Project system plan diagram
Untitled Desires Interactive Project system had been revisited and revised for deeper understanding in technical and art implementations. A specific page for this system plan and its infomations will be posted soon!
DIY solenoid Xylophone player
I had just created a solenoid Xylophone player, it was a part of process in the Untitled Desires Interactive Project. It had 4 solenoids on D,F,A,C Xylophone bars. Each solenoid can operate by using 3V – 12V DC.
Back view of the Xylophone player
Wires soldered on solenoids run through on a flexible metal thick bars thus the wires were neatly along and behind the Xylophone.
Relay wire output to solenoids input
4 sets of relay wire output to solenoids input connections was made by using screw in one way connectors.
Bottom solenoid wire connections
This is how it is connected in sets of 4.
Far view on the external relay box (side 1)
Originally uploaded by cultured_society2nd
Well here it is! A custom made box for the 4 channel relay card. My plan was to store the relay card in a proper way, can’t just have the card shown bare shish! But hey again the relay card will not work if i just put it in the box DOH! 
Output connections on the relay box
So it will work the same way on how the 4 channel relay card works, it has 4 inputs/outputs with negative/positive terminals. It works with a 12V AC/DC adapter. I chose speaker terminal wire connector to simply connect wire input/outputs and had a AC/DC female adapter connection on the box.
Alright! Lets take a peek inside!
A peek on relay card in a black box
PEEKABOO!
Far view on the internal relay box
Well it looks neat heh?
Four sets of relay internal output connection
This part is a little fancy in its soldered connections, in addition it was custom hacked that the internal 12V DC will run on parallel through all 4 output relay connections. The good part is that the device connected will be fed with the free DC power supply, but only with any device that is capable on 12V DC.
Internal output connections to terminal clips
An interface device output will be connected to the relay input connections. I thought the speaker terminal clips was too big for the box but I am lucky ha ha!
Relay internal input connections (View 1)
Why the orange wire connected in series you ask? Well it was meant for the ground input connections, the relay card only installed one way connection on ground “negative polarity”. The relay output is for the custom made 4 solenoids xylophone player.
Relay internal input connections (View 2)
See those yellow and brown wire? I had removed all 4 small red led stock indicators…why!? It would be nice if I notice the indicator plus in a blue color outside the box; showing that it works ha ha 
4 external LED relay input connection indicator
Used a small PCB to place all 4 new small blue led to indicate the input connection through the 4 channel relay card.
4 channel relay card kit package overview (1)
Originally uploaded by cultured_society2nd
To cut down time and soldering problems; I am in luck to stumble a 4 channel relay card but its $42 bucks sigh.
4 channel relay card package close up
The use of this 4 channel relay card is to collect analogue audio input signals from a device thus it will create an analogue output trigger to the “Custom made 4 solenoids xylophone player” (will be shown on future posts)
Specifications
4 channel relay card specification
As noted in the image ;P
Top view of the piano synth board
Originally uploaded by cultured_society2nd
This piano synthesis circuit board was ripped from a kids piano toy. Normal range of piano midi tones with wide range of midi music and uses 6V of four 1.5V AA batteries to operate.
This piano synthesis circuit board can be circuit bended with a audio output, plus it could be a secondary device for the new prototype version 2 “photo resistors with IC 555″.
The bottom view
Bottom view of the piano synth board
A clearly viewed on the bottom of the circuit, it directly prints the types of different connections.
This piano synthesis circuit board is on hold from the effect on adding future implementation to the new photosensors on IC 555 prototype fixed version 2.
Square wave oscillator kit package overview
Originally uploaded by cultured_society2nd
I recently bought a square wave oscillator kit; cost me 20 bucks. I did fixed and experiment with it, I tell ya mine is more stable than this kit ha ha.
Well it has 6 different capacitors from Mylar, ceramic to electrolytic capacitors. All capacitors with different values thus produce different frequencies with 5V – 18V DC input.
Square wave oscillator kit info overview
Problem One
The disadvantage of this kit is caused by parallel connection on all different capacitors to IC 555 input trigger pin 2 and threshold pin 6. The jumper pin had been prepared for connection, but the problem conflicts when one jumper is connected thus only one frequency value will work.
Problem Two
Second problem is the output, in the manual diagram of the kit did not state any caution on audio output. Tried to just connect 8ohm small speakers to the output source, the result was the overheating of IC 555. I guess it lacked a resistor to DC ground.
Fix square wave oscillator kit
Solution
The solution was to connect the output to an amplifier audio input.
Photosensors prototype fixed version 2
Originally uploaded by cultured_society2nd
Version one is a lot messy and had bad wire connections, so I decided to make a 2nd proper prototype. The electronic parts are the same as version one thus 100% workable on any audio input and its output.
How it generally work is simply by connecting an audio output source; currently i am adding a mini radio audio output into this experiment. And output connection audio jack to my custom made amplifier.
Why a radio and not other audio output source? I chose a radio because of its random audio transmission thus I am very interested of the low analogue audio resolution audio quality, this will generally enhance the detection of high noise frequencies output to the relay channel card.
This is just a prototype, a new electronic implementations and its design is still in progress.
What Implementations?
Variety of electrolytic capacitors.
The wide range of audio sine frequency varies with different sub-units of microfarads (uF or MFD), nanofarads (nF) or picofarads (pF) ceramic or electrolytic capacitors. The capacitors in the image was all tested including (100pF, 1nF, 10nF, 0.1uF, 1uF, 10uF), the difference was the capability of the capacitors to store and discharge electrical current over time, “pF” High frequency / “nF” Mid frequency / “uF” Low frequency.
