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Tilt Orientation and shock Sensor SW420 Blue

Tilt Orientation and shock Sensor SW420 Blue

The SW-420 Tilt Sensor is a simple yet effective orientation and shock detection module. It is widely used in electronics projects, especially in theft alarms, earthquake detectors, and tilt-based interactive systems. This rolling-ball switch-type sensor operates as a digital switch depending on its angle or vibration, making it ideal for motion-based triggers.

Package Includes:

  • 1 × SW-420 Tilt Orientation and Shock Sensor

Tilt Orientation Module
1.05 AED 1.05 AED (Tax included)

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Features:

  • Operating Voltage: 3.3V – 5V
  • Low current consumption (typically 25mA)
  • Easy to interface with microcontrollers like Arduino
  • Compact, reliable, and cost-effective
  • Durable and waterproof sealed design

Principle of Operation:

The SW-420 operates as a single-roller induction trigger switch. When at rest or upright, the internal conductive balls maintain a closed circuit. On tilting or vibrating the sensor, the internal contacts are disrupted, generating a brief pulse or breaking the circuit. This signal is used as a digital input trigger in electronic systems.

It reacts when tilted more than 15° from horizontal. If tilted toward terminal A, the circuit opens (OFF); if tilted toward terminal C, it closes (ON).

How Tilt Sensor Works

Pinout of SW-420 Module:

SW-420 Module Pinout

  • VCC: Power supply (3.3V–5V)
  • GND: Ground
  • DO: Digital Output

You may use the sensor's two legs as a basic switch without polarity sensitivity.

Applications:

  • Theft Alarm Systems
  • Earthquake Alarms
  • Motorcycle or Vehicle Vibration Detectors
  • Smart Toys and Gadgets

Circuit Example with Arduino UNO:

Connect the tilt sensor to digital pin 4 and an LED to digital pin 12 through a 220Ω resistor. Upload the following code and observe how the LED reacts to tilting or vibrating the sensor.

Tilt Sensor Circuit

Code Example:


int ledPin = 12;
int sensorPin = 4;
int sensorValue;
int lastTiltState = HIGH;

long lastDebounceTime = 0;
long debounceDelay = 50;

void setup(){
  pinMode(sensorPin, INPUT);
  digitalWrite(sensorPin, HIGH);
  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop(){
  sensorValue = digitalRead(sensorPin);

  if (sensorValue == lastTiltState) {
    lastDebounceTime = millis();
  }

  if ((millis() - lastDebounceTime) > debounceDelay) {
    lastTiltState = sensorValue;
  }

  digitalWrite(ledPin, lastTiltState);
  Serial.println(sensorValue);
  delay(500);
}

Technical Specifications:

  • Voltage: < 12V
  • Current: < 20mA
  • Conductive Time: Approx. 1s
  • Closed Resistance: 0–200Ω
  • Open Resistance: >10MΩ
  • Temperature Range: -40°C to 80°C
  • Humidity: 95% RH @ 40°C for 96h
  • Terminal Pull Strength: 500gf for 1 min
  • Operating Lifespan: Over 1,000,000 cycles

Comparison with Other Tilt Sensors:

  • Ball-in-Cage Switches: Use a solid metal ball for contact. Less affected by vibration due to heavier construction.
  • Mercury Tilt Switches: Use mercury to make contact. High vibration resistance but are now discouraged due to mercury's toxicity.