> probably thats what I mean, I just haven't found exactly
> what...so would a tilt switch operate if the unit was simply
> picked up or does it need to actually tilt

Alan, they'd be called pick-up switches otherwise ;-))

Mercury tilt switches aren't particularly sensitive, although you
can get them in a variety of degrees. The simplest for you might
be a pendulum. It's the type of sensor used as a "TILT" switch in
pinball machines and motorbike alarms. Basically a wire hangs freely
in the middle of a wire ring. If the two touch, the circuit is completed.
Something you could make yourself. The smaller the ring or greater
its distance from the wire pivot, the more sensitive the alarm. The
best wire to use is gold-plated, because it doesn't get a non-
conducting oxide layer as other metals would over time, and you
can get that free (or very cheap) as scrap from anyone who electro-
plates for jewellers or maybe even a manufacturing jeweller

-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist