The MC-38 is a white wired magnetic contact reed switch kit designed for home security alarm systems, specifically for monitoring doors or windows. The kit includes a switching part and a magnetic part, each with a double-sided foam adhesive for easy installation. The plastic or metal housing protects the magnet. When the two parts are within a specified distance of each other (18mm ± 6mm), the switch will turn on or off instantly. The switch is a reed switch and pigtail and can withstand a rated voltage of 12 (V) and a switch withstand voltage of 100VDC, with a load current of 300mA.

Package Includes:

• 1 x MC-38 Wired Magnetic Sensor kit (NO)

Features:

• Easy installation: The kit comes with a double-sided foam adhesive that makes installation simple and easy. No special tools or equipment are needed to install the kit.
• Reliable performance: The reed switch in the kit is designed to provide reliable performance over time. It is able to detect the opening and closing of doors and windows accurately and consistently.
• Compact design: The kit is designed to be small and discreet, with each element measuring only 27x14x7.6mm. This makes it easy to install in a variety of locations without being noticeable.
• Durable construction: The kit is made of high-quality plastic and magnet materials that are designed to withstand the elements and provide long-lasting performance.
• Wide range of applications: The MC-38 kit is not only suitable for home security alarm systems, but also for a wide range of other applications, including access control systems, garage doors, and more.
• Versatile compatibility: The kit is compatible with a variety of alarm systems and other security equipment, making it a flexible solution for a range of security needs.
• Cost-effective: The MC-38 kit is an affordable and cost-effective solution for improving home security, making it accessible to homeowners on a budget.

Description:

The MC-38 is a magnetic contact reed switch kit designed for use in home security alarm systems. The kit is specifically designed to monitor doors or windows and consists of two parts: a switching part and a magnetic part. The switching part is a reed switch and pigtail that is connected to the alarm system. The magnetic part is a small magnet that is installed on the door or window frame, opposite the reed switch. The MC-38 kit comes with a double-sided foam adhesive that makes installation easy. Simply attach the magnetic part to the door or window frame and the switching part to the door or window itself. When the door or window is closed, the two parts come into close proximity The MC-38 kit is made of plastic and magnet material, and it comes in white color. The dimensions of each element are 27x14x7.6mm, which makes it a compact and discreet solution for home security systems. The action distance between the magnetic part and the switching part is 18mm ± 6mm, and the kit can withstand a rated voltage of 12 (V) and a switch withstand voltage of 100VDC, with a load current of 300mA.

Principle of Work:

The MC-38 white wired magnetic contact reed switch kit works by using a reed switch to detect the opening and closing of doors and windows in a home security system. Here's how it works:

1. The kit consists of two parts: a switching part and a magnetic part. The switching part is a reed switch and pigtail that is connected to the alarm system. The magnetic part is a small magnet that is installed on the door or window frame, opposite the reed switch.
2. The reed switch is a type of magnetic switch that consists of two metal contacts inside a glass tube. When a magnetic field is applied to the contacts, they are drawn together and the switch closes. When the magnetic field is removed, the contacts separate and the switch opens.
3. The magnetic part of the kit is installed on the door or window frame, opposite the reed switch. The two parts are positioned so that when the door or window is closed, the two parts come into close proximity, and the magnetic field from the magnet causes the reed switch to close.
4. When the door or window is opened, the two parts move apart, and the magnetic field is no longer present. This causes the reed switch to open, indicating to the alarm system that the door or window has been opened and the system needs to be triggered.
5. The MC-38 kit is designed to provide reliable performance over time, with the reed switch able to detect the opening and closing of doors and windows accurately and consistently.

Pinout of the Module:

The MC-38 white wired magnetic contact reed switch kit consists of two parts: the switching part and the magnetic part. The switching part, which is the reed switch and pigtail that is connected to the alarm system, has two wires, typically colored red and black.

It is important to note that the polarity of the wires does not matter for the MC-38 kit. That is, the red wire can be connected to either the positive or negative input of the alarm system, and the black wire can be connected to either the positive or negative ground of the alarm system.

