Parakeets Controlling Lights!

When my Parakeets stand on one perch, the lights turn on! But when they get off, the lights turn off!
You need a few tools and parts including a wireless light controller, and a SPDT push button. (You need one that doesn't take much force to push) 

Yes, this is a soldering project. The soldering gun above was sold at radioshack for 5-10 USD. (It's battery operated too)



Helping Hands
Hot glue gun
Soldering gun and Solder  
Wire strippers and Cutters  

and

Wireless light controller
Wire
SPDT switch
Birds
Bird cage
Perch that folds...? (Step five explains better)
Perch

This is a wireless light controller, sold anywhere 15 USD. This can run stuff up to a max of 1500 watts! So you can plug lights in and a stereo playing special holiday music. 

Take apart the transmitter remote.
I replaced the small 12 volt battery with a Energizer 9 volt rechargeable battery. (You don't have to. I did because the 12 volt battery died)


On the other side of the PCB, mark where the four solder plates are for the two switches. (On and Off)

The SPDT switch has three pins.
When the switch is closed, pins numbered 1 and 2 connect.
When the switch is open, pins numbered 2 and 3 connect.

I soldered about a foot of wires from the switch. (this is what is going to connect to the transmitter, So when the switch is pushed, lights are on. When the switch is unpushed or open, the lights are off!) With the three wires, I winded it up and covered it in hot glue.

In the photo, the left side has a red zig zaggy line. That is showing that the two switches are connected in a way. So that is why we need only a SPDT switch. Only three pins. Not four pins. The yellow boxes show where the switch solder plates are.

The two white wires are connected to the 'ON' switch. So when the switch is being pushed, it is substituting the original 'ON' switch.
The white wire on the left and the blue wire on the bottom are for the 'OFF' switch. When the switch is released or out, the new switch is substituting for the 'OFF' switch.

I decided to put my switch below the green and orange bird accessory. ( The orange part is sort of a fold down perch. So I put the switch under it. So when the bird comes and lands on it, it pushes the switch.) The switch pushes it back up barely even.

My birds love this! I found this white bird perch. I put the white perch under the green and orange thing and marked where a good place was to put the switch. Use a little bit of hot glue to hold the switch in place.

I ran the switch wires under and in the white perch. (then down the cage)

I replaced the 12 volt battery with a Energizer rechargeable 9 volt battery. (It will run exactly the same)
Because when the switch is not pushed, it is sort of pushing and holding the 'OFF' button as long the battery is connected. I just used  mini jumper cables to connect the nine volt battery to the transmitter. You can add a SPST switch and a nine volt battery clip to make it official.

I have two parakeets.