Additional Supplies
Click the images to find the product on Amazon.
Male and Female Jacks
There are many different types of both male and female jacks available.
Wires
There are 2 major types of wires, you can click the button below to learn more about the 2 types.
I started with a pack of Stranded 22 gauge flexible silicone wire and I am towards the end of my original box.
Note: I found 22 to be a good size but there were some types of jacks that 22 was a little too thick to fit into the hole. In those cases, I usually twist them really tight or just *off a few strands and this method has worked pretty well.
Recommendations: I might consider trying 24 gauge and getting the smaller wire strippers especially since most kids toys have very thin wires inside them and you can’t really strip them with 22 gauge. It is hard for me to say for sure since I don’t own or have 24 gauge wires
Personally, I like having the wires separate and using heat shrink tube over the two wires to connect them and give the toys a more professional look. I find this easy to work with.
You can get wires that have two wires attached. These are good but can be harder to work with especially if you are just getting started or trying to fit the wire into a small space in a toy.
Supplies For Securing The Jack Into Place
Zip Ties
Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
When I want to add a little more security so that the jack is not accidentally ripped out, this is the one that I use most often.
I usually buy my zip ties from the local hardware store and or the DollarTree.
Honestly, I have had mixed results with this method. The issue I have found is that it is hard to get a tight enough pull to have the jack stay in place so I will grab some pliers in order to help me pull it tight. When I am in rush I will use this but I will also combine it with some other methods
I am also going to explain other methods for securing the jack in to place.
In general, I think hot glue sticks are useful to have around.
I will sometime use them to secure a jack into place instead of a zip tie or to secure other components. Fun fact, if you look at the inside of most toys and a lot of the commercially available switches, you will find they use hot glue to hold things in place. I also use hot glue when I am building with cardboard, which I do occasionally when creating adaptations for positioning or when making a DIY 3-4 in ONE cardboard switch.
Personally, I like the glue guns that use the thick glue-sticks. I find them better especially for working with cardboard, but they are a little more expensive.
Sugru Moldable Glue
This stuff is amazing! It is a moldable glue putty that turns into a durable, flexible silicone rubber.
This product has a ton of utility.
I use it when I do the Game Show Buzzer Switch Version 2 (details coming soon)
Ruler
I find these helpful for when I use cardboard. I like the one with cork board on the back.
I also like this ruler from the DollarTree to get a right angle.
Battery Interrupts Copper Plates
Copper Plate
I use a circuit board as my copper plates in my battery interrupts.
When I first started buying circuit board, I bought ones that were 1.5MM Thickness but these are kind of thick so I am currently trying to find a thinner option. I once received a very thin copper plate from a former co-worker, who received it from a former co-worker so where it originally came from was lost.
I think I might have found it but I have not yet ordered it and tried it out. Once I know for sure I’ll post it!
The one on top is 1.5MM and the one on the bottom is from a coworker.
There are other ways to make a copper plate for a battery interrupter but I have not yet tried them. I hope to eventually experiment with different method and let you all know the results.
Switches
I use these switches for several projects that I have done, like the Game Show Buzzer Switch Version 2 and my DIY 3-4 in ONE cardboard switch.
I have found that I tend to use the largest 3 sizes (12 x 12 x 11mm/ 12mm/ 13 mm)