Help with pit on home arena

[mlg678]

Hi all, so I've eventually got round to finishing 2 ant weight robots for my eldest boy/me! Also I've built an arena and was looking to get it finished for Christmas.

But now have thought that adding a pit activated by a push button would be cool. Not knowing a lot/anything about electrics was wondering if anyone could help me? Was thinking some sort of push button that releases a lock powered by batteries....? Any links to parts would be great to.

Thanks Mike

[peterwaller]

The biggest problem with a pit is getting it completely flush so the antweight robots don't catch on the join.
If you can do that just a simple bowden cable glued along the underside of the arena so the inner sticks out and supports the flap in the closed position but retracts enough to release it when pulled should do the job.

[mlg678]

Hi thanks for replying. Yeah was thinking just a bolt catch or something simple for the minute but just wondered if anyone could suggest anything electronic switch and button and how to wire it up ( would I need a circuit board? As I said I don't know much about electronics ).

https://m.aliexpress.com/s/item/3281562 ... 4bde5CpRTZ

Wondered if something like this would work?


Thanks Mike

[peterwaller]

That solenoid should work if the weight of the flap is not excessive.
You would need to connect it to a 9 to 12 v DC power source, capable of supplying 1 A, with a simple 2 Amp push button switch which is normally open in series with it.
I would suggest a non latching switch as they seem to recommend not connecting power for more than 10 seconds at a time.

[mlg678]

Ok thanks for the help. I'll buy one of those switches and see if the robot can push it.

Thanks Mike