Timed Relay? - need triggered activation of CD player

**dadgonemad** · 08-18-2008,09:14 AM

Does anyone know of a good source for timed relays? I want a relay that when energized (120VAC), will close the contacts for about 1 second, then open them back up again.

I want to put this on the play button contacts of my CD player for my singing pirates so I can activate the entire prop with a single switch. I was planning on using a cheap MP3 player for this, but the output volume is not loud enough on the cheapo MP3 player I have, so I'm going back to the portable CD player I used last year. Either way, I would want to use the same relay setup to trigger.

Last year I just looped the song and would turn on the speakers when triggered. Clearly not the most elegant way of doing audio with sychronized singing. Note I need a stereo signal as each pirate has his own part.

I really wish someone would make a CD-quality stereo chipcorder product with triggers. With the low cost of budget MP3s out there, seems to me that this could be done for under $20, and would be a huge hit with us haunters.

The uMP3 module would be great, but it's too feature heavy and at $99, that's out of range for me.

Thanks!
-DGM

**Dr Morbius** · 08-18-2008,09:52 AM

What are you using to make your pirates sing? VSA? Cowlacious board? Or are they just Boris skulls?

**dadgonemad** · 08-18-2008,10:09 AM

It's a cowlacious scary terry board in each skull. And the pirates sway back and forth while singing. So it's a self contained prop that I want to trigger with a VSA DMX relay.

But wait!

I just found out that the newest version of VSA supports multiple audio files and multiple sound cards!!! This could be the answer I'm looking for! I need to upgrade to VSA 4.0!

I'm still completely open to other suggestions as well.

-DGM