How do you wire these up to work with an led strip, I have the common and nc wired in but the str...

[G+_Donald Kloss]

How do you wire these up to work with an led strip, I have the common and nc wired in but the strip doesn't change it will just stay on, I want to hook it up so when the magnet moves away the strip turns on. I got these from radio shack in a kit and can't find any information on them

[G+_Carlton Dodd]

It's basically a SPST switch, controlled by a magnet.  There are two types; closed when the magnet is close, and the opposite.  Just test with a meter or light to find out which you have.

[G+_Donald Kloss]

tested with multimeter and on NC i get a constant 12v with the magnet attached and detached, when tied down to NO i get 0v through it with and without magnet, I am leaving common hooked up to ground the whole time

[G+_Eddie Foy]

Measure ohms first.  These are not to carry a load, just a signal.

[G+_Joe Kyle]

Use the common and nc contacts in series with your load and power supply. Most of these, especially old radio shack ones are reed switches, should be good for at least an amp or so.

[G+_Scott W]

I would think you would wire it just like a switch, one side of your hot on the Common then the NO side to your led strip. When the magnet moves away it closes the contact.

[G+_Donald Kloss]

Thanks for the replies guys I think the one I have is broken because it stays closed all the time, I tested the other one I have and the resistance is good both ways, I currently have a 3 amp power supply the 1a shorted out. Do I need to step down the amperage to pass through the switch?

[G+_Joe Kyle]

Running too much current through a reed switch does tend to weld the contacts together, so it is possible one got wrecked. Connecting the contacts directly across the power supply instead of in series with the load could do that. Note that some of these switches are dependent upon the orientation of the magnet --- it needs to be the right-way-round in addition to be close enough. Note that the amount of current available from your power supply is not so much an issue, as the load will not take more than it needs. You'll need to check the parameters of your LED strip. With a multimeter, you can check the amount of current your strip really takes (which could easily be somewhat different than the vendor claims).

[G+_Eddie Foy]

small relay, or fet to drive the LED strip.