Electronics for the Back of the Class

[You_are_a_cunt]

Slightly off-topic here, but I am quite bored and while I was looking for things to do, I decided to take some electronics-related tutorial requests for a limited time.

If you're new to electronics and/or are looking for cheap/useful stuff you can make while you're on a lunch break, feel free to add your requests here.

Unfortunately I don't have spare Arduinos or Raspberrys right now, so that might take a while. Also no drone-related requests, since those take up significant time.

Submissions are due by July 1st, so hurry up.

 

(if you're looking to build things that have a higher-than-usual chance of killing you, talk to @iamdarkyoshi)

 

Current build list:

ATX PSU to bench PSU conversion
@DXMember - 12V LED bulb Molex conversion
@samcool55 - junk electric bottle car
@Brennan_Price - USB powered fan & bonus "taking it to the next level" build

Moar info:
Like I said, the deadline is July 1st. I will be rolling out one project per week (or two, if they're quick/easy enough), since I still have to keep my job and my weekday planner is pretty much full.
Feel free to make submissions for projects that can take up to a few hours (3-4 hours-ish) and I'll update the list with the ones that I'll be making

[Starelementpoke]

3 minutes ago, revsilverspine said:

Slightly off-topic here, but I am quite bored and while I was looking for things to do, I decided to take some electronics-related tutorial requests for a limited time.

If you're new to electronics and/or are looking for cheap/useful stuff you can make while you're on a lunch break, feel free to add your requests here.

Unfortunately I don't have spare Arduinos or Raspberrys right now, so that might take a while. Also no drone-related requests, since those take up significant time.

Submissions are due by July 1st, so hurry up.

 

(if you're looking to build things that have a higher-than-usual chance of killing you, talk to @iamdarkyoshi)

Make your own calculator than runs gameboy emulators.

[DXMember]

I was thinking to get a low power 12V LED light bulb that's meant for like desk lights or something, solder a Molex connector to it and show into the case somewhere to brighten things up

still can't find a fitting light bulb... (electrically compatible and big enough)

[samcool55]

Maybe some plastic bottles, wiring, batteries and some motors and you can make yourself a cute little electric powered car.

 

edit: or some fans and make a hovercraft.

[DXMember]

1 minute ago, samcool55 said:

Maybe some plastic bottles, wiring, batteries and some motors and you can make yourself a cute little electric powered car.

 

edit: or some fans and make a hovercraft.

magnets and coils for wheels

[samcool55]

1 minute ago, DXMember said:

magnets and coils for wheels

A little more advanced but also an option.

I think a car like that is a good starting point and gives you a lot of options to add and improve things.

[Starelementpoke]

26 minutes ago, valdyrgramr said:

Ti-Nspire and others can do that already.

I know, but he didn't make it.

[You_are_a_cunt]

59 minutes ago, DXMember said:

I was thinking to get a low power 12V LED light bulb that's meant for like desk lights or something, solder a Molex connector to it and show into the case somewhere to brighten things up

still can't find a fitting light bulb... (electrically compatible and big enough)

That's easy enough for a 30-minute project. Can be done and has been done. sort of. It's actually easier than you'd think and I think I already have stuff for that in the junk bin

[You_are_a_cunt]

55 minutes ago, samcool55 said:

Maybe some plastic bottles, wiring, batteries and some motors and you can make yourself a cute little electric powered car.

 

edit: or some fans and make a hovercraft.

I'll see if I have any LiPo or Li Ion batteries around. And motors.

[DXMember]

6 minutes ago, revsilverspine said:

That's easy enough for a 30-minute project. Can be done and has been done. sort of. It's actually easier than you'd think and I think I already have stuff for that in the junk bin

the hard part is to find a bulb that'll work off 12V... and isn't like 5mm diameter. And I can't find any in my local stores, I've see plenty on e-bay though...

[You_are_a_cunt]

6 minutes ago, DXMember said:

the hard part is to find a bulb that'll work off 12V... and isn't like 5mm diameter. And I can't find any in my local stores, I've see plenty on e-bay though...

Imma teach you something

[DXMember]

57 minutes ago, revsilverspine said:

Imma teach you something

mmm?

[You_are_a_cunt]

1 minute ago, DXMember said:

mmm?

Spoilers are spoilers. You'll have to wait until I start fulfilling the requests (deadline for submissions is next week, will start the guides next weekend)

[samcool55]

1 hour ago, revsilverspine said:

I'll see if I have any LiPo or Li Ion batteries around. And motors.