IC 555 diagram
The implementation of different caps will be in connection to IC 555 on pin 6. Positive connection of the capacitor will be connected to the pin 6 where electrical threshold will takes place.
Other implementations?
Variety of photo resistors
A variety of photo resistors had been tested on the circuit, with their different sizes too varies with its resistance. Photo resistors acts as a variable resistor when in contact with light and shadow over distance.
With different sizes and types of capacitor/photo resistors will be implemented on a new circuit.
Photosensors prototype on bread board version 1
Originally uploaded by cultured_society2nd
In previous post on IC 555 diagram and its capabilities; the electronic circuit works. But in this experiment there will be an audio input (any audio output that have a female audio jack) and output (to amplifier) male audio jacks. More importantly this circuit will have 3 small photo resistors that react differently when in contact with visible variable light (distance direct light contact or shadow on contact).
The parts -
I had delayed posting my blog online for certain circumstances, it appears that I had financial issues to deal with first thus by then I will continue this project. In the process of working my butt off in the day; I still do still work on my project at night. Whatever seems possible to work with the extra electronic parts will do the job.
Lets look at the new update project work on the next blog post!
- New updates on
Originally uploaded by cultured_society2nd
Is it lack of vitamins or the weather? I am frequently getting sick this month, although its the month of Ramadan (Muslim fasting month) its being raining almost everyday. This has made me skip classes thus i really felt bad and worry about my attendance.
Remaining home is not that bad, I did research on IC 555 on websites (see Integrated Circuit) and deeply hands on to create a circuit. In the process I used my custom made audio amplifier to amplify the sounds in this experiments.
Specifically I used LM555C 8-pin V package the one that was usually made for military equipments. Understanding that IC 555 handles a range of volts at 3v – 15v DC, it is very versatile and thus not worrying much about its voltage resistance as i did my experiments. But while experimenting the circuits with 9V alkaline battery burns my potentiometer with smoke and soot…Ive should had add a diode before the potentiometer connection I to be safe used 6v quad AA 1.5v battery.
IC 555 is capable in creating 2 tones when used in pairs or by using IC 556 model that has two integrated circuits in one.
I tests circuits from www.uoguelph.ca, I concentrate on experimenting on light and sounds; the ones with LDRs (Light Detector and Eye Electric Alarm) as my current Untitled Desires project requires circuit bending light interactions.
Using photo resistors with IC 555 through the process enables it to create an analogue sound values, but considering sensitivity; the size of the photo resistors does effect the circuit voltage resistance, I tested different types of small and large photo resistors in the experiments. To create different monotonous effects; a wide range of capacitors and resistors was used.
Currently I am successful and quite satisfied with my circuit, the second step is to integrate an inbuilt synthesis from children toys that normally has music or sound effects into my light detection circuit.
I will post images of my experiments in this blog soon!
Input and Output Custom Connections
Originally uploaded by cultured_society2nd
Enclosed box
This was the first finalized layout in placements for the external circuits to the black box.
As previously posted about the hacked specs in “Bottom PCB Diamond Audio Amp” blog journal, the 4 audio output source was 2 RCA panel mount for speakers and 2 sets of audio wire clip solution.
The 2 sets of audio wire clip solution (red/black color speaker terminal clips) is similar to an audio output where there is positive and negative connections, this setting was made to simply connect an output source into relay controller (for sync lights and solenoids).
Soldered Connection Amp to Box
Originally uploaded by cultured_society2nd
All those wires are from the amp circuit, the plastic box was carefully planned on placing the external connection for the input/output source.
Originally uploaded by cultured_society2nd
Enclosed front Amp, Single Volume Knob
The bare hacked amp circuit is now placed in a new black plastic box together with the external configurations (audio input/output source, aluminum knob for volume control etc).
Originally uploaded by cultured_society2nd
The Diamond Audio amp circuit had been hacked and soldered, to contain input and output source.
After hacking, It has 4 audio outputs, has a capability to power up 4/6/8 ohm wide rage of speakers, 1 3.5in audio jack input (3.5in audio jack output in development), 3D enhancement switch option and a 16V DC external female connector.
Diamond Audio Power Amp Circuit
Originally uploaded by cultured_society2nd
This circuit was ripped from my old Packard Bell PC powered speaker by Diamond Audio Technologies.
The whole Idea of ripping this amp was to custom hack and mod thus creating a new powered amp controller in synchronizing sound input conversion to control lights and solenoid movements.
Benefits in this circuit was the 3D audio enhancement, the capability to boost current flow to the output speaker thus enhancing audio to +20 decibels.
Specifications -
Output Power: 5W/channel (THD@1%)
Speaker: 3″(75mm Megnetic Shielded
Frequency Response: 100Hz – 18KHz
Power requirement : 16V DC
Originally uploaded by cultured_society2nd
The first experiment to find an AM radio transmission was building it from a kit, after building this device; it could only detect static noise. Ive been experimenting this board vigorously HAHAHA….and one of its yellow variable resistor was broken (i did not know that it was made from a ferrite material) it cost me a total 30 bucks wasted hmm….
Originally uploaded by cultured_society2nd
The first proposed plan for my Untitled Desires project Interface was by using a radio thus acting as a media collection device.
This item will be the audio input device for the interactive user interface. It was meant to be hacked and modded in such that it will be a audio source for the Untitled Desires Project.
It originaly uses 3V battery thus capable in handling 6V by battery or DC power supply; but the device experience the pro and cons.
The pro was the boost of radio transmissions and the increase of audio db (“decibles”).
The con was the overheating of the IC (“intergrated circuit”), the repetition of crackling sound from the audio output source to speaker and the unreadable monocrome LCD.
