Otaku's entry

[Otaku]

Here's a pic of the PIR/prop timer I'm entering in the challenge. The PIR is hacked to allow two off-interval times, 30 and 60 seconds between triggers. The timer can be set from 2 seconds to 1:30. The total cost is under $18, including the batteries. Here's the parts list:

All Electronics:
Part / part number

Switch - MTS-4
Cost 4/4.00
Qty. needed 2
Ext. cost 2.00

Relay - RLY-645
Cost 1.50
Qty. needed 1
Ext. cost 1.50

Perf board - PC-3
Cost 1.50
Qty. needed 1
Ext. cost 1.50

Transistor-MPSA13
Cost 5/.50
Qty. needed 1
Ext. cost 0.10

Capacitor-100mfd/35V radial
Cost .27
Qty. needed 1
Ext. cost 0.27

Diode - 1N4148
Cost 15/.99
Qty. needed 1
Ext. cost 0.07

Potentiometer - AP-1M
Cost 0.50
Qty. needed 1
Ext. cost 0.50

Resistor - 470K ohm 1/4 watt
Cost 10/.50
Qty. needed 1
Ext. cost 0.05

Resistor - 1K ohm 1/4 watt
Cost 10/.50
Qty. needed 1
Ext. cost 0.05


Project box - TB-3
Cost 2.50
Qty. needed 2.50
Ext. cost 2.50

Term. strip - TS-206
Cost 1.58
Qty. needed 1
Ext. cost 1.58

9 volt battery snap - BST-3
Cost 4/1.00
Qty. needed 2
Ext. cost 0.50

Electronic Goldmine:

PIR sensor unit - G4567
Cost 5.95
Qty. needed 1
Ext. cost 5.95

Misc. stuff - estimated cost:

Solder 0.10

22 gauge wire 0.25

9 volt battery 2/.99 at Big Lots - 2 required

I have a how-to for the hack of the PIR sensor almost ready. It's got a lot of pics and is on a MS Word doc. I'll try to get a PDF made to reduce the file size. I have pics of a completed timer board (the circuit drawing comes with the PIR sensor) for any who are interested. PM me and I can send the pictures. And many thanks to DaveintheGrave for finding the cheap PIRs!

[Dr Morbius]

That's neat..I could use one myself. There are a number of ways to put up pics and how-to's without a site..Photobucket, for one. Also Putfile is good, but there are also free site hosting available..Yahoo Geocities, or Angelfire.

Half the fun in building props, for me, is sharing how I did them.

[Frighteners Entertainment]

I could host on my projects page for you?

Jeff

[DeathTouch]

I must say that is a great idea.

[krypt]

i have a ? if i walk by this thing 10 times in 10 minutes if its set to go off every 10 minutes it will only go off once .....right?

[Otaku]

The off-interval can be set to either 30 secs or 60 secs. This means that the PIR will ignore you until that time period has passed, then it will recognize you as an IR source and trigger the timer. If you stand in front of it for 10 minutes and the off-interval is set for 60 seconds, it will trigger the timer 10 times. One caveat - the timer board has the capability of staying on for longer (~1:30) than the PIR's maximum off-interval. This means that the prop that is operated by the timer could stay on constantly if the timer is set to a longer time than the off-interval. Typically, this won't happen since most scares run for less than 30 seconds. The next off-interval option is at 6 minutes (it's set on a ripple timer IC and can't be made adjustable) and that's too long between triggers for most haunt applications.
Clarification - the timer board has a DPDT relay on it so that two props can be triggered by the same PIR activation. Example: a sound effect (CD player, digital sound board) and LED eyes can be triggered at the same time. The relay will handle a 5 amp load.

[Blackwidow]

Most of that technical talk went right over my head :)
I'm giving you two thumbs up for this entry...every haunt could use one (or more) of these. Nice job Otaku!

[heresjohnny]

Nice job Otaku, I can think of many things this would be very useful for. It will nice not to have to rely on the 5 second test interval on old PIR triggered lights.

[HibLaGrande]

I don't really find the hacked PIR very scary, but the usefulness of that gizmo puts it way up there on the haunt-o-matic scale of needful things.

I wan't one of these.

[DeathTouch]

It is going to be tuff for the judges to categorize this prop because it is totally different than the others. The others are more aesthetically pleasing, while this prop is more useful. One might pass this prop up just because it doesn’t catch one’s eye. I don’t think that would be fair for this prop, because it isn’t really made to be looked at. How do you judge a prop like this, as compared to a prop that, for example, one that krough made? I am glade I am not a judge.

[Dr Morbius]

Yea..I was thinking that myself..Is a PIR timer really a "Prop", or is it a useful tool? Don't get me wrong, I really like the thing too, this is just a catagory question.

Does it work as a stand-alone prop? No, It must have another prop hooked up to it to make it work (noticably). Also, it's called a "prop timer" not a "prop".Hmm.. I am having a tough time with this one too, as don't think it should be discounted based on that criteria. Maybe we should just take it for what it is, and go from there.

[Bone Dancer]

what definition is being used for "prop" and for "device". And are there different sub-groups for the contest, and if so what are they?

[DeathTouch]

Sorry Otaku. I didn't mean for this to turn into a brew ha ha.

[heresjohnny]

I have been thinking about this myself, and I think we should let Otaku hook the PIR timer up to a prop so the effect of the timer can be demonstrated in the same context as the rest of the props. Without adding to the cost.

