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Archive: Electronics
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March 27, 2007
HOW TO - Make a rusty nail LED night light
Dick shows you how to make your own rusty nail LED night light!
These blocking oscillator type power supplies work best with ferrite cores, and sometimes they can be hard to locate. Some readers have expressed anxiety over making inductors, and that is understandable since to many, inductors have an aura of mystery about them.Just to prove that these inductors aren't magic, or even that critical for that matter, I wound one on a rusty nail that I noticed laying beside the road one day while waiting for a tow truck. It is a 2-1/2 inch (6.5 cm) long flooring nail, which serves as the inductor's core.
The wire is a twisted pair of #24 solid copper wire that I pulled from a length of CAT-5 (ethernet) cable, which is similar to the wire used to connect telephones inside buildings. I wound 60 turns of the twisted pair in about three layers around the flooring nail, then I connected the start end of one conductor to the finish end of the other conductor and that made it into a 120 turn center tapped inductor.
I connected it to a 2N2222, a 1K resistor, a 1.5 volt penlight cell, and a white LED. Nothing happened. Then, I put a .0027 uf capacitor across the 1 K resistor (it happened to be on the work bench) and the LED came on. Sometimes you need .001 uf or so. The LED glows nicely and the circuit draws 20 milliamps from the AA cell. The waveform on the oscilloscope looks terrible, but the point is that the circuit oscillated with even this rusty nail, and it boosted the output of the 1.5 volt AA cell to over 3 volts peak to drive the LED.
Those who are familiar with some aspects of coil core selection would quickly point out that the eddy currents would be huge since iron has a low resistance compared to ferrite, or air for that matter, and that there would also likely be other types of large losses. The point here is not that you should run out and buy some flooring nails to make LED lamps, but that this circuit was not "designed", but was thrown together and worked quite readily. If a rusty nail and some telephone wire is enough to light up a white LED, then the inductor is not so critical. So, relax, go buy a ferrite core and get started on your project.
Rusty Nail LED Night Light - [via] - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 27, 2007 06:42 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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March 26, 2007
CoilOsapien - Robosapien V2 Coilgun
Remember that CoilOsapien - Robosapien coilgun? Well, here's how to make your own - [via] Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 26, 2007 10:01 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Robotics |
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MIDI Kits: MPA: 4 x potentiometer output MIDI decoder
This MIDI Decoder from Highlyliquid is for DIY filter circuits, circuit bending, and MIDI-to-DIN sync conversion - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 26, 2007 08:01 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Music |
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HOW TO - Make a 120,000 Volt Van De Graaff generator
Here's how to make a 120,000 Volt Van De Graaff generator using metal mixing bowls, PVC pipe, a bucket, a 540 size motor, copper wire brushes and a pair of pantyhose - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 26, 2007 04:59 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Instructables |
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How green are your green electronics?
5volt writes -
Are electronic devices really in a very low power mode when on stand-by? Also, how much energy am I wasting for powering devices when not in use?I wanted to check it out and decided to build a device capable to detect stand-by mode of my electronic devices and start metering energy used. All this had to be done automatically without my intervention. Metering would start upon entering stand-by and stopped upon exiting.
To do so I needed an energy meter and a current gauge to monitor the current of mains supplied devices and start/stop metering.
For the meter I first looked for silicon, of course. Energy metering is a hot issue with a lot of chip makers and many of them supply cheap solutions.The project was proceeding when recently I was lucky enough to find two electromechanical meters at a local special trash collecting center (electrical, white goods, furniture).
Actually there should be a plenty of these scrap meters available here as the local electric company is replacing these meters with remotely controlled electronic meters.
I took them along with two VCRs and a printer. The first meter I opened and dismantled to satisfy my inner primary need. The second meter I decided to use in place of the silicon-based one; also, the ready made electromechanical meter solved the calibration issue.
How green is my green electronics - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 26, 2007 02:58 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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Automatic object movie rotary table
MAKE Flickr photo pool member Zwdeal writes -
This is my latest hobby proejct -- automatic object movie rotary table. It has a photo sensor and will sense flashes going off and in turn rotate an object placed on the disk (or on top of a card board for background).
Automatic Object Movie Rotary Table - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 26, 2007 12:58 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Gadgets |
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Wireless home router with analog utilization meter
Radiorental made an amazing wireless home router with analog utilization meter...
