New bender seeks guidance

Kees · March 16, 2009, 02:07:17 PM

Mrs Uiterspees took me to a Maker Faire at the weekend: http://makerfaire.com/

It was wonderful.

I learned to solder, and I made a Brain Machine: http://www.makershed.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MSBM

Now I can solder I can at last have a try at Circuit Bending, and all my dreams will come true.

I have couple of questions:

1. If I find an electronic sound source, can I then bend it by sending the current into another machine, and bending that? Like a dead TV for example, or just a circuit board from a TV, or...a mobile phone...or a computer joystick? Are there any obvious problems with using mains voltage equipment in my battery voltage circuits?

2. Do people buy new switches, pots, caps etc, or do you salvage them all from old equipment? [/color][/color]

Circuitbenders · March 16, 2009, 02:24:15 PM

1: Don't even think about messing with TV's or any mains voltage equipment unless you have a good idea what you are doing, or theres every possibilty you'll kill yourself, or at least kill whatever you've trying to bend. Just wiring one circuitboard into another from another machine with no idea of what either board is doing is going to produce absolutely nothing 99.9% of the time. Even if it was going to produce something, that would definately come under the heading of advanced bending. I'd advise starting on a few simple toys and following some basic circuitbending guides before you end up killing yourself or something expensive.

2. Theres loads of posts on this forum about sourcing components, not least in the components section

Kees · March 16, 2009, 03:03:14 PM

Hi Paul,

I wasn't planning to use a 240 volt supply. If I take a circuit board out of a 240V TV (or similar) and only put 6 volts through it, is that still dangerous?

Gordonjcp · March 16, 2009, 04:46:04 PM

Quote from: Kees on March 16, 2009, 03:03:14 PM
If I take a circuit board out of a 240V TV (or similar) and only put 6 volts through it, is that still dangerous?

It's unlikely to do anything useful. Start off with something like a cheap "toy" keyboard or similar.

hoffy · March 17, 2009, 06:42:58 AM

I'd suggest trawling charity shops/ebay etc. for devices that have loads of guides on them. Hr-16, rx-17, yamaha keyboards, casio sk/sa range... And following the guides. I did that for a while and in no time I was destroying everything that came my way (creatively, of course).

Good luck.

theshame · March 18, 2009, 10:07:26 PM

Quote from: Kees on March 16, 2009, 03:03:14 PM
Hi Paul,

I wasn't planning to use a 240 volt supply. If I take a circuit board out of a 240V TV (or similar) and only put 6 volts through it, is that still dangerous?

To answer the second part of your question, YES this is absolutely DANGEROUS. TVs have capacitors large enough to kill you, even when they aren't plugged in, and even if they've been unplugged for a long time.

Your best bet is to stay away from anything that plugs into a wall unless you have solid knowledge of electronics.

goldenbaby · March 19, 2009, 04:57:17 AM

Quote from: Kees on March 16, 2009, 02:07:17 PM

I learned to solder, and I made a Brain Machine: http://www.makershed.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MSBM

Wow, that thing looks amazing. Tell me, quite honestly, how well does that thing work for you?

I'd like to get one, but I don't think I have a POV port, or whatever he hooked that gizmo up to on a computer.

Kees · March 19, 2009, 09:06:56 AM

Quote from: goldenbaby on March 19, 2009, 04:57:17 AM

Wow, that thing looks amazing. Tell me, quite honestly, how well does that thing work for you?

I'd like to get one, but I don't think I have a POV port, or whatever he hooked that gizmo up to on a computer.

It does look amazing, but that is partly because of the psychedelic paper patterns stuck on the front of the sunglasses.

I was very surprised at the effect it had on me. Cycling visual patterns and fleeting hallucinations. I didn't find it relaxing, but maybe that is because I have only used the preprogrammed 14 minute sequence of changes between wave types. I haven't tried reprogramming it or hooking it up to a computer yet.

It had the same effect on me with or without the audio, but the audio makes it seem more intense, I suppose.

The inventor of the device runs a help forum, and he seems to provide an excellent service there, if you wanted to find out more about the POV port business I am sure he will tell you.

I find it slightly scary to have the LEDs flashing so close to my eyes. I took it on trust that they won't explode, but maybe that was foolish of me. I'm thinking of sticking some clear hard plastic over them (on the inside of the sunglasses) just to provide reassurance.

With hindsight, I find it surprising that they aren't more explicit about warning people about the possible effects on epileptics. People at the Maker Faire were just picking the glasses up and putting them on without any warnings or instructions.

It was only £20 for the electronics kit, the (safety) sunglasses, the silly stick-on psychedelic patterns, the battery holder, and the soldering tuition I got at the Faire. I understand that machines that do this brain wave stuff can easily cost hundreds of pounds, so £20 for all that is a bargain.