# Pressure pad sensor **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [24 August 2020 10:11 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/pressure-pad-sensor/8241 "2020-08-24T10:11:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Angelo134814](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f04885/32.png) [@Angelo134814](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Angelo134814)\ **Post date:** [24 August 2020 10:11 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/pressure-pad-sensor/8241/1 "2020-08-24T10:11:34Z")
I wanted to create a pressure pad sensor to turn on some led lights I installed in my garage when I park my bike. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/core_electronics/original/2X/1/1a537dc9982df3db2e7bd7844ca8c88b29e81d9f.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Angelo134814](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f04885/32.png) [@Angelo134814](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Angelo134814)\ **Post date:** [24 August 2020 10:49 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/pressure-pad-sensor/8241/2 "2020-08-24T10:49:34Z")
Iam using a 12v 10amp power supply to power led strips, is like a circuit to activate lights when bike parks on pressure sensor and then turn off when I leave ---
**Author:** ![Bryce](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/bryce/32/3631_2.png) [@Bryce](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Bryce)\ **Post date:** [25 August 2020 01:30 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/pressure-pad-sensor/8241/3 "2020-08-25T01:30:20Z")
Hey Angelo, Excellent idea! You could use a pressure sensor here, but personally, I’d be using a PIR or ultrasonic sensor, as it’d be more reliable, and easier to interface with a microcontroller. You’ll likely want an [Arduino](https://core-electronics.com.au/uno-r3.html), [a relay](https://core-electronics.com.au/5v-single-channel-relay-module-10a.html) , and a [PIR](https://core-electronics.com.au/modmypi-pir-infrared-motion-sensor-hc-sr501.html) or [Ultrasonic Sensor](https://core-electronics.com.au/hc-sr04-ultrasonic-module-distance-measuring-sensor.html) write a simple script so that once it’s triggered the lights will turn on for a set period of time or until another trigger is reached. Bryce Core Electronics | Support ---
**Author:** ![Angelo134814](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f04885/32.png) [@Angelo134814](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Angelo134814)\ **Post date:** [25 August 2020 05:00 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/pressure-pad-sensor/8241/4 "2020-08-25T05:00:39Z")
I think for what I want a pressure sensor will work best, I’d only want it to activate if the weight of my bike is on a sensor so that it can’t get triggered by some one walking to the bench ---
**Author:** ![Bryce](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/bryce/32/3631_2.png) [@Bryce](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Bryce)\ **Post date:** [26 August 2020 04:44 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/pressure-pad-sensor/8241/5 "2020-08-26T04:44:53Z")
Hey Angelo, Ah good point, you’ll likely still need the relay and micro-controller, but you can easily combine that with an amplifier according to the tutorial linked on the product page. > **[Flexiforce Pressure Sensor - 100lbs.](https://core-electronics.com.au/flexiforce-pressure-sensor-100lbs.html)** > > This is a piezoresistive force sensor from Tekscan. The harder you press, the lower the sensor’s resistance. Pressing hard, the resistance changes from infinite to ~300k. The sensor itself is thin and flexible, but the resistance does not change... If there’s anything else that we can do for you please let us know! Bryce Core Electronics | Support ---
**Author:** ![Angelo134814](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f04885/32.png) [@Angelo134814](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Angelo134814)\ **Post date:** [27 August 2020 04:28 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/pressure-pad-sensor/8241/6 "2020-08-27T04:28:17Z")
Thanks Bryce, that setup should work out for my project Cheers ---
**Author:** ![Angelo134814](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f04885/32.png) [@Angelo134814](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Angelo134814)\ **Post date:** [25 September 2020 04:55 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/pressure-pad-sensor/8241/7 "2020-09-25T04:55:25Z")
Hi Bryce Could you resend amplifier needed for my project? ---
**Author:** ![Oliver](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/oliver/32/3315_2.png) [@Oliver](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Oliver)\ **Post date:** [25 September 2020 05:35 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/pressure-pad-sensor/8241/8 "2020-09-25T05:35:28Z")
Hi Angelo, While you can use email, I’d suggest using the forum directly. Here’s the link to Bryce’s post: [Pressure pad sensor](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/pressure-pad-sensor/8241/5) PS you wouldn’t actually need a microcontroller at all. A pressure switch or force sensitive resistor and a MOSFET are all you need: [http://tinyurl.com/y4dzawld3](http://tinyurl.com/y4dzawld3) ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/core_electronics/original/2X/e/e92f96abad7d5de9dd44589192e750cb1a7e85db.png) Regards, Oliver Support | Core Electronics ---
**Author:** ![Angelo134814](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f04885/32.png) [@Angelo134814](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Angelo134814)\ **Post date:** [3 October 2020 21:23 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/pressure-pad-sensor/8241/9 "2020-10-03T21:23:00Z")
Hi Oliver That’s really good news the simpler the project the better. Iam very new to electronics could you send me a wiring diagram with more detail and parts labelled. Angelo ---
**Author:** ![Oliver](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/oliver/32/3315_2.png) [@Oliver](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Oliver)\ **Post date:** [6 October 2020 05:53 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/pressure-pad-sensor/8241/10 "2020-10-06T05:53:24Z")
Hi Angelo, We can certainly help you get some specs for components, but that circuit above is pretty much all the specifications you need, although it’s probably wise to increase that resistor up to say 10k Ohm. Here’s a MOSFET that should work: > **[N-Channel MOSFET 60V 30A](https://core-electronics.com.au/n-channel-mosfet-60v-30a.html)** > > If you’ve ever wondered how to control the headlight of a car from a microcontroller, a MOSFET is what you need. This is a very common MOSFET with very low on-resistance and a control voltage (aka gate voltage) that is compatible with any 3-5V... Regards, Oliver Support | Core Electronics