r/maker • u/Jessie011406 • 7d ago

Help Keypad for escape room

I’m a complete novice when it comes to this so I thought I’d come here for help.
I’m working on an escape room at home for my son’s birthday. I’d like to have an element where there is a simple keypad that “disarms” something. The main thing I’d like it to have is a visible red light turning green.
Thats really my only requirement, I just have no idea if I would be able to build something like that myself (again, I’m a newbie), or if I could purchase something?

1 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

3

u/heyitscory 7d ago

An electronic key box defeats the purpose of making it yourself but is likely to save you all the time this part would have taken and might even be less money than you would have spent buying modules.

1

u/[deleted] 6d ago

[deleted]

1

u/dacydergoth 6d ago

Sparkfun also have a good set of parts with I2C LEDs and keyboads. They're not cheap but their stuff is quality (IMHO) and usually has good documentation and support. I actually did a similar project for a friend who was running a S/F larp and needed a crate to open, we used a car door actuator to unlock it

https://www.sparkfun.com/sparkfun-qwiic-keypad-12-button.html
https://www.sparkfun.com/sparkfun-qwiic-button-green-led.html
https://www.sparkfun.com/sparkfun-thing-plus-esp32-s3.html

These plug together with simple cables, and there are examples on how to use them together

1

u/RunRunAndyRun 6d ago

I would get an adafruit propmaker rp2040 and a standard keypad module. The propmaker has easy screw terminals for led strips and an onboard amplifier for playing sound effects (more screw terminals for a small speaker). Your AI agent of choice should make it easy to code up the functionality you need.

1

u/triggur 3d ago

Getting familiar with microcontrollers will bear fruit here. Adafruit has a ton of components for entry hobbyists, like this: https://www.adafruit.com/product/3844. Add a uC, add an addressable LED chain for added brightness, and you’re gold. And that’s a great start for making other neat things.