MABA Buzzer

[TheJza]

A few years ago I built a buzzer that would beep if the button wasn't pressed. I got the idea from a book I read by C. Maxwell Cade called "The Awakened Mind." He was doing work trying to get people on the edge of being asleep and awake, and he used this buzzer to alert people when they fell asleep - the person would release the button and the buzzer would sound.

Recently I decided to make an updated version and I wrote down my steps in case anyone else would like to make one. I live in America and got all the necessary pieces for around $15.
I will link to the items so that the people outside the US will be able to see them and get a comparable one in their area. If the links don't work I have also included the part number so that you could search the Radio Shack website yourself.

Tools I used:
Scissors
Screwdriver
Hammer
Black Electrical tape

Piezo Buzzer (part # 273-059)

9 Volt Batter Connector (part # 270-324)

Slide Switch (part # 275-409)

Note: I already had this buzzer and didn't have the part # handy. I think this is the right one, since it is normally closed and will close the circuit until you press the button...
Button (part # 275-1584)

Case (part # 270-1801)

For assembly, I basically did this to complete the circuit:

From the 9V connector: Black wire connects to middle prong on switch
From the 9V connector: Red wire connects to button prong (doesn't matter which)
From Piezo Buzzer: Black wire connects to left or right prong on switch
From Piezo Buzzer: Red wire connects to button (the other prong that is unused)

Position doesn't matter when connecting the wires to the switch, all that is required is that there is one wire connected to the middle and the other wire is on the side. This sets up which position is "on" and "off."
Also, when I made a connection with the wires I surrounded any exposed wire with electrical tape to prevent the exposed wires from touching things they shouldn't be touching.

To get everything in the case I used a hammer to make a small hole and then used a screwdriver to bore the hole out. When the hole was big enough I used scissors to bore the rest. I did this for both the hole for the button and the hole for the switch. I wasn't able to close the case after I got the 9v battery plugged in, so I just used electrical tape to the close everything in. I put the button at the end of the case and the switch on the side.

I am not very skillful in this area, but I was able to make this so it shouldn't be too hard for other people to do. The hardest part was getting the holes in the case, since I don't have a drill. I would advise getting the circuit completed first so that you verify it will work, then take it apart and fit it in the case as necessary.

Disclaimer: Try at your own risk. The 9V battery shouldn't be strong enough to hurt you if you get shocked, but please be safe when trying to reproduce this.