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Archive: Electronics
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January 17, 2008
Understanding electricity (water analogy)
Beginner overview of electricity, using the water analogy... What do you think?-
Electricity seems very difficult for most people to understand. You can't properly see it, you can't properly feel it and you can't taste it or smell it so what is it? It travels quite well through metals and generally poorly through non-metals. It doesn't behave quite like anything else.4QD-TEC: Understanding Electricity - Link.But this is not quite true: fluid flowing through a system of pipes can behave in many respects like electricity flowing in a circuit. The 'obvious' exception to this is that if you pierce a pipe full of water, the water comes out.
Try piercing the insulation and touching the conductor: you will soon find the electricity coming out! The main difference is that water will fill any space whereas electricity will 'fill' only a conductor. Yes - the analogy is not perfect, but it is helpful and understanding will come not only from the similarities but also from the differences.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 17, 2008 07:00 AM
Electronics |
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Super nightvision headset hack
Kipkay writes -
We have all seen the webcam nightvision hacks and other ways to make nightvision cameras but this will blow you away! This a Super Bright Nightvision Headset that lets you walk around in total darkness AND record what you see! My inspiration for this project came from Brad Graham & Kathy McGowan Watch the video and see the Test Results and then build your own! I hope you enjoy this Instructable as much as I enjoyed making it!Super nightvision headset hack - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 17, 2008 01:30 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Imaging, Instructables |
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Homebrew toy blaster
Steve writes -
I am learning about electronics by building a toy laser gun. This is the sound and light effects circuitry in development. The top board has a 555 monostable timer, which turns on a bright red LED, a laser, and the sound effect. It also triggers a second board, which has 555 oscillator which is triggering a 4017 decade counter chip. That circuit is the blue LED chaser. I have it timed so that it goes one cycle during the time that the trigger from the first timer is high. Whew! a lot of work to turn on a couple of blinky lights.Homebrew toy blaster - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 17, 2008 12:00 AM
Electronics, Toys and Games |
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| Comments (1)
January 16, 2008
Making furniture interactive - The cameleon lamp
Greg's "cameleon lamp", he writes -
Concept: To design a light that mimics a color if shown to it. Design: lamp driver. LEDs are very efficient as they only emit one frequency of light, and because of this the light produced could be perceived as flat and lifeless. Instead i used tungsten bulbs because unlike LEDs they aren’t flat and lifeless. Because the Arduino cannot provide enough current to power a tungsten bulb without damaging the Arduino chip, I had to use transistors to turn a separate power source on to power the bulbs. This also meant that the lamp wouldn’t draw too much current from the laptop. To do this i connected the pwm pins to base of the transistors, and grounded the transistors to the Arduino’s ground in series with diodes to prevent current flowing back through the tungsten bulbs from the Arduino. Because i used the pwm pins i could dim the bulbs the same way one can dim LEDs in the Arduino code.colour sensor. Because I wanted the lamp to detect colors and mimic them, I prototyped a simple color sensor.Making furniture interactive - The cameleon lamp Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 16, 2008 03:00 PM
Arduino, DIY Projects, Electronics |
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| Comments (3)
CircuitWriter conductive ink & pen
This looks great! Draw your own circuits -
Apply instant traces on most surfaces (epoxy, glass, plastic, metal). Draw traces on circuit boards, repair defective traces, make jumpers and shield electronics, design prototype circuits and repair rear-window heater traces.CircuitWriter conductive ink pen - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 16, 2008 01:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Kits, Toolbox |
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| Comments (13)
HOW TO - Make your own metronome
Daniel writes -
...some days ago I have made a simple project in which I created a metronome using some simple parts you can find in any electronic shop. And I decided to share with everyone this blog. So if you are interested, so let’s start!HOW TO - Make your own metronome - Link.Hmm, what is a Metronome?
“A metronome is any device that produces a regulated audible and/or visual pulse, usually used to establish a steady beat, or tempo, measured in beats-per-minute (BPM) for the performance of musical compositions. It is an invaluable practice tool for musicians that goes back hundreds of years.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 16, 2008 12:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Music |
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The tingle-tron
Read all the warnings, don't do this unless you know what you're doing... And if you know what you're doing you won't want to do this -
The tingle-tron was the result of a discussion between electricians about the effects of various levels of current through the body. Being electricians we are no strangers to the odd electric shock now and then, so for fun we decided to see what sort of current could be handled comfortably. The unit was built and then used on everyone in the team to ascertain who could handle the most current. Obviously for macho reasons we all eventually took it to the "max" (8mA) despite it being a rather intense experience! (4mA was quite nice though)The tingle-tron - Link.Current flow through a human body has an effect that is proportional to the level of current flowing, and the area of flesh it is flowing through. This means that for a specific current a larger person will get less of a shock than a smaller person. In general a current range of 1mA to 8mA is detectable as a tingling that affects a single finger at 1mA to most of an arm at 8mA.