I was expecting some AA or 9V battery action but it looks like you are going full out with it

Anyway i hope you found some batteries.

You can get a cheap 2.4Ghz 2-channel control kit to turn it into a remote car

[You_are_a_cunt]

1 minute ago, samcool55 said:

I was expecting some AA or 9V battery action but it looks like you are going full out with it

Anyway i hope you found some batteries.

You can get a cheap 2.4Ghz 2-channel control kit to turn it into a remote car

Yeah, considering the state of my storage unit I'm leaving it for the weekend

[Brennan Price]

USB fan? I know it has been done many many times before but with summer coming around it seems a good idea. Won't take anymore than 15 mins.

[Hackentosher]

Oh drones aren't that bad, just 3-5... Hours... To build... Okay I see your rational. I know you said you don't have any spare arduinos, but I'm thinking about getting into arduinos for real this time and taking on wearables. My friend tried to do a watch using a neopixel ring, but he never got around to finishing the project. Maybe you could do something like that if you got some extra hardware. 

[iamdarkyoshi]

13 hours ago, samcool55 said:

Maybe some plastic bottles, wiring, batteries and some motors and you can make yourself a cute little electric powered car.

 

edit: or some fans and make a hovercraft.

I got permission to make an RC hovercraft out of my aviation classes broken plane. That thing was INSANE.

[You_are_a_cunt]

2 hours ago, Hackentosher said:

Oh drones aren't that bad, just 3-5... Hours... To build... Okay I see your rational. I know you said you don't have any spare arduinos, but I'm thinking about getting into arduinos for real this time and taking on wearables. My friend tried to do a watch using a neopixel ring, but he never got around to finishing the project. Maybe you could do something like that if you got some extra hardware. 

IF I manage to get my Arduions back from my dad I'll probably get something going. And drones take far more than 5 hours, specially if you're building it from scratch.

 

I have a friend that made a drone for his Masters degree and it took him the better part of a year to get it to work properly. And the final cost was pretty hefty, even if you don't consider the parts he broke while making it.

[Hackentosher]

3 minutes ago, revsilverspine said:

IF I manage to get my Arduions back from my dad I'll probably get something going. And drones take far more than 5 hours, specially if you're building it from scratch.

 

I have a friend that made a drone for his Masters degree and it took him the better part of a year to get it to work properly. And the final cost was pretty hefty, even if you don't consider the parts he broke while making it.

Yeah sure they take more than five hours if you're not using a proper flight controller, but that's ridiculous. For $25, a naze32 rev6 will take care of all stabilization and control and takes all of the coding for the firmware out of your hands. Also, both quads I've built took about 4 hours from start to first hover.

[You_are_a_cunt]

5 minutes ago, Hackentosher said:

Yeah sure they take more than five hours if you're not using a proper flight controller, but that's ridiculous. For $25, a naze32 rev6 will take care of all stabilization and control and takes all of the coding for the firmware out of your hands. Also, both quads I've built took about 4 hours from start to first hover.

Agreed, but it kind of defeats the purpose of full-on DIY and it still crosses the border of basic electronics. Mostly looking to make things that are cheap, fun and don't require a whole lot of building, planning, materials or know-how

[Hackentosher]

2 minutes ago, revsilverspine said:

Agreed, but it kind of defeats the purpose of full-on DIY and it still crosses the border of basic electronics. Mostly looking to make things that are cheap, fun and don't require a whole lot of building, planning, materials or know-how

Ya know, the most expensive parts of my builds are the FPV solution and motors. But, if you don't have FPV and get cheaper motors, it's only a couple hundred dollars, instead of a few more hundred. I made a cheaper parts list in my signature.

[You_are_a_cunt]

2 minutes ago, Hackentosher said:

Ya know, the most expensive parts of my builds are the FPV solution and motors. But, if you don't have FPV and get cheaper motors, it's only a couple hundred dollars, instead of a few more hundred. I made a cheaper parts list in my signature.

A couple hundred dollars is pretty much half my paycheck and it's money I could use in better ways than building something that would just end up in storage.

[iamdarkyoshi]

 

 

I am sure I have missed several...

 

[You_are_a_cunt]

7 minutes ago, iamdarkyoshi said:

I am sure I have missed several...

 

That gives me an idea. We should make a master-thread with all the guides so we can avoid building the same thing (at least in the same way)