I thought it would be cool to see who all is using electronics in their props and what they are controlling.
I'm using:
-Servos, controller board, controller software for prop motion
-Sound to light board for lightning
-PIR to relay controler board (8 relays)for pneumatic solenoids

Just bought a basic stamp and programmer but will probably not use it this year. (may be lucky to finish what Ive got...)

I wonder if there is enough interest to get a dedicated thread?


www.randyaz.4hv.org

I pay the 5yo kid next door 50 cents to shoot a hamster with a rubber band to get the hamster to run in a wheel that has jingle bells on it. It scares no body but is funny to watch. Does that count as high tech?
Im using:
-5yo neighbor kid
-50 cents
-hamster
-rubber band
-hamster wheel
-bells



Im not going crazy.. its just a nice place to visit.

Heh heh heh...
And I think I'm doing great when I plug everything in and get the light bulbs to actually work.....
Randyaz, people like me would pay people like you to make things for them!!
I hope you get everything up and running!

"They come out at night...mostly."

Ooogi LOL... (put a mask on the hamster) Geez, I didnt expect ridicule...

This stuff isnt beyond anybody. Three years ago I was doing good to carve pumpkins then found the monster list. Just picking it up by tinkering (and spending $$$). In truth, Ineed a life...

www.randyaz.4hv.org

Is that one of those IC programmers?

"Listen to them. The children of the night. What music they make"

Yep, the Paralax "Whats a Microcontroller?" kit...

www.randyaz.4hv.org

How much, and what do you get with it?

"Listen to them. The children of the night. What music they make"

uh....i don't think it's what i thought. I was thinking it was this thing that includes a software program which you use to program a chip thru i think the parallel or serial port on your pc. In other words, you hook up this device to your pc and use the software to actually design the entire circuit within a chip. I searched for the "whats a microcontroller" thing on google and it appears to just be a software tutorial on building circuits on a breadboard. You you're really paying for a breadboard and the software and a few component parts.

"Listen to them. The children of the night. What music they make"

Its not just a breadboard. It has an embeded basic stamp. The package is actually an educational course on intro to programming the stamp used by schools/colledges. The software is a pBasic compiler that downloads the code to the stamp via serial cable. The breadboard section is for projects that are controled by the stamp. The projects are servo control, audio, sensors, and others. Its $80 and available thru http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...t%5Fid=276-625 Take another look at it...

www.randyaz.4hv.org

I think the high tech involved in Halloween home haunting is interesting. I know from my point of view, I like to set some goals each year and see what I can hit. I actually have a pop up working for this year and I'm trying to get the radio shack sound card hack done. I'd say on a scale of 1 to 10, I feel that I'm at about a 5 and sounds like you are at the 8 or 9 level.
Incorporating electronics can get really frustrating because all you need to do is one thing wrong and the whole prop is useless.
I'm in no rush and enjoy building on what I've learned. Gives me something to look forward to next year.
However, if it wasn't for forums like this, I'd be in the stone age.

http://halloweengallery.com/index.php?cat=10056