A hacked “Recordable Answer Buzzers” so our dog can tell us she wants to be let back in the house with the push of a button (“Inside!”).

 

We've been training our dog to use “Recordable Answer Buzzers” to communicate in the house. I hacked one of the buttons so the speaker and electronics could be inside the house where it's dry, and only the button is outside. This is shortly after our dog was spade, so that's why she's got a little coat on.

The exposed insides of the button and the limiter switch I originally thought I would use.
After removing the original contact switch, I soldered the grey wire directly to the contacts on the board.
To enclose the electronics, I laser cut a circle of 1/8th inch acrylic to replace what used to be the black button.
In place of the red limiter switch I originally planned to use, I used a tall, normally-open tactile button.
I used Fusion360 to design a new enclosure to house the button and tac button. Here the top half (which keeps the black button contained) is finished.
With the lower portion of the new button housing finished, I routed and soldered the wires. I put holes in the bottom of the enclosure to drain rain water and protected as much of the tac button as possible with hot glue.
The finished product before being installed at the back door.
Previous

Indoor Wind Chimes
Next

Student Management System with Raspberry Pi