Although the level of current required to cause adverse effects in an average adult is 30mA (where the diaphram contracts and prevents breathing), the current limit I chose for this circuit is 8mA which should pose a low hazard while providing plenty of tingle-tastic fun (or pain!).
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 16, 2008 11:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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UV Panel project - recycled LCD monitors
Jared writes -
So there is no hiding the fact that I have been interested in ultraviolet light lately. I also have a few dead LCD monitors laying around I have been experimenting with. It was only natural that I would combine the two to help show off my fluorescing rock collection. This is a really easy build and cheap as well if you have a dead monitor laying around. The best part is the older the monitor the worse the viewing angle, and that works out real well for us making the light highly directional.UV Panel Project - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 16, 2008 05:00 AM
Computers, DIY Projects, Electronics |
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Fire alarm bell alarm clock
I could use one of these to wake me up in the morning! Alan at Hacked Gadgets made a nice tutorial video on how to hack a cheap alarm clock to ring a fire alarm bell, don't-cha-know. - [via] Link.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Jan 16, 2008 05:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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January 15, 2008
Pleo taken apart, dissected, gutted
The cute little robo-dinosaur taken apart and photographed for your pleasure, today turned out to be "take apart Tuesday" - [via] Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 15, 2008 05:00 PM
Electronics |
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OLPC XO dissection and massive electronics teardown roundup
Notebookreview took apart the OLPC (one laptop per child) click on through fort he gore - Link.
Related:
iPod sport teardown - Link.
Pure Digital camera dissection - flip video F130W - Link.
Nike+iPod dissection & more - Link.
Tooth Tunes Musical Toothbrush dissection - Link.
Mighty Mouse Dissection - Link.
Roomba dissection - Link.
Wii-mote guts - Link.
Wii gutted - Link.
PS3 gutted - Link.
Zune gutted - Link.
PS3 (Playstation 3) controller & iPod shuffle 2.0 taken apart - Link.
Take apart a Nintendo DS in 13 minutes (video) - Link.
Sony Reader Internals 2.0 (pics!) - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 15, 2008 03:00 PM
Computers, Electronics |
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| Comments (3)
Wireless MidiTron
Eric released a new wireless MidiTron -
MidiTron™ Wireless is a wireless sensor-to-MIDI interface. It consists of a compact sensor interface/transmitter unit and a corresponding receiver/output unit which interfaces via USB or MIDI. It provides 20 inputs in any combination of up to 10 analog inputs and 20 digital inputs. Sensor inputs are converted and sent wirelessly to a receiver unit, which outputs MIDI messages.It is designed to be a small, flexible, robust, long-range solution for creating wireless sensor controllers for real-time use in performance, installations and other scenarios.
MidiTron™ Wireless Features
- Small transmitter (2 5/8" x 1 1/2" x 1 1/2"); encloses internal antenna and 9v battery
- Can be worn on body
- 1000 foot range under ideal conditions; several hundred foot range possible even with obstructions
- Uses 900 MHz frequency band for less interference than the increasingly crowded 2.4 GHz band
- Uses highly reliable RF chip set proven in live performance situations
- Eight selectable channels allow eight units to be used simultaneously or channel switching if interference is encountered
- Continuous re-transmit of sensor values virtually eliminates drop-out or lost data
- Very low latency transmit (maximum 7 ms with all sensors enabled)
- Very low latency USB and MIDI output (actual latency system dependent)
- Normal (7-bit) and high (10-bit) resolution analog modes available
- Easily configured with menu-driven programming patch
- No network configuration required as with Bluetooth or WiFi
- Standard MIDI and USB-MIDI input/output ports
- With USB, appears on computer as a standard MIDI device with no special drivers required
- Once configured, can be used as a standalone MIDI device without a computer
- Several interchangeable styles of connector boards allow flexibility in making sensor connections
- Three-pin style connector board allows direct interfacing of popular sensors available from other manufacturers
Related:
MidiTron, Fully Assembled. MidiTron is a new MIDI to real-world interface designed to simplify the process of creating sensor- and robotics-based electronic art projects. It is easily user configurable and provides 20 terminals of digital and analog inputs and outputs in any combination. Get it at the Maker Store.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 15, 2008 12:01 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Kits, Music |
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| Comments (1)
Alarm clock bedpost lamp
Insipired by Wallace & Gromit, Max D made this "PlumbingPunk" style ABS pipe alarm clock mod to attach to his bedpost. I love how the display looks like a centipede crawling away. - Link.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Jan 15, 2008 06:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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Arducopter: Arduino helicopter control
Jason @ Hackzine write -
A recent Arduino -vs- Basic Stamp discussion over on the DIY Drones site really caught my eye. Jordi makes a nice argument for the Arduino, showing off the current state of his Arducopter, which you can see in the video above. Built using a low cost electric heli, an Arduino board, and the guts from a Wii Nunchuck, his system can currently auto stabilize roll and pitch. More detail and source code are posted at the link below. It's a really great start.I've also been working on an autonomous helicopter project. While I've been able to build a general game-plan and test a few things with my BS2 controller, I know it's going to be insufficient for the device's needs.
