I’m looking for a circuit using a piezo buzzer, that I can hear from the room above the cellar. It will be connected to a Taco Heating Zone Valve on the boiler in the cellar for troubleshooting the thermostat when it goes on and off.
#3194
G Forcino
via email
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I’m looking for some pointers on winding coils. On a second layer of winding, should the direction reverse when reaching the end of the core, or return to the starting side and wind in the same direction? It seems like winding in the reverse direction would cancel out the field. Does it matter which direction?
#1194
Jordan Bracegirdle
Toronto, CN
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Is it possible to replicate tubular bell tones with a microcontroller? I’m needing realistic, deep, resonating tones. If so, are there any micro requirements that would make one device more suited over others and how do I create the tones? I want to program short 10-15 sec jingles of my own composition.
#1193
Sara Hanchett
Forest Grove, OR
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I have a bunch of old optical disks that have data archived from about 20 years ago that I would like to access. I found the stand-alone drive in a box of old computer junk, complete with the big SCSI cable. Problem is that I don’t have the computer anymore that has the SCSI card to plug it into, and don’t even know where to begin to look for one.
Is there something comparable that will work with a modern computer? An SCSI to USB adapter maybe? What about drivers? The old machine was probably Windows 98.
#1192
Mark Cisneros
Columbia, TN
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I have a 100 amp 110 volt DC generator. I want to convert the output to 60-cycle AC. Does anyone have a schematic or info to build a converter? How much power loss can I expect in the final converted output? Thanks for any info.
#1191
Lucio Saunders
Indianapolis, IN
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There are a number of articles in the past issues of Nuts & Volts for a variety of ways to control devices in a home using a variety of control devices and schemes. However, none seem to have the combination of characteristics that I want. I would like to control a pair of simple low current AC sockets (ON/OFF) from my cell phone. I would like to use a combination of an existing app, a PIC style device (Ardunio or whatever), and a Wi-Fi module to connect it to my existing Wi-Fi. I do not see why a $100 hub should be needed. My present cell phone uses the Windows operating system, but I know that apps for it are scarce and I am willing to get an Android device. I’m stuck on finding the cell phone app and the Wi-Fi module. I would assume that I would have to write the appropriate code for the PIC device. I can interface the PIC with a relay, probably a solid state one. Any suggestions?
#3193
Edward Alciatore
Beaumont
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My brother has an old MG that he likes tinkering with. He wants to use the side lights to indicate when the turn signal is on for drivers that are on either side of him. Normally, the side lights turn on and off with the headlights.
In his case — and to reduce peak power consumption to the blinker circuit — he would like the side lights to turn on when the signals are off, and vice versa (when the turn signal switch is turned on). Additionally, if the lights are on, the side lights should give priority to the turn signal, turning on and off, opposite to the signals in the front and rear, and returning to full on when the turn signal is not engaged.
I think the simplest way to do this would be with solid-state relays and the use of some logic gates (for each side). I have built hundreds of logic circuits, but have not really dabbled much in automotive applications. I know the electronics have their own temperature and performance specs and are noisy environments, not to mention the notoriously bad reputation that English cars have for electrics. Can you recommend a circuit for this application? (This car is a NEGATIVE chassis).
#3192
Patrick Gilmore
Amherst
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A local STEAM program is looking into using an RC car or truck to simulate operating a vehicle on the moon or other astronomical object. One big opportunity to excel is introducing a time delay (say five seconds) into the steering system to model the time required for radio to go signals to and from the vehicle. The first thought is to buffer the command string at the transmitter or receiver. Ideas, hints, suggestions?
#3191
Jon Caples
Parker, CO
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Is there a way to vary the speed of a music CD player? I play my instruments along with the recordings and need to vary the pitch slightly to match the tuning of my instrument. We used to do this easily with vinyl by varying the speed of the turntable.
#11188
Klaus Herman
Raleigh, NC
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Answers
CD players for professional/DJ market have variable pitch built in.
Erik von Seggern
Escondido, CA
I would be surprised. CD players are designed to KEEP their speed. I would convert the song to one of the usual audio file formats (mp3, wav) and run it on a computer with the free audacity tool. That lets you change the speed and even allows you keep the pitch! (Effect -> Change Tempo; Effect -> Change Speed). I use audacity constantly.
Werner G
via email
Could someone explain what pull-up and pull-down resistors are, when and how they’re used, and how to calculate their values?
#11187
Andy Dietrich
Dallas, TX
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