Thread: Simple controller (no computer) for AC powered props

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The Gemmys referred to here are from 5' to 6'2' tall, some have heads that turn, with mouth that moves in sync with dialog, some eyes flash, some arms move, something they are holding talks or lights up, etc. For example the Witch below stirs her water misting cauldron, moves her hips, talks with moving lips and eyes light up. Others like the Mummy or Donna Dead just moan and eyes light up. I think all are powered by - input: 110~120V, output: 6V DC 2000mA.
Priced accordingly. Here is a link to their site -
Gemmy.com

Examples:

Originally Posted by LT Scare

The Gemmys referred to here are from 5' to 6'2' tall, some have heads that turn, with mouth that moves in sync with dialog, some eyes flash, some arms move, something they are holding talks or lights up, etc. For example the Witch below stirs her water misting cauldron, moves her hips, talks with moving lips and eyes light up. Others like the Mummy or Donna Dead just moan and eyes light up. I think all are powered by - input: 110~120V, output: 6V DC 2000mA.

If they are plugged in with a transformer, then you could control the 6VDC output to each Gemmy with the EFX Prop-1 itself for $40 plus $10 for the motion sensor. That would allow you to have the one motion sensor trigger and control up to 7 Gemmys for a whole show. The Prop-1 has 8 low voltage relays on the unit itself, so it would just be a matter of wiring the cables from the Gemmy transformers through the Prop-1 relays. Although you would have some other initial cost of a serial cable and connector, but you can get a whole starter kit for $62.50 plus $10 for the motion sensor puts it less than the picaboo and you could control upto 7 Gemmy's off one motion sensor.

If you wanted to control them manually with X-10, you could plug 8 Gemmy transformers into 8 appliance modules and use a Palm Pad remote to turn them on/off, but that would mean you have to be there to control them vs. having it automated by motion, but its an option. (You would also need one Wireless Transceiver to receive the signals from the Palm Pad remote)

The other thing you could do is us a kit74 which builds 8 relays out of your computer printer port (parallel port). You could use a joystick port for input triggers from like a pressure mat to start a program to turn on/off the kit74 relays as needed. But you'd need to know a bit of programming and be able to solder/assemble the kit.

I'm currently programming with a board from ControlAnything to operate electronic door locks to the building, but they would work just the same for controlling the Gemmy's, but you'd have to know some visual basic programming to use these.

Thanks for the link to the Gemmy's, I'll have to keep and eye out for them and maybe pick up one or two. They look really cool.

The Pod

you can do like he said and use it on the other side of the power supply so that it is only switching low voltage, but instead of using a prop 1 you could use the picoboo f103 its only $69 if you don't need the audio

Now that I've invested in a couple of picaBoos I've found a much cheaper way to control up to 4 AC plugs with delays of 1 sec to 15 min between ... and it's a Chauvet - $50.00
A simpleton's controller!! Plug in, flip a switch, turn a knob. How cool is that!!??

FEATURES
2 or 4-channel controller (selectable)
1 or 2 Edison plug(s) per channel
2-position switch:
Slow chase (1min. to 15 min.)
Fast chase (1sec. to 1 min.)
Sound-activation
Speed control

SPECIFICATIONS
Output (110V): 5A (550W) per/channel, 10A (1100W) max.
Output (230V): 5A (1150W) per/channel, 10A (2300W) max.
Power: Switchable 110V/230V
Shipping Weight: 5 pounds
Size: 4in x 3.5in x 5in

only problem i see with that is it's ment for chasing lights and will start when plugged in and keep going until it's unpluged. and all 4 outputs are on for the same length so if a prop had a slightly longer routine than the last one it would cut it off.

Originally Posted by guitarist155

only problem i see with that is it's ment for chasing lights and will start when plugged in and keep going until it's unpluged. and all 4 outputs are on for the same length so if a prop had a slightly longer routine than the last one it would cut it off.

I see your point. I wonder how the sound activation mode works. If it lies dormant until sound activated, then starts the cycle it might be ok. But I have a hunch that is not how it works.

I also have a couple of remote controlled AC outlets (Home Depot). Plug the Chauvet into one of those and press the button when appropriate to start the cycle. Theses remotes are cheaper than any "trigger" mechanism required for the picaBoo. Again, the Chauvet is much simpler to use and has 4 AC outlets.

The 4 outlet picaBoo is around $250, so rigging a trigger for the Chauvet would still be a cheaper way to go.

Originally Posted by LT Scare

Now that I've invested in a couple of picaBoos...

Are you happy with the PicABoos? I'm looking for a controller/timer to run a prop sequence and would like to hear your opinion.

Ashamed to say I haven't "exercised" them yet. Will try to do that this week, if possible. Been working on and building the haunt structure and fences for the last several weekends. I's time I make certain that the props that will go into the new / modified structure, actually work. I think I'll need to take a week off work!!

OK, last night I changed my plans because this needs to be addressed before I run out of time - and because you asked for it.

I set up my Dr. Shivers and Franky Monster and plugged their wall transformers directly into the F-105 picaBoo. This picaBoo model includes sound control and contols two 110v "house sockets." I didn't take the time to setup an unamplified source and an amplified speaker system for output. I know ... not a full test without doing that. If it works, cool if not ...eh. Nice featur, but not why I bought it. However, I would assume that the sound feature is as effective as the prop control feature.

Following the simple directions, the control is extremely easy to use. After programming it played the first Gemmy, shut off its power, then turned on the second Gemmy using the custom timing for each prop that I "recorded." The recording is accomplished by holding a button down for the duration of the prop's speach. Simple and effective. It worked great.

The one fly in the ointment ... my poor planning. Although I correctly recalled that these two Gemmys will start to play when power is first provided, I did not recall that they always start over again with the same, first speach in their scripts.

So yes, Dr. Shivers will talk, then shut up while Franky talks, but when each has his turn to speak again, each will say the same things they just said, duh. I guess the upside is that the TOTs won't log jam listening to the different dialogs / conversations they would have if they stepped through each speach in their scripts as power was cut, then provided again.

I also tested the Chauvet chasing light device. I used it to control two non speaking props mixed with the two big Gemmys. It will take some practice playing with the timing, but I'd say it works pretty well. The downside is that there is a single "power on" timing interval that is applied to each plug / prop; i.e, 20 seconds for each plug, 2 minutes for each plug, etc. This would work fine for multiple props with the same approximate speach time. But if you set the timing to the longest speach, there will be some "dead air" after the shorter speaches. The up side is that it controls 4 wall plug/wall transformer props for about $50. It does not require a trigger and can be set to sound activation if it fits your needs. I need to play with this some more to see what the best setup is for my haunt. As I recall, the cheapest picaBoo that could control 4 devices is about $250 plus required accessories for that model.

I also bought a picaBoo F-103. It has no sound contol and requires / controls low voltage in and low voltage out. I haven't tested this yet. I'd prefer not to cut the wires from the Gemmy wall transformers, so after a trip to radio shack, I will fabricate a couple of low voltage extension cords to patch between the transformer output and the gemmy input. This extension cord will have one wire "interupted" by being fed into and out of the F-103. I'll be using this with two other Gemmy props and they should work the same as Shivers and Franky with custom time intervals for each prop.

Thanks for asking about this. It prompted me to include some new, requirements into my haunt planning - much better than last minute surprises.

Hope this helps you.

LT

LT, What model chauvet are you using? do you have much exp. with it? thinking of building a stationary vortex tunnel. was looking at the i think its the model 865. was wondering if i could use it to make 8 strands of rope light chase each other to simulate a spinning tunnel.