stone reef
I bought a Moes Zigbee fingerbot and have been trying and failing to get it to put a capacitive button by adhering different materials to it. I've even tried cutting the rubber dome off a passive stylus which was working on its own, but once glued to the fingerbot, it no longer worked.
Any suggestions? Is there a fingerbot out there which natively supports capacitive touch?
stone reef
I've tried doing this with aluminum foil, but it hasn't worked.
https://alexmeub.com/automating-capacitive-buttons-with-switchbot/
Do I need to actually buy some metallic tape?
wheat vale
Connect the aluminum foil to a large metal object using a wire
dark helm
I've tried doing this with aluminum foil, but it hasn't worked.
https://alexmeu...
wire the tin foil to ground or earth
stone reef
wire the tin foil to ground or earth
Not possible. There are no nearby outlets.
dark helm
Not possible. There are no nearby outlets.
try using the DC ground of the device itself
stone reef
Connect the aluminum foil to a large metal object using a wire
How large are we talking? Like an Altoids tin or a dumbbell?
stone reef
try using the DC ground of the device itself
The device itself is fixed into the wall and its leads are inaccessible.
dark helm
from the switchbot?
stone reef
from the switchbot?
Oh, no. I thought you meant the thing I'm pushing the button of.
The fingerbot I bought is from Moes.
dark helm
could try a random battery, tape it to the device and wire the negative to the tin foil
stone reef
How would that be any different than the trick already being done with the aluminum foil strip connecting to the negative lead of the battery within the fingerbot?
dark helm
most likely no real difference
one might be easier than the other
you could maybe put a coin cell on the fingerbot instead of tin foil with negitive towards the button too
then of variations on the idea
stone reef
Hmm, I'll give that a try.
stone reef
you could maybe put a coin cell on the fingerbot instead of tin foil with negiti...
Just tried with a CR1632. Didn't work.
dark helm
dam, could try with something bigger, a aa wired to the foil or something
what is the device in question?
stone reef
Intercom / buzzer system for my apartment
I'm specifically trying to push the key button
AA didn't work
I think I'm just going to give up. 😕
I can't believe the only option on the market is the Adaprox Fingerbot Touch, and it uses Bluetooth of all things. So dumb.
dark helm
i am guessing opening up the panel is a no go?
stone reef
I don't think I can non-destructively.
dark helm
how does it work? is it hardwired? if you can get it off the wall could you replace it with something custom?
stone reef
Yeah, it's hardwired. I have no clue how it was mounted on. I can't see any way to remove it non-destructively.
And I'm a renter anyway. That would be a hair too far.
dark helm
gotcha
seen someone suggest piece of conductive foam (that some electronics are shipped on)
wheat vale
Use a wire and touch it - just to test if that approach works
stone reef
Use a wire and touch it - just to test if that approach works
Yes, I set it off accidentally many times doing exactly this.
dark helm
could your thing that your pressing it with be "fat fingering" other touch points?
stone reef
Definitely not. The buttons are all far apart
And it accepts simultaneous inputs anyway so far as I can tell
dark helm
tape a wire (which is smaller and more specific) to it and use the fingerbot to touch the other end of wire instead of the device itsellf. you get a bit of extra capacitance from the wire. try doing that touching it to a battery ground
wheat vale
As it's a capacitive sensor you need something with some electric capacity. A small piece of foil has none. A battery doesn't either. Try a metal pot or something like that
dark helm
As it's a capacitive sensor you need something with some electric capacity. A sm...
either that or or something that changes the way it reads by other means. pulling it to a 0v can do this if its floating
stone reef
As it's a capacitive sensor you need something with some electric capacity. A sm...
My big metal ladle works. I electrically isolated myself from it.
dark helm
3 days later:
"sir, why is there a ladle tapef to the wall with a wire attached to it?"
stone reef
Even my active stylus doesn't work. Obviously this button demands an absurd amount of capacitance. This may just not be realistic to do.
dark helm
okay so long shot idea
it may have been cleaned with some kind of cleaning product that left an invisible residue and is messing with capacitance
do you have some isopropyl or something?
clean it with that then try again and see if its any "easier"
some cleaning products have been known to mess with capacitors, in strange edge case situations
stone reef
Hmm, not a bad thought.
No isopropyl, but I have glass cleaner. Do you think that's okay?
wheat vale
The stylus only works when you're touching it. Without something with significant electrical capacity it won't work
dark helm
Hmm, not a bad thought.
No isopropyl, but I have glass cleaner. Do you think th...
depends what it actually is.
stone reef
depends what it actually is.
No clue. It just indicates a fresh lemony scent.
dark helm
lol
stone reef
I also have apricot schnapps
dark helm
its probably safe in that it wont harm the device, but not sure how helpful it will be
acetone?
nail vanish remover
stone reef
Nope
stone reef
Drain cleaner, wood varnish, WD-40, and unknown other chemicals
dark helm
nah, you want something neutral
if your reaching give up status anyway. you could try picking up some isopropyl to try it in the future. its useful stuff to have around anyway
stone reef
Tried the glass cleaner. No change.
Yeah, I should get some isopropyl anyway. I'll get some and try give it a wipe down with it.
Thank you for trying
dark helm
no worries, i hope you get it working the way you want it. i am pretty much out of ideas at this point though
ancient sparrow
Hey! I am just exactly having the same issue as I try to activate my air-cleaner which has the buttons on top. I will post if I got a working solution