Switch Board by Martin Andersen (Gimmick Not Included)

This "gadget" has been a fetish toy for many magicians and has become a collector's item. Quite a few different versions have existed, but their appearance and presentation often relegate them to an electronic novelty or puzzle. Few versions are truly magical.

At IDEAA Lab we have set two goals: reduce electronics until it almost disappears and provide powerful magic.

The classic

The "magic switch box" or "magic switch board" is an effect created decades ago, with some switches and lights bulbs of different colors. The wiring is visible, it is obvious which switch turns which light bulb.

The magic begins when the colors of the bulbs are mixed, but still each switch turns on the bulb of its corresponding color, even though the electrical connections do not match.

The classic versions only allowed the basic effect: mix the colors of the bulbs.

New versions came out, which allowed some different effects, but always perform the same routine. For some that routine may be a bit long, for others it falls short or does not fit. Nor can it be repeated for the same audience, since the same effects occur and in the same order.

The main disadvantage is that the audience often has the feeling that there is something hidden that controls the operation, and most versions have parts that are not visible or suspicious. That is why many times it seems more like a novelty or a puzzle and rarely feels magical.

Improvements

It is not a new effect and there are already several versions on the market. What is special about the Switch Board?

• Our version is the smallest we could ever imagine: an electronic circuit only 1.6mm thick. Soldered to the circuit are 4 switches, 4 bulb holders and a battery holder. There is no room to hide anything!

• We have thought of a powerful and magical ending that will leave the audience stunned.

• It brings 2 easy-to-perform pre-recorded routines, and the possibility of creating 3 more routines to your liking. This allows to have 5 routines in the same circuit, being able to use the one you want at any time. You can show the Switch Board to the same audience but with a different routine.

• It offers 7 different effects that you can choose to make your own routines.

• Our bulbs are LED (low power consumption and longer lifespan), they are large and with a light diffuser. This allows the light to be seen perfectly from any angle.

• The program that controls the entire operation of the Switch Board is open source. That means you can modify it to as you want and reprogram your circuit to change its operation if you know how and feel like it.

Routines and effects

The circuit allows you to have 5 different routines. Two of them are programmed, one is basic, and the other is intermediate. So you can use it as you receive it without any complications.

In total you can do 5 routines with your Switch Board. You can choose which routine to do at any time. The reset is instantaneous and you choose the routine in front of the audience without any suspicion, so you can perform a different routine in front of the same audience.

To build the routines we have 7 possible effects. The effects are different from each other and allow you to create the routine progressively in strength and complexity.

Create routines

To create a routine you don't have to know programming or connect the board to a computer.

With just a few sequences of switching the switches on and off, you can create a new routine, choose what effects you want to do, in what order, if you want to repeat them, etc. There is a step by step video that explains this and it is very simple. If you get tired you can change them as many times as you want.

And the magic?

In addition to the magic and effects of Switch Board, we have opted to go one step further, we wanted the effect to have a magical ending.

Regardless of the routines or presentations, we wanted to be able to close the routine with a powerful and unforgettable effect. If there is someone left with a feeling of indifference, finish him off definitely.

The spectator touches and chooses

All the choices that can be made with the Switch Board are free. When you have to change a color, mix the bulbs, choose a position… the spectator always chooses freely.

Before, during and after, the Switch Board can be in the hands of the spectator. It is completely examinable, they can get tired of looking and touching it, there is nothing they can figure out. They can turn on the switches and reposition the bulbs, but the circuit will only do the magic when the magician wants it.

If you have good control of your audience, you can let them do everything. If you don't feel confident, you can have the circuit in your hands and show the effects, and let them check the circuit several times during these stages. In any case they feel the complete freedom and transparency all time.

Tested and improved product

Did you know that the Switch Board was tested and approved by independent beta testers around the world?

9 magicians from 5 countries with experience in different fields (engineers, teachers, manufacturers, amateur and professionals magicians…) have tested our product for a month and have given us their opinion. Thanks to their comments and suggestions we have made an EVEN BETTER product. We have included a "quick start guide", we have simplified the routines, made a more robust product, increased the magic power, included a carrying bag… Many of their opinions have been used to file the corners and polish the rough edges. We have left a perfect product of which we are very proud, but also very grateful, since without their help it would not have been the same.

Instructions

The instructions can be found online on our website, they consist of videos and text (in Spanish and English) that cover all aspects of the product.

In addition to the product instructions, we include several presentation ideas so that you can choose the one that best suits your style.

After sales

Our support and service are fantastic, our customers say so.

Any problem you have, we will solve it in record time. Our warranty covers any manufacturing defect. And we do not charge for repairs, even if the product is out of warranty!
After watching the instructions, do you have any questions or suggestions? We arrange a video call and you can chat directly with the creator of the product!

Open source

The program that operates the Switch Board is open source. That means that you have access to more than 3,000 lines of code to be able to modify the program to your taste. Given the complexity of the product, it must be said that it is not an easy code, but it is programmed in an Arduino environment with many comments so that it is understandable by an average programmer.

All the information is available so that you can reprogram the Switch Board with your code modifications.

Of course this will not be useful for most of you, but it is part of our philosophy, and we believe that with open source code we facilitate its future development and improvement by any other magician who wants to.