Thread: Air blaster help please

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Does anyone out there have a detailed list of items needed to build a successful/scarey air blast cannon "ankle blaster"?

See if this link helps.
http://www.hauntedyards.com/cannon1.html

I built one and put a pressure mat sensor on mine.

how did you get power to the spinkler valve? I was thinking about using a trigger or motion detector for my trigger but I haven't figured out how to get power to either one of them. I know in your recommendation it talked about a 24V wall adapter, i guess i am just having a hard time comprehending the powering portion of the blaster.

You can get a 24volt transformer at home depot or lowes. It will be in the irrigation section. It has 2 wires. The silonoid on the valve has 2 wires. You soder the 2 wires from the valve to the 2 wires to the transformer. Plug in the transformer to a wall outlet and the valve will open. I wired up a pressure mat to the cannon so the connon is only activated when someone steps on the mat. The mat I bought at Harbor Freight for $10. To wire up the mat to the cannon you do the following. One wire from the mat goes to one wire on the valve. The other wire on the mat will go to one wire on the transformer. The other wire on the transformer will go to the valve. Plug in the transformer to outlet or extention cord. Step on the mat and the valve will open. Make sense? I can post a picture if you need me too.

This is the transformer I use. I cut the little white plug off on the end of the wires, striped the wires then soderd as I stated in the previous post.
http://www.rainbird.com/homeowner/pr...parts/ut-1.htm

Thank you very much for your help.

OK, so i have put my cannon together using a bunch of galvanized pipe and a 3/4 inch sprinkler valve. I have rig it up with a 12V wall adapter and i have power to the valve. The problem i am having is when i connect the power, i get a good inital pop sound but it is followed by a low consent sound (remainder of the air coming out). I can make the noise stop by plugging the end with my hand for a short period of time which seems like the valve is "closing" when i do that. Any ideas on how to get the valve to close quicker?

As long as you have it pluged in, the valve will stay open. You will need some kind of on and off switch like a pressure mat or momentary motion sensor wired inbetween the tranformer and valve.

So plugging and unplugging the adapter would not shut the valve?

As soon as you unplugged the the transformer, the valve will close and air will stop. Plug the transformer back in the outlet and the valve will open. Transformer pugged in = valve open. Transformer unplugged = valve closed