Thread: Basic electronics?

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I was just wondering how you guys learned the basic electrical stuff needed to make moving props? I know nothing about electrics (not even how to wire a plug) and I'm wondering if, for the future, it would be worth taking an entry-level course in it.

How did you guys learn?

i used online tutorials (instructables.com is a great site) and caution and basic discovery (figuring things out for myself)

Indeed, the best way to learn anything is by doing it yourself. Read up on stuff online, from multiple sources to make sure the info is correct. Ask around, perhaps you have some handy friends.

I controlled everything by hand during my last haunt. Someone joked that I would have it running via a computer next year, and here we are. I've got a 3 axis skull, a relay box set up, dmx stuff.

All you need is fantasy and motivation, oh and from time to time some great help from the awesome guys here!

I used a parallel port controller kit that uses Vixen (a sequencing timing program originally intended for Christmas lights to flash with music but hey ... it works... i had the best Halloween and Christmas displays last year lol) and it will turn on or off 8 outlets so anything i used had to be electrical.

I used a reciprocating saw, light bulbs, speakers (the sound was on a loop so the speaker was what determined when it would play. i could have probably used a solenoid valve as well plugged in to it but i didn't have any pneumatics this year

oh and be very careful! electricity can hurt or kill!

our compressor is way too loud and leaks, so it is constantly refilling itself
YouTube- Halloween 2009

Wow, the guy coming out of the wall at the end is truly frightening!
Pete

that was me (the guy in the chair was fake)... my friend videoed it after the tots were gone... the final run. sigh... Im leaving for college in 3 days so i have to put Halloween on hold for a while

Electronics is like computers. The more I learn, the more I realize how ignorant I am.

so true...

Originally Posted by znelson710

that was me (the guy in the chair was fake)... my friend videoed it after the tots were gone... the final run. sigh... Im leaving for college in 3 days so i have to put Halloween on hold for a while

My son leave for college on Sunday and at $25,000 a year my Halloween might be on hold for a while ....Good Luck Znelson

Lea32R the thing that will help you the most is hands on experience and not being afraid. Always be careful but don't be so afraid that you wont make something. I found once I jumped into building a prop it was really simple and a lot easier than I first thought.

Start out with a prop that runs on a DC motor... like a wiper motor. With DC you can't wire the motor wrong...its impossible. The only thing that would happen if you wired the motor backwards ...the motor would run in reverse. And DC current is safe to work with you can hold both wires in you hand without getting shocked.

AC on the other hand will bite you so be very careful around it.

Electronics is like computers. The more I learn, the more I realize how ignorant I am.

And the more expensive it gets!