How to Make a Homemade Electric Door Buzzer
Door buzzers are used in addition to a door bell or chime to announce each time someone opens a certain door or closes it. They can also be used as a type of burglar alarm buzzer or to announce someone's arrival. These types of buzzers can be used for doors and various other places such as lockers. They can be useful to catch a burglar or someone trying to steal your lunch at school. Although door buzzers can be purchased at various electronics stores, it can be more cost-efficient to make your own.
Things You'll Need
- Newspaper
- 1/2-by-1-foot plywood board
- Super glue
- 1.5-volt battery
- 1.5-volt buzzer
- Electrical tape
- Insulated wire
- Wire cutters
- Wire strippers
- Wooden clothespin
- Cardboard
- Kite string
- Hole puncher
- Scissors
Instructions
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1
Lay a piece of newspaper on a flat surface to create a work area.
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2
Use the wire cutters to cut a piece of insulated wire each one foot in length. Strip approximately two inches of insulation from each end of the first wire with wire strippers.
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3
Cut an additional two pieces of electrical wire to one foot lengths. Strip approximately four inches of insulation at one end of these wires and two inches on the other end. These will serve as the second and third.
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4
Cut a three- to five-foot piece of kite string with scissors.
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5
Place the 1/2-by-1-foot plywood board on your working area. Orient it so it is longer horizontally rather than vertically.
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Use a piece of electrical tape to secure the battery to the plywood board's upper left corner.
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Place the mini-buzzer in the upper right corner of the board and adhere it to the plywood with a piece of electrical tape.
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Join one end of the first electrical wire to the battery's positive terminal and twist the wires together. Wrap electrical tape around the wires to secure the connection.
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9
Attach the unoccupied end of the first wire to one of the terminals on the buzzer. Strip approximately and inch of insulation on the buzzer's wire terminal if the wire is insulated. Secure the connection with a piece of electrical tape.
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10
Wrap the four-inch non-insulated end of the second wire around one of the jaws of the wooden clothespin.
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Join the unoccupied end of the second wire to the battery's negative terminal and secure the connection with electrical tape.
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Wrap the four-inch non-insulated end of the third wire around the second jaw of the clothespin.
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Attach the free end of the third wire to the remaining terminal on the buzzer. Wrap electrical tape around the joints to secure the connection.
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14
Test the clothespin switch by opening and closing the pin. Pressing the two jaws together will allow the non-insulated wire ends to touch. This will sound the buzzer.
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15
Cut a two-inch by two-inch piece of cardboard. Place the cardboard between the two clothespin jaws to turn off the buzzer.
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Use super glue to secure the wooden clothespin to the bottom center of the plywood board. Position the clothespin on its flat face so the clothespin jaws can be opened and closed by pressing down on them.
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Punch a hole through one end of the cardboard piece with a hole puncher.
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Tie one end of the kite string to the cardboard by passing the string through the hole.
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Attach the opposite end of the string to the door's handle. Keep the cardboard piece between the clothespin jaws for the buzzer to remain silent.
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Place the plywood piece in an area away from the door. The string should be taut so that any door movement will pull the cardboard from the clothespin jaws. The buzzer will be activated when the cardboard is removed.
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Place the cardboard between the clothespin jaws to turn off the buzzer after it has been activated by door movement.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure that the positive and negative contacts of the battery as well as both terminals on the buzzer remain exposed when they are taped to the plywood.
Use caution when working with electrical wires and components. Wear gloves for protection to avoid potential hazards and minor skin burns.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit front door of new condominium townhome image by Amy Myers from Fotolia.com
