Smaller setup ON/OFF - barebones tiny

fuichris

Howdy all!
I simply wanted to activate a Flexinol wire ON/OFF every 8 seconds, and I have a Parallax homework board (see pic).
Is there a smaller microcontroller setup? Tiny? Barebones? My project requires the mechanics to be discreetly hidden within an artificial flower.
The homework board is too big and I don't need to do much except ON/OFF every 8 seconds.

Hope to get your help. Many thanks!

NWCCTV

What about just a Basic Stamp?

WBA Consulting

Ditto for the BS2 by itself on a small piece of perfboard.

You could also use the BASIC Stamp 2 OEM Module; at 2" square, it's fairly small. If you buy two, build one up completely to program the EEPROM, but only put the required components on the second one, you could pop on the programmed EEPROM and not load the DB9 connector, header, etc, etc, to keep the size and components to a minimum. The two attached pics are the BS2 OEM full schematic and the schematic with only the parts needed to run (but you won't be able to reprogram the EEPROM).

erco

A BS1-IC is tiny and could easily activate a transistor switch, MOSFET, or even a 20 mA reed relay to switch the large currents your Flexinol will require.

You could probably use just a 555 timer chip, even smaller.

See http://circuit-diagram.hqew.net/Relay-Toggle-Circuit-Using-a-555-Timer_2928.html for a relay toggle circuit.

fuichris

Many Thanks!
Gonna give it a try ! The Flexinol arrives soon!