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Magnetic reed switch
This is the simple, cheap, and clever reed switch used in burglar alarm detectors (on doors and windows). The two metal contacts inside push together or apart (depending on the design of switch) when a magnet is nearby.
Devices like this also switch "clamshell" phones and laptops on and off when you open and close them.
From our article on how reed switches work.
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Magnetic reed switch
This is the simple, cheap, and clever reed switch used in burglar alarm detectors (on doors and windows). The two metal contacts inside push together or apart (depending on the design of switch) when a magnet is nearby.
Devices like this also switch "clamshell" phones and laptops on and off when you open and close them.
From our article on how reed switches work.
Our images are published under a Creative Commons Licence (see opposite) and are free for noncommercial use. We also license our images for commercial use. Please contact us directly via our website for more details.