the actual drawing of this IC showing all the pins in your diagram.

Lee lor electronic circuits Tuesday, December 18, 2007 4:32:02 PM

Hi, do you have all of these parts for the Touch Switch circuits, and if you do, how would I order it from you or where can I get these parts.

Fery all project Sunday, December 16, 2007 7:55:03 AM

Let me introduce my self, my name is fery Irawan, i'm from indonesian great job man!!!very cool, keep your project move to the next way. thank's for the schematic man,it's very simple but usefull&powerfull than other complex schematic.it's very intrested.

Lenra Touch Switch Tuesday, November 13, 2007 8:49:37 AM

is this circuit has plate "A" and plate "B" to be touched? or only one plate?

Hugh Lambert Touch sensitive LED dimmer Monday, November 12, 2007 11:12:10 AM

Could anyone help?? I am trying to fing out how to dim an array of LEDs by means of a touch sensitive ring. It could be a directly increasing/decreasing system or one that steps up in brightness a bit like the domestic lamps. Please help!!

mgk Touch Switch Monday, October 29, 2007 11:35:26 AM

its a very good project . it is quite easy and simple. i recommend all to view this website for good and easy projects.

Pedro Cesar Touch Switch for 127V Thursday, October 25, 2007 1:03:37 PM

hey dude, how r u ? amazing website, lots of good projects.. thanx for sharing w/ us ! i want to find a touch switch for 127 & 220... do you have some project ? thanx - Pedro - Brazil

Bobby Touch Switch Friday, October 12, 2007 11:50:05 AM

Am looking for touch screen technolog options that can be integrated in switch design. I know capacitance is one technology - also looking for simpler alternatives.

opaw Touch Switch Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:51:18 AM

do you have other designs than this one which uses a ttl ics rather than cmos ics?cud u send one to me pls......tnx............

saran Touch Switch Saturday, September 29, 2007 10:52:20 AM

this switch is useful for me

RickH Touch Switch Thursday, September 27, 2007 11:57:01 AM

Can this design be adapted for 3V operation? Is there a standby-current drain? if so, can this be minimized? I need the design to activate only when the sensors are touched and to shut off when they are not touched, seems like this works with this design. In other words whether it is touched for 1 second or 10 minutes, the light will stay on as long as there is skin contact.

ramesh Touch Switch Tuesday, September 25, 2007 6:35:33 AM

i want more projects like this because i will try everything in home and teach to the students so i need help from you people also

nIkhil Touch Switch Friday, September 07, 2007 10:36:17 AM

how to connect a relay to this circuit .. pls reply.. iam at a beginer.. pls help out...

chandan Touch Switch Thursday, August 30, 2007 2:52:54 AM

can u please give the description about this project and wht is the probability of woking?

raghavendra Touch Switch Thursday, August 23, 2007 1:37:02 AM

please send me the theory behind it to design..

sushma Touch Switch Sunday, August 19, 2007 9:53:18 AM

can u please provide the description of concept behind it for my project. mail it .

dave Touch Switch Saturday, August 18, 2007 12:14:06 AM

Can this circuit use as rain alarm or rain detector? How? thanks...

Hans-J_DK Touch Switch Sunday, August 12, 2007 5:55:44 PM

In order to make this circuit able to latch, let the output pulse drive the clk-pulse on a JK-flipflop configured to toggle. Like this you can use this circuit to turn on and off using the outputs from the flipflop.

Daniel Touch Switch Saturday, June 30, 2007 12:51:40 AM

Thank You the circuit works great I am using it in a magic trick

srinivasan 7 segment led connect to PIC microcontroller with c coding Thursday, June 21, 2007 7:17:44 AM

i am Srinivasan. I was tried with 7 segment led display interfacing with PIC micro controller by using c language. If any body knows please send me those details.

sehrish Touch Switch Monday, June 11, 2007 10:59:52 AM

this link has no complete discription!!!

