Otaku's entry

[Otaku]

Here's my entry for this year's contest. This is the Cheapo MP3 Player Controller. When triggered, the controller will turn on the player and when the pre-set time period runs out, it will turn off the player. It can't be re-triggered during playback. Yeah, I know it's not a prop, but the challenge was too interesting for me to ignore. The how-to is nearly finished - Parts 1 and 2 are here:
http://www.teambac.com/web_hall/mp3_player/otaku/MP3_player.html

Thanks, Wes, for posting these.

Here's the parts list:

All Electronics:
Perf board-
p/n PC-3 1 each 1.50
Enclosure-
p/n TB-3 1 each 2.50
556 timer IC-
p/n LM556 1 each 0.45
1 MFD tanatalum cap-
p/n DT-25 1 each 0.33
0.1 MFD disc cap-
p/n 104D50 4 each 0.40
220uF/35V radial cap-
p/n 220/35VR 1 each 0.25
1.5Mohm 1/4 watt resistor-
p/n 1.5M1/4 1 each 0.05
100Kohm 1/4 watt resistor-
p/n 100K-1/4 5 each 0.25
Rectifier diode-
p/n 1N4001 2 each 0.14
Switching diode-
p/n 1N4148 2 each 0.14
14-pin IC socket-
p/n HRICS-14 1 each 0.50
AAA battery holder-
p/n BH-41 1 each 0.75
1 Mohm potentiometer-
p/n AP-1M 1 each 0.50
9VDC SPST relay-
p/n RLY-409 1 each 1.75
6VDC DPDT relay-
p/n RLY-468 1 each 1.00

Fry's Electronics:
9 volt battery holder-
p/n BH-910 1 each 0.79

Jameco (or free samples from Keystone Electronics):
USB-A female socket-
p/n 161023 1 each 0.79

MPJA:
MP3 player-
p/n 16520 MI 1 each 4.95

Solder - 0.50
Bus wire - 1.00

Total cost: $16.54

[pyro]

very nice i wish i could play with electronics

[Lilly]

Otaku,
what exactly do you do with this thing..?
I'm not up on electronics sry.

[Otaku]

This device allows you to control the $5 MP3 player that is sold at www.mpja.com. The player itself is designed to loop when playing which makes it hard to use for one-shot sound effects like screams-on-demand and so on. This controller will start the player when triggered by a PIR, mat switch, manual switch etc and will shut off the player at the end of the file. Since most of us use audio file editors like Audacity and GoldWave, you can see the length of the file in seconds or minutes. The knob on the controller adjusts the time that the player is "on". Adding a 3-5 second silent period at the end of the file you want to play makes it easy to dial in the time on the controller without it looping the playback. While the player is on the timer cannot be re-triggered. It has a minimum on time of ~24 secs, and a max on time of ~4:30. The whole thing runs on one 9 volt and 1 AAA battery.

[BuriedAlive]

Nicely done. You should post that on the Monster List.

[krough]

Really Great Otaku.

[ScareFX]

That's really impressive work Otaku. Nicely done!

[Otaku]

Thanks for the kind words, all! As I mentioned, this MP3 player was a challenge I just couldn't resist. I've got a S-T servo board on the way - can't wait to try it out with this thing.

[Dr Morbius]

Ok, how cool is that! Awsome job, man. Where would home haunting be with out guys like you? Dull, for sure. Cool project. Thanks for posting it.

[Sickie Ickie]

Man, I've got to take an electronics class!

[Lilly]

thanks Otaku ..
With your how to, maybe I will venture into this someday.

[DeadSpider]

wow Otaku that's really great .

And a very nice how-to you've made with a lot of step by step pictures, even electronically challenged spiders like myself can see how its done!

Very Nice!

[slimy]

O, you da man!!!!!!

Followed this through the building phases. I LOVE it. When I get the time(and I WILL get the time), I'm making a bunch of these.

Good work.

[Big Howlin]

cool! :D

[turtle2778]

Okay, now i bet that was really cool to an electronics person. Im sure you did a nice job. And did it really cheap.

[Spooklights]

A very useful device, to be sure!

[Otaku]

Part 3 of the how-to has now been posted at www.teambac.com/web_hall/mp3_player/otaku/MP3_player.html. Thanks again, Wes, for the help!

[Haunted Bayou]

I've been following the how-tos. Amazing that you could do this.
I am totally befuddled by it all (electronic hacking). Nice job.

[Otaku]

Hey, I got three votes LOL! Next year, I gotta make an actual prop!

[Sickie Ickie]

Doing better than me , and I DID make an actual prop! LOL :D

[Dr Morbius]

Hey, I got three votes LOL! Next year, I gotta make an actual prop!
Your creations are what make props special. Too bad they get lost in asthetics.

[gmacted]

I gave you a vote, just because I actually plan on building a couple of these myself. The one reason I like your entry is because anyone can build it. You can't say that about many of the entries. Once again, good job Otaku.