I grew up in and around boats making wiring looms and control panels, and have a collection of gauges & dials that would normally be found connected to small marine diesel engines.Today I work as a designer building interfaces to networking equipment. As such, I like re-using the old analogue gauges to display network information in a more human readable analogue form. Tying my past to the present to some degree.
I used a 3" rev counter, simple clean design, that came of one of the boats my dad owned when I was a kid and wired it in to a wireless router I had lying around at work.
The rev counter is a rough approximation of the traffic utilization between my home network and the internet.
Wireless home router with analogue utilisation meter - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 26, 2007 11:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Gadgets, Wireless |
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MiniPOV3 kit (instructions)
We're slowly getting more of our kit documentation up on Instructables, here's the MiniPOV kit - this is an inexpensive Persistence of Vision (POV) toy, which is designed for beginners in electronics. You swing this little thing around to reveal a customizable message or image through it's 8 red LEDs. It has 4 holes for mounting on bikes, fans, and anything else that swings around. You can purchase this kit from the Make Store.
This project is the third revision of the MiniPOV. This version is nearly identical to the last version, MiniPOV2 but uses the serial port (possibly with a USB/Serial converter) instead of a parallel port, for programming. Because the programmer is built into the kit, one does not need a special "microcontroller programmer". This version can be used with PCs (Linux/Unix or Windows) and Macs (running MacOS X and with a USB/serial converter).
MiniPOV3 Kit Instructable - Link.
Related:
MiniPOV3 kit - Link & get it at the Maker store.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 26, 2007 10:58 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Instructables, Kits |
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DIY battery charger
Here's a nice battery charger, digital control, full PCB files and firmware and documentation! - Link & translated site.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 26, 2007 08:54 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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March 25, 2007
1983 - RB5x - Intelligent robot (eBay)
Goodness, this looks great, it's on eBay good luck if you want grab it, if anyone does let us know!
We offer a rare RB5X, The Intelligent RobotTM by RB Robot Corp. of Golden, CO. Serial No. 0010140 (#140). This early example comes with its battery recharging nest, Reference Manual dated 4/6/83, specifications and sales literature, and a February and March, 1983 issue of the RB Forum newsletter. Some excerpts from the RB literature:"The RB5X was the first mass-produced, programmable robot designed especially for home experimentation. It may be programmed using any computer with an RS-232 communications interface. RB's simple design allows users to thoroughly study its mechanical systems and electronics, and to adapt the robot to their own interests.
An intelligent robot, the RB5X learns progressively from its own experience. RB owner's may add on an optional 16K bytes to the standard 8K bytes. A special circuit enables it to recognize that its batteries are low and to seek out its charger. It then automatically charges its batteries, detaches itself from the charger, and resumes its adventures. A robotic arm and a vacuum cleaner attachment may be installed for added capabilities".
eBay: 1983 VINTAGE RB5X RB THE INTELLIGENT ROBOT EDUCATIONAL (item 200091717150 end time Mar-27-07 09:47:58 PDT) - [via] Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 25, 2007 06:35 AM
Electronics, Retro |
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March 24, 2007
How to improve it? Ask those who use it - New York Times
Great NY Times article about User-driven innovation featuring Instructables and a mention of the MintyBoost kit we have here @ MAKE!
Pictured here, Eric von Hippel of M.I.T., left, and Dr. Nathaniel Sims, with hospital devices Dr. Sims has modified. Mr. von Hippel says users can improve on products - by Rick Friedman for The New York Times.
How to Improve It? Ask Those Who Use It - New York Times - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 24, 2007 12:30 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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| Comments (3)
Networked Pong Controllers@ITP
Tom Igoe's Networked Objects class created a whole bunch of networked pong controllers for their midterm project. Pictured is the bra controller with embedded force-sensing resistors (photo by doryexmachina). The controllers are attached to Arduino boards that communicate with a networked pong server that projects the game on a big screen - Link.
Related:
Posted by Brian Jepson |
Mar 24, 2007 09:28 AM
Electronics |
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March 22, 2007
Nixie tube take-apart
Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories has a fantastic Nixie tube take-apart article and photo set --
Don't you just love nixie tubes? They glow with a lovely neon color and have gorgeous stylized numbers-- something you can't get with a dot matrix-- or even sixteen-segment LED or LCD display.Recently, we disassembled a well-loved tube when there was a photogamer challenge to break something, and so we had a chance to peek inside and look at how they are made.