USY Kazz Touch Switch using NAND Gate Tuesday, June 05, 2007 1:24:23 PM

i need this document for my project, Pleace kindly do me a favour and send this material to my mail.

kachcha Touch Switch Sunday, June 03, 2007 2:35:02 PM

i want some circuits like this.

anonylakshminarayanamous Touch Switch Thursday, May 17, 2007 3:46:57 AM

how can i test it

afghnonymous Touch Switch Thursday, April 05, 2007 5:15:48 AM

can i put a LED at output,that show it work or no?

afghnonymous Touch Switch Thursday, April 05, 2007 5:10:42 AM

how can I test it?

anonymous Touch Switch Monday, March 26, 2007 4:21:50 PM

Is there any way that you could make the output of the circuit latch on?

anonymous Touch Switch Wednesday, March 21, 2007 9:41:26 AM

how can i use five touch switches and five output load (say LED) such that when switch 2 is at logic state 1 ,LED 2 is high while LED 1 is low.when LED 3 is at logic level 1,LED 2 becomes low etc.Each touch switches 1,2,3.....corresponds to LED 1,2,3 .....respectively. Note; all the switching actions is automatic

D133710n RE: Touch Switch Thursday, March 08, 2007 11:32:39 AM

I built this project and I could not make it work. The reason I think is: 2) The resistance in my finger seems to rang from 800k to 10m ohms. 1) I used a 7400 as a substitute becaues thats all I had. But when I get the time I would like to make this work and I rather not make my design due to the fact I seem to fry every chip I get my hands on.

