Hack: Use Hall Effect switch as Flash button

Hardware
1

The idea came to me in a flash: rather than cutting holes for a flash button for my custom boards, why not use a Hall Effect switch which I can activate with a magnet outside the case?

I have a USB Stick format ESP-M2 based controller, but cutting holes for buttons was always a hassle. Replacing the flash button between GPIO0 and GND with the dirt cheap A3144 solves that issue very cleanly. I’m now looking for a cheap 3.3V Hall switch for other projects…

2

you can also use a reed switch.

3

That’s definitely an option and one with which I’m not familiar. As I google around, reed switches are quite a bit bigger than HE switches, but I’ll take a look.