How do I make a prop run continuously?

**adamstyle** · 10-23-2011,06:55 PM

I'm hoping someone out there can help me, I have much passion for Halloween and decorations but am not very good with electronics.

I purchased the Flesh Eating Zombie from Spirit, and am having the same problem that hundreds other seem to be having, which is getting it to activate. I don't know why it is light activated, or why they placed the sensor down a 3 inch tube inside it's mouth, but you literally have to shine a flash light in it's face to make it activate. I've tried everything including the Try Me button, removing the light sensor and placing it on his collar with a strobe light flashing at it from a foot away, to my most desperate move which was cutting the wires to the sensor and twisting them together, thinking it would bypass the sensor altogether... Although it activates the motion once, it does not stay running.

I don't want to use anything like motion sensors or step pads because it's can't be displayed in a place where people will be walking by it, which is why I wanted it to run continuously in the first place. Nobody at Spirit was able to help.

All I want is the motion to keep running continuously until I unplug it... What am I doing wrong?

**DeathDealer** · 10-23-2011,07:15 PM

I take it holding down the try me button does the same thing, runs once and stops?

Do you know if it is visible light or infrared the sensor is looking for? It seems the strobe should have worked with the sensor on his neck if it was visible light.
Try triggering it with a TV remote control to see if it responds to IR.

If that works, can you reconnect the sensor? What about then adding a flashing IR LED next to the sensor?

**snigglez** · 10-23-2011,09:19 PM

When you tried the strobe light did you have the lights on fast? I use strobes for my animated props but I don't put them on fast speed. I noticed you have to make sure the sensor notices the light going off/on so I usually put it around 1/2 way speed and they tend to work just fine.... But it would be nice if they did add that feature and have a button that makes them go continuously. Its probably something that wouldn't take much to do while making the prop.

Good Luck
SniggZ

**Shockwave199** · 10-23-2011,10:02 PM

Motion sensing props are a deal breaker for me. Won't buy them, especially at a high price point. Too hard to activate.

^^^The post above is the best shot you have. Good luck.

**adamstyle** · 10-24-2011,02:40 AM

Thanks for the responses!

I did try holding down the try me button, and it does only make it cycle once. I also tried setting the strobe at all different speeds, fast and slow, it didn't make a difference. The head moves side to side, which is why it seems silly to put the trigger in it's mouth... That's why I removed the sensor from inside the head, shortened the tube, and placed the sensor in a more obvious spot, like pinned to his shirt... The strobe was shining directly on it and it still wasn't enough to activate it more than once.

I haven't tried a flashing IR LED light, because frankly I don't know what that is... I looked around the house for something small that has a blinking light and struck out. Had no idea buying a commercial prop would be such a headache. I don't know why an on/off switch was overlooked!

**azdude** · 10-24-2011,05:49 AM

The controller for the prop probably waits for the sensor to be deactivated before it will start again - this is why simply bypassing the switch won't work. Ironically, this is probably done to prevent the prop from constantly going through its routine. You need a method of connecting the switch and then un-connecting it for a second and then repeating the process. We sell a programmable controller that allows you to 'record' the actions of 2 relays and then play the recorded sequence back when activated (which can be easily made to repeat the process automatically). I think if you use something like this and feed the 2 wires that originally went to the switch into the relay this will produce exactly what you need. The production board sells for $55 but I have a 'pre-production' board that works perfectly that I will give you for free if you pay shipping. If you want to see the production version and download the manual you can see it here. If you are interested send me a PM.

-Bruce

**craigsrobotics** · 10-24-2011,06:22 AM

Just stick a cheap 1.5 volt LED bulb in the sensor tube...works everytime...you can even use a blinking LED from Radio Shack to do the trick..

**wheussmann** · 10-24-2011,06:36 AM

I have a similar prop that gave me fits... then one day I was playing with a laser pointer one of them cheap couple of buck ones you see everywear.. (making my basset chase it down.) and it hit me, so i broke out the prop and hit the sensor with the laser beam.. it worked... i tried it again and it worked..

so I set it up mounted the laser and walked thru... it worked... then went to walk back thru....and nothing happed.. grrrrrr walked back thru and it worked...

I realized that it needed a break in the light as it reset it self to activate so i set up a variable drill next to it, and made a paper circle with cut outs,, to interupt the laser beam. and it works all the time.....

i have the dril on a slow speed and the laser always on.. with the cut outs like a pie..... cutting the beam and he works great.

its worth a try for yours....

**Dark lord** · 10-24-2011,07:13 AM

I had the same prob with 2 props I bought several years ago, I found that i had to place a light aimed at the props motion sensor, that way it was easier for it to "
See the light" beam & when someone passed in front to trigger motion sensor. Worked great, but I no longer buy those type of props due to the pain in the arss they are to deal with...