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Dave	Touch Switch	Sunday, March 17, 2013 1:10:05 PM
The touch plate works great but it turn something on for as long as you hold it, so it is not a switch.
anonymous	Touch Switch	Friday, July 06, 2012 12:53:04 PM
Is there a way to make the switch work with a 40 volt power supply. I have LED's that are installed in series and they require around 40 volts.
jay	Touch Switch	Tuesday, March 09, 2010 8:00:02 AM
i need help!!!!!! how will be the out put taken and how will be the in put given their is only one out put terminal if i want connect a led how can i connect and a switch needs a input supply where should i give in put can i use ic7400 for nand gate please help me its urgent thank u
anonymous	Touch Switch	Saturday, February 06, 2010 10:28:44 PM
I need this to work with batteries... 3.7v, 6v, and 7.2v... all pushing up to 2amps. How can I configure this to work with all three situations?
Godofredo Gregorio Jr.	Touch Switch	Monday, June 15, 2009 11:27:16 PM
It's so useful. We can use it in many different way. It can be a touch switch to a 220volt lamp with a 220volt, 5amp relay connected at the output of the circiut. It's great in everyday use.... JonjonGregorio-Philippines
anonymous	Touch Switch	Monday, February 16, 2009 11:21:20 AM
what the output is going to be?? can i put an led to know if the circuit is working or not?? does the circuit working by touching wires by fingers or what?? any one knows the answers, please tell me cuz i am doing this device at the moment. thnks alot.
cuan	Touch Switch	Monday, February 16, 2009 11:08:33 AM
can i make a touch switch using two scr??? if can then how does it work. and the circuit only power by dc voltage so i have a hard time to turn off the scr.. only one touch switch is needed and the touch switch use to turn and off the bulb
anonymous	Touch Switch	Tuesday, December 23, 2008 10:02:21 AM
What am i going to do inorder to make the touch switch just like any other ordinary switches which "on" state is permanent unless it is turned off???
gardenyu	Touch Switch	Friday, November 07, 2008 5:17:59 PM
I wonder where can I buy a fairly big touch switch? ( about 1 to 2 inch diameter)?
anonymous	Touch Switch	Monday, October 27, 2008 3:59:51 AM
i was thinking about adding one of these touch switches to my shaved door handles, so all you do isun lock the car and hit the touch switch . probally mount it behind a window or where the door handle used to be.
jazk	Touch Switch	Thursday, October 09, 2008 1:56:26 PM
anybody know about this title "touch switch" ...what the function and what use for this...?
Bee	Touch switch ....Main supply detection	Tuesday, September 16, 2008 11:03:09 AM
Great job and works right away ! I need to get an image of the main supply (220V- 110V 50/60Hz)but do not have an access to the hot wires....just the isolated cable I need to get the Freq (not a Pb) but also the phase (Zero crossing detector) on rising edge.... any idea ?????
sadu	Touch Switch on/off relay	Tuesday, September 09, 2008 4:49:52 AM
I wante a touch switch on/off relat circuit digram I use the power audio amp on/off controol
anonymous	Touch Switch	Saturday, August 02, 2008 10:17:36 AM
Most integrated circuit pin-outs plus all other data may be found just by typing the device number into your web browser. Then select the actual device from the lists shown- Bingo
Mike	Touch Switch	Tuesday, June 24, 2008 6:38:52 PM
I might be the only one on this site that doesnt really know what to look for when it comes to what I am needing. I am trying to put touch sensors in my show car for different app. Could you let me know exactly what Id need to do this project. If possible to help me in any way I will reffer your site/co. as sponsers of my projects. All Im asking is for guidence. Please let me know what you can do for me Thank you.
anonymous	Touch Switch	Tuesday, May 06, 2008 11:20:58 AM
great job.....can i put a led in the output so that the led turns on when i touch the circuit???? thankss
istiak	Pin configuration of NAND gate	Tuesday, April 01, 2008 2:41:23 PM
Very nice design. But i need to know the pin-configuration of NAND gate IC. Help me please...
kartik	Touch Switch	Tuesday, March 18, 2008 10:35:29 AM
very usefull
anonymous	Touch Switch	Friday, March 07, 2008 4:10:39 AM
nice work!!! well i'm trying to make a touch alarm using 16f84,, but i got confused on its code... could anyone show me where to find such codes for my pic.... the output is only a siren and 1ed,,,thanks....!
Alan	Touch Switch to earth !!!!!	Monday, February 25, 2008 4:30:15 AM
Hi does anyone out there know how to make the output of this device switch to ground instead of a voltage out ?? I just need a circuit that is momentary switched to earth while touched by a finger. a touch momentary close and reset. I just cant find a simple circuit to do this one and its driving me nuts. Thanks Alan
Nate Bailey	Touch Switch	Monday, February 11, 2008 9:57:43 PM
i have a model L-500A touch lamp control and i clearly have a resistor that has had the smoke let out of it, i need one that has the smoke in it. the problem is, is that its burnt and i cant make out the color markings on the resistor. i know its R4 but thats it. everything else cheked out ok.
eric	Touch Switch	Friday, January 04, 2008 8:34:42 PM
great job!!!im looking for touch switch conect to relay that trigger on/off. regards, eric
Alex	Touch Switch	Monday, December 31, 2007 7:37:31 AM
