Working on pin-out of the slave propeller chip. The main chip will listen for remote nordic commands, get the laser tripwire
input, play the wav files, control which speakers play the sounds, and communicate with the slave propeller that
does everything else.
I was a little worried pin wise, but looks like I may have a few extra.
Ragtop,
A 60 Hz hum comming from your ac powered amplifier is often a sign of a "ground loop". It happens a lot on unbalanced audio circuits. The easiest solution is a groundloop isolator from Radio Shack. These will isolate the grounds from your source and stereo so that the 60Hz hum will not appear in the audio output. There are other ways to fix the problem, but they can require lots of time to isolate the source. The ususal cause is long extension cords with different devices on different cords. I have measured as much as 60 volts between grounds on audio devices. (can mysteriously smoke Prop chips as well!)
Jim
Created a new rig for the head banger prop because the
head's weight made it too hard for the motor to pull it
back up with the pivot point down at the base. So I moved
the pivot point higher and counter balanced the rig with a
spring that helps pull the head back up.
I haven't got to Radio Shack yet to see if they have one in stock. From the comments not all stores carry the ground loop isolator. I got
to get on that because I might have to order it. Tick tock. Tick tock.
Another Halloween prop. I had to cut two of the six I had planned on with time running out. Hood guy (zombie torso) was so close but I couldn't get
the motor/angle/rig/weight worked out right to make it reliable. Microwave spider was going to be another cool one, but the motor was not up
to the task. This attacking spider prop makes use of the other props anyway and it moves really fast.
Not a great first weekend. For some reason, the wall warts just keep burning out. They move
the drill motors a couple of times then stop passing electricity. Wasn't having the problem at home
but can't imagine running off generators would burn them out. Doggie was the only one I could
get moving using a car battery charger for power.
[video=youtube_share;3R1sU3QWw4o]
This is doggie's view. He is to the left of the camera. Spider had to be hand operated.
Pole Cat finally made the line-up. He is still going too fast, but I don't know how to govern him
down. After massive fail on the wall warts I spent months looking all over town for, I went to
using a car battery charger for power and boy does it deliver power.
Still having a hard time getting the camera and lights worked out to get Head Banger footage.
I am thinking of adding some of your monster boxes in next year as live trap boxes around Killian's porch. I want
to add some system independent props next year with their own motion sensors. If they make their own noises
without need of wav players or speaker systems, even better.
Yeah you couldn't even hear my MP3 player over the slamming of the lid (which I will fix next year) so if you just wanted the lid slamming noise then all you'd need would be the motor, cam, cam follower - it was pretty loud and scared every visitor success! hehe
Comments
input, play the wav files, control which speakers play the sounds, and communicate with the slave propeller that
does everything else.
I was a little worried pin wise, but looks like I may have a few extra.
A 60 Hz hum comming from your ac powered amplifier is often a sign of a "ground loop". It happens a lot on unbalanced audio circuits. The easiest solution is a groundloop isolator from Radio Shack. These will isolate the grounds from your source and stereo so that the 60Hz hum will not appear in the audio output. There are other ways to fix the problem, but they can require lots of time to isolate the source. The ususal cause is long extension cords with different devices on different cords. I have measured as much as 60 volts between grounds on audio devices. (can mysteriously smoke Prop chips as well!)
Jim
head's weight made it too hard for the motor to pull it
back up with the pivot point down at the base. So I moved
the pivot point higher and counter balanced the rig with a
spring that helps pull the head back up.
Jim
to get on that because I might have to order it. Tick tock. Tick tock.
Jim
[video=youtube_share;GgnCN24sCuY]
the motor/angle/rig/weight worked out right to make it reliable. Microwave spider was going to be another cool one, but the motor was not up
to the task. This attacking spider prop makes use of the other props anyway and it moves really fast.
[video=youtube_share;Rp1LRhT9O8o]
it but it must of been on break.
[video=youtube_share;bgpl2cYhecM]
wire I would need so everything got moved closer to the control box.
[video=youtube_share;Goj9cPE2AoY]
[video=youtube_share;TJyI0ibjFZs]
the drill motors a couple of times then stop passing electricity. Wasn't having the problem at home
but can't imagine running off generators would burn them out. Doggie was the only one I could
get moving using a car battery charger for power.
[video=youtube_share;3R1sU3QWw4o]
This is doggie's view. He is to the left of the camera. Spider had to be hand operated.
[video=youtube_share;cGcxaLfgadU]
in action.
[video=youtube_share;x_Z2897nmQQ]
down. After massive fail on the wall warts I spent months looking all over town for, I went to
using a car battery charger for power and boy does it deliver power.
Still having a hard time getting the camera and lights worked out to get Head Banger footage.
I am going to do one more video for this thread discussing the electronic failures
and discoveries that I hope will help next year.
Took me months to get my one little prop working - I can only imagine how tough to get several and all the decorations and everything! Great job!
Jamie
to add some system independent props next year with their own motion sensors. If they make their own noises
without need of wav players or speaker systems, even better.