Viktor's DIY

Lil Bang (Sound Trigger for Cameras)

2012-02-13T21:41:00.000+02:00

Introduction Now that I can take pictures of lightning I decided that I also want to be able to trigger my camera with sound. The design I came up with has the following features: Controlled by a PIC micro (PIC16F886). Adjustable sensitivity Adjustable delay – i.e. the user can set how many milliseconds after the sound event the picture should be taken. (My uncle says it would be a lot

Fixing a Worn out Remote Control (XBOX, Playstation, Wii, TV, etc.)

2012-01-18T11:50:00.000+02:00

Introduction The method described below is valid for any remote control that uses conductive rubber pads for buttons. I have successfully used the same method on TV/VCR/Home theater/AC remotes and game consoles. Some time ago I decided that the next time I do it I would document it here. Recently, I ordered an extra controller for my XBOX 360 so that when my nephews and nieces come over they

Dual PIC Thermometer

2011-12-24T13:30:00.000+02:00

Introduction The geek inside me has always wanted a fridge that shows the inside temperature for both the freezer and the fridge compartments. However, when we recently replaced our very old fridge we ended up getting a new one without the built in thermometer. So I decided that one of my next projects would have to rectify this problem. This dual thermometer can also be used to measure

LCD Monitor Repair

2011-12-22T13:14:00.002+02:00

Introduction Some time ago I was donated a non-working LG L194WT-SF LCD monitor for parts. After a couple of months of collecting dust with it I decided to have a look at it from the inside. Since the monitor has been at a repair shop and was declared beyond repair, I thought I had nothing to lose- best case scenario, I fix the monitor and can use it or give it away in the future, the worst case

IKEA Mood-light Conversion

2011-12-18T16:41:00.002+02:00

Introduction This little project was one of my first projects with microcontrollers. First, I made the circuit then, for years, I was wondering what I could do with it, until one day I came across this IKEA plastic bag dispenser. I knew immediately, it would make a perfect “housing” for my mood light. The finished "cloud" in front of some more IKEA furniture Hardware I had a few LED

Using SMT chips on TTH breadboard

2011-07-10T17:17:00.000+03:00

Introduction I usually make a custom PCB for my electronic projects. Throughout development the PCB, however, changes several times. Making a custom PCB at each stage is not practical for several reasons including price, long waiting times between versions and being very wasteful. For all these reasons I use a test board/breadboard/prototype board that can be changed easily and instantly before

Zeus: Lightning Trigger for Cameras

2011-03-25T13:34:00.017+02:00

Introduction I have always been fascinated by photographs about lightnings. While it is relatively easily to put a lightning strike in any photograph using image editing techniques :) I still prefer the real thing. Since photography is a hobby of mine, I wanted to be able to photograph lightnings. However, when I tried to do it without any specialized equipment, I didn't have much success.

Making of an Internet Radio Station

2011-03-10T18:25:00.001+02:00

Introduction A friend of mine who has been studying journalism asked me to create an internet radio station to complement his web site where he publishes his own and fellow students' articles. The radio station would be set up in his basement and would provide streaming radio 24/7. From time to time he would do live shows with interesting people invited to the studio and listeners calling the

Programmable LED Lightshow from the 80s

2011-03-01T11:25:00.003+02:00

Introduction This is an old school circuit - I made it (with the help of a friend) in 1987, when I first started out in digital electronics. At the time there were no PCs - or at least not for the average person in Hungary. So all the planning was done in paper. The proof is the following photo :) : No computers were harmed in creating this circuit :-) This circuit is an LED lightshow, or LED

3 Digit Binary Clock

2011-02-13T12:22:00.004+02:00

Introduction This digital clock displays the time in binary format. Binary clock s have become very popular recently, many hobbyists create their own version of it and they are even available commercially. To decode the time you need to be familiar with the binary number system and have to decode it pretty fast, before the time changes :-). Note: If you want to build this circuit and need

