I found this “Capacitive Touch Sensor” and its what I need IF it can be used by it self as a pulse switch with out a Phidgets controller.
If it wont work, do any of you know a cost effective method for the hoped for results.
All I need is to place it behind some 1/8 plastic and use it as a pulse switch… Its going to be used to trip a solenoid to open a door for a computer…
Thanks in advance for any help.
William
And if your wondering, Yes, I am insulating the solenoid from and any computer components.
Gave me a bit to think about. I looked in to other options for touch switches… and these were the only ones that would work behind 1/8th inch of plastic… Till I get a bigger budget I think I’ll be saving phidgets for a build they would be more use with…
Thanks for the quick reply! I’ll be back when I have more questions. 
Also this is a vary well put together community, keep it up!
William
You are faced to an interesting problem. If my understanding is correct, you would like to have a digital signal (either HIGH or LOW) going out of the sensor.
Unfortunately, he touch sensor outputs an analog signal proportional to the distance or the size of the (conductive) object touching it.
In order to transform the analog signal into a digital signal you may want to use an extra transistor. When properly biased, the transistor can be used to switch a circuit depending on an analog voltage. This way, you can create a clean signal form the analog output of the sensor.
If you would like to remain in the digital world as much as possible, then you could use a microcontroller that will read the sensor output and activate a signal accordingly, The advantage of his is that you can use filtering techniques in order to get a clean signal from your sensor ans prevent misfires.
