Gizmo to show if lid has been lifted?

[newshound]

Does that mean that the bottom of the box is accessible? How about making four holes in the bottom near the corners, then having something like a small "table" with short legs that sits in the bottom of the box with the legs going through the holes. Now, put soft compression springs over each leg so that the legs only just poke through when the box is empty. But a parcel with any significant weight will push the legs through further and you will be able to see them.

For something more ready-made, I've seen little battery lights operated by a microswitch, meant for fitting inside drawers or cupboards and coming on when they are opened. Could you adapt something like this to be operated by the weight of a package?

[Graham.]

[Graham.]

How about a cheap wireless doorbell, with a mercury (or ball-barring) tilt switch wired across the bell push contacts?

[tabbypurr]

prat plonked

[tabbypurr]

if the op can't think of even one, maybe it's time to give up on diy. Mine uses 2 smallish drilled holes such that at a glance I can see if somet hing's blocking the light path, which shows skylit white when empty. There are so many other ways to do it it's pointless making sugestions unless we know more detail about what's wanted and whether the lid has a lip round it or not.

NT

[T i m]

You don't quite get the whole idea about sharing ideas in a discussion group eh?

There you are, see, you can offer something useful if you try!

I thought what was wanted was made pretty clear?

whiskey-dave, is that you?

Cheers, T i m

[T i m]

Yes, there was one!

Bye plonker. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

[James Wilkinson Sword]

Why bother responding to someone who calls themselves by an email address?

[James Wilkinson Sword]

You just need a sensor to detect opening, connected to an electronic latching circuit. Send this signal to a lamp inside the house.

[pamela]

Great sound. :)

[pamela]

If you plonk me too I won't have to put up with your banal replies. Thank you.

[pamela]

Thank you. They are a bit too creative fo rme.

Such complexities remind me of the tale how NASA specially commissioned the development of a special gas filled pressurised ballpoint for use in space and asked Fisher to manufacture it. Meanwhile the Russians just used a pencil.

Thomas's suggestions are the sort of simple and effective thing I need.

[Harry Bloomfield]

[e-mail] used his keyboard to write :

Go on then, describe some?

[tabbypurr]

as I said, if the op comes back with a bit more info including whether the lid is lipped. If OP doesn't bother, nor will I.

[Bob Eager]

Which allegedly caused problems with the electronics due to floating fragments of graphite dust.

[Ash Burton]

Maybe a flag up arm device could be fitted to the box similar to what you see on american house mail boxes which indicate when something has been put in the roadside box.

[Andrew]

FFS, just get an external security camera that detects movement and point it at said box.

[Andrew]

You could just drive to their local sorting office and collect it yourself, or does that offend your sense of 'entitlement'?.

[pamela]

I don't have a car. I am often too unwell to travel even by taxi.

[pamela]

You're not following this are you? Move on.