I am not familiar with 4011 CMOS NAND Gate IC, could you make the actual drawing of this IC showing all the pins in your diagram.
Lee lor	electronic circuits	Tuesday, December 18, 2007 4:32:02 PM
Hi, do you have all of these parts for the Touch Switch circuits, and if you do, how would I order it from you or where can I get these parts.
Fery	all project	Sunday, December 16, 2007 7:55:03 AM
Let me introduce my self, my name is fery Irawan, i'm from indonesian great job man!!!very cool, keep your project move to the next way. thank's for the schematic man,it's very simple but usefull&powerfull than other complex schematic.it's very intrested.
Lenra	Touch Switch	Tuesday, November 13, 2007 8:49:37 AM
is this circuit has plate "A" and plate "B" to be touched? or only one plate?
Hugh Lambert	Touch sensitive LED dimmer	Monday, November 12, 2007 11:12:10 AM
Could anyone help?? I am trying to fing out how to dim an array of LEDs by means of a touch sensitive ring. It could be a directly increasing/decreasing system or one that steps up in brightness a bit like the domestic lamps. Please help!!
mgk	Touch Switch	Monday, October 29, 2007 11:35:26 AM
its a very good project . it is quite easy and simple. i recommend all to view this website for good and easy projects.
Pedro Cesar	Touch Switch for 127V	Thursday, October 25, 2007 1:03:37 PM
hey dude, how r u ? amazing website, lots of good projects.. thanx for sharing w/ us ! i want to find a touch switch for 127 & 220... do you have some project ? thanx - Pedro - Brazil
Bobby	Touch Switch	Friday, October 12, 2007 11:50:05 AM
Am looking for touch screen technolog options that can be integrated in switch design. I know capacitance is one technology - also looking for simpler alternatives.
opaw	Touch Switch	Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:51:18 AM
do you have other designs than this one which uses a ttl ics rather than cmos ics?cud u send one to me pls......tnx............
saran	Touch Switch	Saturday, September 29, 2007 10:52:20 AM
this switch is useful for me
RickH	Touch Switch	Thursday, September 27, 2007 11:57:01 AM
Can this design be adapted for 3V operation? Is there a standby-current drain? if so, can this be minimized? I need the design to activate only when the sensors are touched and to shut off when they are not touched, seems like this works with this design. In other words whether it is touched for 1 second or 10 minutes, the light will stay on as long as there is skin contact.
ramesh	Touch Switch	Tuesday, September 25, 2007 6:35:33 AM
i want more projects like this because i will try everything in home and teach to the students so i need help from you people also
nIkhil	Touch Switch	Friday, September 07, 2007 10:36:17 AM
how to connect a relay to this circuit .. pls reply.. iam at a beginer.. pls help out...
chandan	Touch Switch	Thursday, August 30, 2007 2:52:54 AM
can u please give the description about this project and wht is the probability of woking?
raghavendra	Touch Switch	Thursday, August 23, 2007 1:37:02 AM
please send me the theory behind it to design..
sushma	Touch Switch	Sunday, August 19, 2007 9:53:18 AM
can u please provide the description of concept behind it for my project. mail it .
dave	Touch Switch	Saturday, August 18, 2007 12:14:06 AM
Can this circuit use as rain alarm or rain detector? How? thanks...
Hans-J_DK	Touch Switch	Sunday, August 12, 2007 5:55:44 PM
In order to make this circuit able to latch, let the output pulse drive the clk-pulse on a JK-flipflop configured to toggle. Like this you can use this circuit to turn on and off using the outputs from the flipflop.
Daniel	Touch Switch	Saturday, June 30, 2007 12:51:40 AM
Thank You the circuit works great I am using it in a magic trick
srinivasan	7 segment led connect to PIC microcontroller with c coding	Thursday, June 21, 2007 7:17:44 AM
i am Srinivasan. I was tried with 7 segment led display interfacing with PIC micro controller by using c language. If any body knows please send me those details.
sehrish	Touch Switch	Monday, June 11, 2007 10:59:52 AM
this link has no complete discription!!!
USY Kazz	Touch Switch using NAND Gate	Tuesday, June 05, 2007 1:24:23 PM
i need this document for my project, Pleace kindly do me a favour and send this material to my mail.
kachcha	Touch Switch	Sunday, June 03, 2007 2:35:02 PM
i want some circuits like this.
anonylakshminarayanamous	Touch Switch	Thursday, May 17, 2007 3:46:57 AM
how can i test it
afghnonymous	Touch Switch	Thursday, April 05, 2007 5:15:48 AM
can i put a LED at output,that show it work or no?
afghnonymous	Touch Switch	Thursday, April 05, 2007 5:10:42 AM
how can I test it?
anonymous	Touch Switch	Monday, March 26, 2007 4:21:50 PM
Is there any way that you could make the output of the circuit latch on?
anonymous	Touch Switch	Wednesday, March 21, 2007 9:41:26 AM
how can i use five touch switches and five output load (say LED) such that when switch 2 is at logic state 1 ,LED 2 is high while LED 1 is low.when LED 3 is at logic level 1,LED 2 becomes low etc.Each touch switches 1,2,3.....corresponds to LED 1,2,3 .....respectively. Note; all the switching actions is automatic
D133710n	RE: Touch Switch	Thursday, March 08, 2007 11:32:39 AM
I built this project and I could not make it work. The reason I think is: 2) The resistance in my finger seems to rang from 800k to 10m ohms. 1) I used a 7400 as a substitute becaues thats all I had. But when I get the time I would like to make this work and I rather not make my design due to the fact I seem to fry every chip I get my hands on.