Or we could follow deathtouch's advice and connect all the props together. If you stand in front of the scary tree stump for 30 seconds, the vacancy light will come on the tree stump will start scratching it's butt until you leave.:D

[DeathTouch]

I have been thinking about this myself, and I think we should let Otaku hook the PIR timer up to a prop so the effect of the timer can be demonstrated in the same context as the rest of the props. Without adding to the cost.

Or we could follow krough's advice and connect all the props together. If you stand in front of the scary tree stump for 30 seconds, the vacancy light will come on the tree stump will start scratching it's butt until you leave.:D

No, that was me who said that. I don't need credit for my props, just my jokes.

[heresjohnny]

Sorry, I fixed it....:o

[DeathTouch]

Of course, I forgot about the tombstone. That must of been you that thought of the joke about the vacancy light. That one was a good one.

[heresjohnny]

Just like good props, steal it and add to it!

[Otaku]

Yeah, I thought about the proper category for this device when I was posting the parts list. It's definitely not a prop but a controller. Perhaps, as suggested, I could demonstrate it by using it to activate one of my props. Or, also as suggested, a sub-category could be created. I don't want to make the judges' jobs more difficult, though. I'm totally open on this one.

[DeathTouch]

Yeah, I thought about the proper category for this device when I was posting the parts list. It's definitely not a prop but a controller. Perhaps, as suggested, I could demonstrate it by using it to activate one of my props. Or, also as suggested, a sub-category could be created. I don't want to make the judges' jobs more difficult, though. I'm totally open on this one.

Better yet otaku. I am a test Tech, you could send it to me for a few years and I will send you a complete ananlysis of your controller. Of course, I am planning on using it during those years, but it will get tested. So don't worry about that. LOL.:googly:

[Otaku]

LOL! That would be a good way to test durability! I've been burning it in over the weekend and so far no problems have surfaced. I placed it in the kitchen (busiest room at my house) and it's probably seen 200+ cycles with no malfunctions.

[DeathTouch]

I built something like that last year, but it got connected to my animated lighting motherboard. I had the circuit connected to one of those haunted housse signs you may or may not have seen all Wal-mart. You know, the ones that when someone walks pass they will flash and then and evil laugh will come on. It took me a while to get it to work right because when the audio came on from the sign it would screw up the relay. I had to put a cap to the + line and then add a transistor before it would work. To much noise I guess or impedance.

[Otaku]

Hey all,
How's this sound - I can wire the PIR to trigger a bush shaker, LED eyes and a sound effect simultaneously and take a short video of the result. The problem is that the .mov file is likely going to be too large to upload to a post, but I can try to keep it under 500KB. I have albums at Halloween Gallery, does anyone know if I could post the video file there for all to see? Zombie-F, your thoughts??

[Lotus]

Hey all,
How's this sound - I can wire the PIR to trigger a bush shaker, LED eyes and a sound effect simultaneously and take a short video of the result. The problem is that the .mov file is likely going to be too large to upload to a post, but I can try to keep it under 500KB. I have albums at Halloween Gallery, does anyone know if I could post the video file there for all to see? Zombie-F, your thoughts??

Photobucket lets your post videos, and http://www.hauntpics.com/gallery/ works too

[Otaku]

Thanks, Lotus. I'll register at Hauntpics today.

[Lotus]

You put the video up yet?

[Otaku]

Not yet, but I should have it up by the weekend. I registered at Hauntpics a few days ago. I'll post a link here.

[Otaku]

I've finished the how-to for the PIR hack. If anyone is interested, PM me and I'll email it to you. I should have the timer board how-to finished by next weekend.

[Frighteners Entertainment]

I've finished the how-to for the PIR hack. If anyone is interested, PM me and I'll email it to you. I should have the timer board how-to finished by next weekend.
If you want, I'll host it for you?

Jeff

[Otaku]

Thanks, Jeff! Thats very generous. What do I need to send to you?

[Frighteners Entertainment]

Just send your how too and photo's.

Jeff

[Otaku]

No problem. The pics and text are all on a MS Word doc - will that be OK? And where do I send it?

[Frighteners Entertainment]

No problem. The pics and text are all on a MS Word doc - will that be OK? And where do I send it?
That would be fine.

FrightenersEntertainment@TheFrighteners.com

Jeff

[Otaku]

It's on it's way to you as we speak. Thanks, Jeff!

[Frighteners Entertainment]

It's on it's way to you as we speak. Thanks, Jeff!
I'll have it posted in a few hours.

Jeff

[Frighteners Entertainment]

Ok, it's done, I waiting for an approval from Otaku...


Jeff

[Frighteners Entertainment]

Here's what you've been waiting for....
you'll see it here first....

Otaku's Unpleasant Street Entry (http://www.thefrighteners.com/Gary%27s%20.htm) details


Jeff

[Otaku]

It looks fine, Jeff, thanks very much for hosting! I should mention here that the parts list includes the components for the timer board that is described in the PIR manual. I should have the how-to for the timer finished in a few more days. Jeff, would you be interested in hosting that as well?

[Frighteners Entertainment]

It looks fine, Jeff, thanks very much for hosting! I should mention here that the parts list includes the components for the timer board that is described in the PIR manual. I should have the how-to for the timer finished in a few more days. Jeff, would you be interested in hosting that as well?

No Problem!

Jeff