tk26:
I need to notify my arduino when I open the lid of a box, wondering what is the best way to go about this?I was thinking maybe some type of magnet setup but it would probably be much simpler to just have a button on the box that the lid presses on when it is closed. Any suggestions on the type of button I will need (what it's called)?
In terms of the code, using a magnet and a reed switch would be identical to a push button. The hardware might be a little more expensive but again not really more complicated to install or use. There is one slight advantage a magnet and reed switch have over a push button is it would be less likely to give a false closed reading, since it's more probable for the button to accidently be pushed while the lid is open than to have another magnet be waved near the reed switch. Even then it might not be a worthwhile difference, depending upon if limiting these kind of false readings is important in your project.