PCB Smartphone Stand

2011-02-12T13:31:00.002+02:00

Introduction Ever since I got my first smartphone, I wanted to make a stand/holder for it because most of its time it spends on my desk. There are plenty of smartphone designs available on the net, but I wanted to reuse some pieces of hardware I already had and also give it a personal touch. Finally, I came up with this design - I think this is the first of its kind: Please meet the

6 Digit Display Module

2011-02-12T13:25:00.002+02:00

Introduction During the development of embedded projects debugging sometimes can get difficult. There are a number of ways to help troubleshoot problems - a scope or a logic analyzer go a long way narrowing down the problem (although a bit expensive for the hobbyist), a serial connection is extremely useful (but needs a PC). A dedicated debug screen is also an easy and cheap way to make sure

4th Hand (Helping Hand) Workbench

2011-02-12T13:15:00.001+02:00

Introduction "A good technician has 3 hands - it is the fourth one that's missing sometimes." I think the famous proverb sums it up: Many times there are many, possibly tiny, parts that need to be balanced in an awkward position with one hand, while using a screwdriver/pliers/tweezers/soldering iron with the other one. This often tries even the most patient ones. And I am not one of them. After

Spindicator Clone

2011-02-12T13:10:00.005+02:00

Introduction Some time ago I came across a website where I saw a novel way of showing the disk activity of a computer. I liked the idea very much and decided to make one on my own. Since the working of the circuit is explained in detail and very well on the original web site, in this entry I focus on the implementation. This is a demonstration video of the finished gadget demonstrating slow and

Rotary Encoder Test Circuit

2011-02-12T12:54:00.001+02:00

Introduction Definition (from Wikipedia): A rotary encoder, is an electro-mechanical device that converts the angular position of a shaft or axle to an analog or digital code. I have been playing with a device like this for some time and thought I'd share what I learnt. I am not going to describe the theory of rotary encoders, there are plenty of places on the internet that have done an

LED Fade in / Fade out

2011-02-12T12:45:00.001+02:00

Introduction I found a small project at another site about fading an LED in and out smoothly, without a microcontroller. I changed it a bit. In my version I removed one of the transistors and changed some resistor values. This is supposed to result in lower costs and smaller footprint. I know it's a very small difference, but still. The circuit In default state (when S1 button is depressed)

ATX Bench Power Supply

2011-02-12T12:40:00.001+02:00

Introduction This project involves creating a bench supply from an old ATX power supply. The resulting bench power supply provides +5V DC, +12V DC, and, optionally, a variable voltage ( +1.25V .. +10.3V DC) power source for the hobbyist. Probably a good beginner's project, since this project is, although a bit time consuming, if you want to do it nicely, very straightforward, hard to mess up. I

Staircase Light Timer

2011-02-12T12:33:00.002+02:00

Introduction We have a timer in our staircase that controls the light after dark: when someone presses a button (a button is located on each floor) the lights light up for a preset period. Lately, the timer in our staircase light has started to behave weirdly - no matter what settings we used, the ON time kept shrinking. By now, not even the fittest can make it after dark from one button to the

Buttons for Digital Projects

2011-02-12T12:24:00.003+02:00

Introduction The aim of this simple project is to provide simple button input to any digital circuit. I use it in conjunction with the LED strip in microcontroller projects on breadboards. It consists of 8 tactile switches (momentary pushbuttons). The circuit is complete with a pull-up resistor for each pushbutton. The included pin header allows easy connection to a test board or breadboard.

LED Strip

2011-02-11T08:43:00.001+02:00

Introduction The aim of this simple project is to provide simple debugging capabilities to any digital circuit. It is nothing more than 8 LEDs on a piece of PCB with a pin header to connect easily to a test board or breadboard. The circuit The circuit doesn't get any simpler than this: Pin 1 of the header is the common. The above schematics shows the LEDs in a common cathode configuration,