Applications:

1. Home security alarm systems: The kit is commonly used as part of a home security alarm system to detect the opening and closing of doors and windows.
2. Access control systems: The kit can be used as part of an access control system to monitor the opening and closing of doors and gates.
3. Garage doors: The kit can be used to detect the opening and closing of garage doors, providing an additional layer of security for your home.
4. Lighting control systems: The kit can be used to trigger lighting control systems, turning lights on and off when doors or windows are opened and closed.
5. HVAC systems: The kit can be used to trigger HVAC systems, turning air conditioning or heating on and off when doors or windows are opened and closed.
6. Smart home automation systems: The kit can be integrated into smart home automation systems

Circuit:

Library: 

No library is needed to work with the sensor.

Code:

const int reedSwitchPin = 2; // Define the pin connected to the reed switch
const int ledPin = 13; // Define the pin connected to the LED
int reedSwitchState = 0; // Variable to store the state of the reed switch

void setup() {
  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT); // Set the LED pin as an output
  pinMode(reedSwitchPin, INPUT); // Set the reed switch pin as an input
  Serial.begin(9600); // Initialize serial communication at 9600 bits per second
}

void loop() {
  reedSwitchState = digitalRead(reedSwitchPin); // Read the state of the reed switch
  if (reedSwitchState == HIGH) { // If the reed switch is closed
    digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); // Turn on the LED
    Serial.println("Door or window closed"); // Print a message to the serial monitor
  } else { // If the reed switch is open
    digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); // Turn off the LED
    Serial.println("Door or window open"); // Print a message to the serial monitor
  }
  delay(500); // Wait for half a second before checking the reed switch again
}

• The code first declares two variables reedSwitchPin and ledPin which represent the pins to which the reed switch and the LED are connected, respectively. It also initializes a variable reedSwitchState to zero, which will be used to store the current state of the reed switch.
• In the setup() function, the code sets the ledPin as an output and the reedSwitchPin as an input using the pinMode() function. It also initializes the serial communication at a baud rate of 9600 bits per second using the Serial.begin() function.
• The loop() function reads the state of the reed switch using the digitalRead() function, which returns either HIGH or LOW depending on whether the reed switch is closed or open. If the reed switch is closed, the code turns on the LED using the digitalWrite() function and prints a message to the serial monitor saying that the door or window is closed. If the reed switch is open, the code turns off the LED using the digitalWrite() function and prints a message to the serial monitor saying that the door or window is open. The code then waits for half a second using the delay() function before checking the state of the reed switch again. This loop continues indefinitely until the program is stopped.

Technical Details: 

• Model: MC-38
• Material: Plastic + Magnet
• Color: White
• Size: 27x14x7.6mm
• Action distance: 18mm ± 6mm
• Rated voltage: 12 (V)
• Switch withstand voltage: 100VDC
• Load current: 300mA

Resources:

• Datasheet
  
  

Comparisons:

The MC-38 magnetic contact reed switch kit and optical sensors are two different types of sensors that can be used to detect the opening and closing of doors or windows in home security applications.

The MC-38 kit uses a magnetic contact reed switch that is activated by the presence or absence of a magnetic field, while optical sensors use a light source and a receiver to detect changes in light intensity caused by the opening or closing of a door or window.

Compared to optical sensors, the MC-38 kit has some advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages of the MC-38 kit:

• Simple and reliable technology: the reed switch has no moving parts, making it very reliable over time.
• Lower cost: the MC-38 kit is usually less expensive than optical sensors.
• Easy to install: the MC-38 kit comes with adhesive tape and can be installed easily on any door or window frame.

Disadvantages of the MC-38 kit:

• Limited range: the MC-38 kit has a limited range of action (18mm ± 6mm), which means that the magnet and the switch must be very close to each other for the switch to activate.
• Susceptibility to interference: the MC-38 kit can be affected by other magnetic fields in the environment, which can cause false positives or false negatives.
• Limited functionality: the MC-38 kit can only detect the opening and closing of doors or windows, and cannot be used for other applications.

Advantages of optical sensors:

• Higher range: optical sensors can detect changes in light intensity from a greater distance than the MC-38 kit can detect a magnetic field.
• Less susceptible to interference: optical sensors are less susceptible to interference from other sources, making them more reliable in noisy environments.
• Can be used for multiple applications: optical sensors can be used for various other applications such as motion detection, light sensing, etc.

Disadvantages of optical sensors:

• Higher cost: optical sensors are generally more expensive than the MC-38 kit.
• More complex technology: optical sensors use more complex technology than magnetic contact reed switches, which can make them more difficult to set up and maintain.
• Require a clear line of sight: optical sensors require a clear line of sight between the emitter and the receiver, which can limit their usefulness in certain applications where obstacles are present.