Substituting a momentary pushbutton

I have a device (LED controller) that has a manual pushbutton to change the various files that that displays/plays. I've opened it but and its basically just a simple momentary switch that's soldered down.

Wonder what would be the recommended option to take this out and replace with

IR based switch - Can't seem to find any easy version - The only below may work but is $16 which is more than the controller
Link1

I've got a couple of teensy's laying around with IR's and remotes so I could do it myself (I think) just not sure what wiring would I do? Wiring a 5V directly to where the closed line is (as if to simulate a pushbutton for 250ms)

Any ideas?

A relay is an isolated electrically-controlled switch. So yes, you can replace the mechanical switch with a relay (as long the controlling circuit duplicates the same momentary contact).

If the pushbutton switch is normally open, you can leave the pushbutton in the circuit when you add the relay.

Thank you DVDdoug. Indeed the pushbutton switch is normally open.

A relay might work and I have some sitting around. Very easy for me to setup I think. Might be able to power the teensy or similar from the controller i'm working with.

Is there any other options other than the mechanical relay?

Just wondering how a pro would do it as i'm sure the first idea that came to me is not the most subtle or elegant solution :slight_smile:

A pro would measure the voltage across the push button. And use that information to see if a transistor or opto isolator would be a better option. He would also know a lot more about the nature of this device than you are telling us.

Thanks Grumps.

Unfortunately, my Arduino and wiring skills tenure add up to about 3 weeks. I don't have more to tell.. Not a Pro...

I can definitely measure the voltage across the pushbutton and will indeed do so.

Other than pictures of my own device, this is what I have from the uber-net

https://www.google.co.th/search?q=T-1000S&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiRw5yu-IbLAhVBQZQKHb0MBDgQsAQIGg&biw=1540&bih=830#imgrc=_

I'm wondering if maybe a picture of the innards would be better. Suffice to say there is a pushbutton that changes the sequence number to play up to 16.

I'm assuming (with my amateur assumptions) that one side is connected to 5V, the other side to GND. Once pushed, the circuit is closed and then changes program. I'd like to do that with a remote as the controller will be in my ceiling

I'm assuming (with my amateur assumptions) that one side is connected to 5V, the other side to GND.

No.
One side to ground but the other to an input and maybe a resistor up to some high voltage maybe 5.

This is how logic inputs work:-
http://www.thebox.myzen.co.uk/Tutorial/Inputs.html