Thread: timer advice

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I want to make or buy some kind of a timed device to bang on the inside lid of a coffin to make it look like something inside is trying to get out. If the banging is too regular, the effect won't be very good. I need some way to put a timer to something like a 110v electric variable speed drill motor so it comes on for a couple of seconds and then is off for 5 or 10 or something like that. Do any of you electricians or electronics wizards have any advice? Of course, affordability is always a factor

Why not use a motion detector on test mode, walmart $10ish, and the prop will activate when someone walks past it. It will stay on 5 to 7 seconds then cut off till someone walks by it.

Or you could use the motion detector with a time delay relay. If you got a 10 second relay, it would keep the prop from activating for 10 seconds.

You could use one or two of these.

If you were to use the drill motor, you could use just one... set the interval for your 10 sec, and duration for 2.

Or, you could use a solenoid to bang on the coffin (then you wouldn't hear the drill motor). In this case, you could get two of the interval timer relays, wire up one relay to power the second, and the second relay to power the solenoid. That way, you could get a rap-rap-rap............ rap-rap-rap......... etc.

To get this last one to work right, you would need to change a resistor on the solenoid interval timer, since you probably don't want 2.5s (minimum interval) between each rap.

- Hook

Hey Cranky, everyone else's suggestions are great and are all pretty easy.

Another suggestion is to make your own 555 timer circuit, this is super easy and quick.
This is a good tutorial and is very simple to follow

This is a 555 timer calaculator http://freespace.virgin.net/matt.wai...y/pinouts/555/ (use the astable calculator)

A while ago i started my own thread which was just like this, i decided to use a 555 timer circuit. I had no idea about them until watching the video and lots and lots of questions. So if you consider this option then any questions you have will proably be answered there.

Heres the thread HELP! Timing a prop

Thanks

Phil

Thanks Phil but I guess there's something I'm missing that falls into the "Duh" category (I never claimed to know much about electronics ) With a 555 timer, how does one modify the duration and the intervals? Also how does this connect to the circuit that I need to control?

The interval timer relay kit I linked to is a 555 timer circuit It's got everything you need, including the relay and a PCB too. Here's a link to the manual (circuit diagram included). Tell me the duration and timeout times you want, and I'll tell ya what component you'll need to change. Phil's way is cool if you have the time, and want to learn circuit construction techniques. But if you're under the gun, this relay is the way to go

- Hook

What Hook said. These little kits are easy to assemble and use. Changing a resistor or cap here and there allows you to choose the timing intervals you need. See this site for a nice interval calculator:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/LM555.html#3
Scroll down to the "Basic astable oscillator circuit" calculator.

Sorry Hooked on scares i didn't realise you posted that link, i have to say that right now halloween is appraching quickly and this is probably your best option, but i highly reccomend you try building a 555 timer circuit in the future, its been so useful to me.

Just to answer your question, the value of the capacitor and relays number 1 and 2 vary the time that the prop stays on/off for, thats why you use the 555 timer calculator to work out how different values of resistors/capacitor will alter how long your prop stays on/off.

Also you would need a relay coming from pin three to ground. the prop would then connect to the relay. But as i said before, the relay timer kit is great and will do the job perfectly. I must also add that Otaku guided me through the making of my first 555 timer circuit,and he knows his stuff so you know your getting a pro's advice here ( i think he's a pro, are you a pro Otaka? )

Thanks

Phil

You could use a fogger timer hack:
Fogger Timer/Prop Timer Hack