Warning: This article contains graphic images of the dissection of vintage electronics which may be disturbing to some viewers. (No working nixies were destroyed in the making of this article.)
Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories - Nixie tube take-apart - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 22, 2007 06:40 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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Jacket cuff lights: Convenient illumination
MAKE pal Natetrue sent in his latest, cuff lights -
We've all been there. Fumbling around in a dark parking lot, trying to find the keyhole on the car door or mailbox. Sure, you'd use a flashlight, but who has the room for those bulky outlines?Granted, the cuff lights aren't the most practical of solutions but they're damned cool. They're hidden in your jacket cuffs, invisible and perfectly comfortable, just waiting to be activated with a little sideways pressure.
Words don't do this little hack justice...
cre.ations.net - Creation: Jacket cuff lights: Convenient Illumination - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 22, 2007 02:36 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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March 21, 2007
Viktor's amazing 4-bit processor
Viktor writes -
I've been a software guy all my life. However, I was always fascinated by electronics, and part of my success as a programmer was due to my thorough understanding of how computers work.Back in 1999, I put that understanding to the ultimate test: I actually designed, and built, a simple but functional 4-bit computer from low-level electronic components (TTL logic gates.) Although this machine has less then one tenth of a percent of the speed and one millionth of the memory of a modern Pentium system, not to mention that its "user interface" is just a set of miniature switches and blinking LED lights, I still consider this a proud accomplishment.
If you are insterested, you can study a full description of this system, including logic diagrams and more. Or, if you just want an overview, here's a photo and, to demonstrate the programming model of this processor, a small program that multiplies two 4-bit numbers to obtain an 8-bit result...
Viktor's Home Page: Viktor's Amazing 4-bit Processor -Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 21, 2007 01:14 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Retro |
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| Comments (6)
HOW TO - Make low cost Hydrophone (listen to fish & whales talk)
MisterB sent in this video on how to convert a simple toy microphone into a hydrophone to listen to underwater sounds - Link & kit on eBay.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 21, 2007 09:48 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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| Comments (4)
HOW TO - Make your own instrumented glove
Alex writes -
I have always found it a challenge to make things at virtually no hardware cost, using old parts in innovative combinations. Whilst such projects are usually quite time consuming, they do give you the pleasure of "being independent of the industry" and their picture of the state of the art of technology. Although I wouldn't claim any state of the art for the project described below, I still think it is of value for many an "independent technerd" or even an "independent artist", of which there seem to be a growing number.Make your own instrumented glove - Link.But let's get practical. The text ...describes how I went about making a real cheap glove interface, that still achieves considerable accuracy while improving the comfortability. Essentially, I purchased a bunch of PowerGloves (PG's), took out the flex sensors, inserted them in sheaths on a lycra glove and suit, hooked them up with a multi-channel serial A/D converter and had a host computer sequentially query the serial interface for the value of each sensor in real-time. These values then were used to control various electronic musical devices.
Related:
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 21, 2007 08:41 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Gaming |
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| Comments (1)
The tikker
In the comments of the "Mechanical hit counter project" daan__ writes - "I built something like this from a old telephone counter: (it makes a nice sound in our lab )" - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 21, 2007 07:40 AM
Electronics |
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| Comments (0)
Box shaped heart
Raphael writes -
Here it is: a box, yes, ladies and gentlemen, a box that can read your pulse and displays it visually as well as auditory. All of this in one simple box. The wireless aspect is still to come, this is the 1.0 version - wired. Look for the 2.0 wireless version next Xmas.
My Box Shaped Heart « Raphael Zollinger - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 21, 2007 05:32 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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| Comments (0)
ELM - AVR based radio spectrum monitor
Chan writes -
This is an experimental work to monitor a spectrum pattern in radio band, and is a continuous project from Audio Spectrum Monitor. To analyze the spectrum of an input signal, I chose an Atmel AVR microcontroller that used in the Audio Spectrum Monitor to process FFT. When think it easy, it can be thought that sample an input RF signal directly and analyze it will do.
ELM - Radio Spectrum Monitor *Source and schematic included - [via] Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 21, 2007 04:30 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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| Comments (1)
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