I can say this with a bit of certainty, because I've built a GPS-guided RC car in the past using the BS2. Even with heavy optimization, I used just about all the available memory on the Basic Stamp. There's not much room to read additional accelerometer data and manage the control outputs of even a little 4 channel heli. Long story short, I've got a Boarduino in the mail.
Can a Basic Stamp manage reading and processing accelerometer, compass, and GPS data at the same time? If so, I'd love to hear it, but I'm thinking it'd be difficult to impossible. Don't get me wrong—I love my BS2. It's great for prototyping and quickly building smaller projects. Objectively, though, the Arduino is a little faster, has more ram, and costs much less.
More:
Arducopter - Link
DIY Drones discussion on Arduino versus Basic Stamp for UAVs - Link
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 15, 2008 05:00 AM
Arduino, DIY Projects, Electronics, Open source hardware |
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| Comments (2)
CCD ring - Jewelronics
We're rapidly approaching a time where some of the best electronics will ultimately make the best jewelry. Here's a CCD from a Canon camera mounted in a ring. De Beers will be opening a booth in Best Buy any day now, you heard it here first - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 15, 2008 03:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, News from the Future |
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| Comments (4)
January 14, 2008
BlinkM
thingm is just about to release BlinkM! -
Have you wanted an LED that can fade from deep red to bright purple? Flash like a police light? Turn on with the subtle fade of an incandescent bulb? Flicker like a candle? That's BlinkM.thingm :: an electronic product studio: BlinkM - Link.We've attached an ultra bright wide-angle RGB LED to a microcontroller. Using BlinkM Sequencer, our software that fuses a color picker with a drum machine, you program BlinkM to be any color, and blink and fade in virtually any pattern.
When you've programmed your BlinkM, you unplug it and pop it into your project. Apply 5 volts, and it does its thing, whether that's glowing your favorite pinkish purple, or pulse like an old neon light. All for under $15.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 14, 2008 05:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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| Comments (5)
Dorkbot DC/Make: DC meeting, Wednesday, Jan 16
This Wednesday (7 PM - 9 PM ET) is the January meeting of Dorkbot DC and the inaugural meeting of Make: DC, a new project building group inspired by MAKE magazine. We will likely be holding several joint Dorkbot DC and Make: DC events throughout the coming year.
During this first joint meeting, we'll be building LED cubes based on on the Make: Weekend Projects podcast. See the Dorkbot DC website for details on what tools and hardware to bring. If you don't have the require components, you can still come and help out. There's *a lot* of soldering to do.
We'll be meeting at the lovely Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences, 6th & E Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 334-1201.
This event is co-sponsored by The Maker Store.
Dorkbot DC + Make: DC Inaugural Joint Workshop! - Link
Make a pocket LED cube - Weekend Projects Podcast - Link
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Jan 14, 2008 02:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Events |
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The adjustable voltage regulator
Neat adjustable voltage regulator, Rason writes -
Many amateurs have stopped by their local Radio Shack store and have noticed the famous LM317T adjustable voltage regulator. But, did you know that all voltage regulators are adjustable? Yes, any IC voltage regulator can be adjusted to a higher voltage than its fixed voltage by just adding a couple of resistors.The adjustable voltage regulator - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 14, 2008 09:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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| Comments (5)
Stainless steel mouse
Thecontaminated writes -
With a bit of free time at your disposal you can redesign all your computer accessories from scratch. And I ain't talking about some crappy modifications - adding switches here and lights there. I'm talking real hard core stuff.Stainless steel mouse - [via] Link.It is stainless steel (stainless steel 18/10 to be precise) right down to its interiors! Even the connector has been cast from steel. This mouse mod is based on Microsoft's IntelliMouse Optical and is USB+PS/2 compatible.
It took the creator nearly 8 months to make this thing. It would be really tough to top that. And as far as its workability is concerned, creator claims that it is ergonomic and fully functional. With all the steel this thing is obviously heavy but its novelty and bling is sure going to add a glint to all the eye cast on it.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 14, 2008 07:00 AM
Computers, DIY Projects, Electronics |
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| Comments (0)
SMD Soldering (surface mount device soldering)
SparkFun has a great SMD Soldering lesson (part of their learn how to make a Simon kit class) - Link.
Related:
HOW TO - SMD soldering (Surface mount devices) - Link.
HOW TO - Salvage surface mount components - Link.
Surface mounting with hand-soldering tools - Link.
SMT Soldering time lapse - Link.
Quick helper for surface-mount soldering - Link.
HOW TO - Make a surface mount soldering iron - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 14, 2008 04:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Kits |
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| Comments (0)
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