Adafruit
Round Force-Sensitive Resistor (FSR) [Interlink 402]
The Interlink 402 is a round force-sensitive resistor (FSR) with a 12.7 mm (0.5″) sensing area. It changes resistance based on applied pressure — the harder ...
The Interlink 402 is a round force-sensitive resistor (FSR) with a 12.7 mm (0.5″) sensing area. It changes resistance based on applied pressure — the harder you press, the lower the resistance — making it a simple, low-cost way to detect physical pressure, squeezing, and weight in your projects.
FSRs provide a range of response rather than precise measurements, with approximately ±10% variation between sensors. They're ideal for detecting relative force (light touch vs. hard press) but not suited for exact weight measurement. Connect using a breadboard, alligator clips, female headers, or terminal blocks — soldering directly to the tabs risks melting the plastic and damaging the sensor.
Key Features
- 12.7 mm (0.5″) Round Sensing Area – Compact force detection zone
- Variable Resistance – Decreases with applied pressure
- Simple Analogue Interface – Read with any microcontroller's ADC pin
- Low Cost – Affordable pressure sensing for prototypes
- Flexible Plastic Construction – Thin and easy to mount
Ideal For
- Touch and pressure detection in interactive projects
- Wearable electronics and e-textiles
- Musical instruments and game controllers
- Squeeze and grip detection
Package Contents
- 1× Round Force-Sensitive Resistor (Interlink 402)
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- ADC
- An analogue-to-digital converter reads a changing voltage and turns it into a number the microcontroller can use. It matters when connecting analogue sensors such as light, sound, or variable-resistor sensors.
- e-textiles
- Electronic textiles are fabrics or clothing that include electrical parts such as conductive thread, sensors, LEDs, or small controllers. This matters because parts for e-textiles need to survive bending, sewing, and sometimes washing.
- FSR
- Full-scale range is the span between the lowest and highest output a converter can produce. Error specifications given as a percentage of FSR depend on the selected output range, such as 2.5 V or 5 V.
- Headers
- Rows of metal pins used to plug a module into a breadboard or connect it with jumper wires. Pre-soldered headers make the module easier to use straight away without needing to solder the pins yourself.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a chip that runs your program and controls connected inputs and outputs. For this product, it is the part that reads buttons and sensors, drives the display and speaker, and communicates over Bluetooth.
- Terminal block
- A connector used to join wires together in a neat, removable, or serviceable way. For this product, it helps split one power input into several outputs without soldering.
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Brands
Sensors & Input
Related Tutorials
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