Motion-Activated Audio Advice
Motion-Activated Audio Advice
In search of advice! I'm working on an art installation and short of getting a degree in electrical engineering and starting from scratch, I'm stymied. Want to add motion-activated audio, remotely powered, without crazy amounts of cash required. Any thoughts?
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VerbenaMaya
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- Joined: Wed May 12, 2004 1:50 pm
- Location: Eastern NC
Hello Lester,
Hmm. Not much of an electrical person myself, but the most common and maybe cheap form of motion sensor device I can think of is for lights. There are small night lights which detect light/dark for activation, might be appropriate for close proximity stuff where visitor blocking sensor would set it off. For larger coverage, there are the motion sensitive housings for stuff like outdoor spotlights, usually sold in large hardware stores in the home security or outdoor lighting departments. I am sure with some research on the internet, library, or a chit chat with someone in the electrical know, it would not be too hard to convert such a device to work for your project.
Good luck.
Hmm. Not much of an electrical person myself, but the most common and maybe cheap form of motion sensor device I can think of is for lights. There are small night lights which detect light/dark for activation, might be appropriate for close proximity stuff where visitor blocking sensor would set it off. For larger coverage, there are the motion sensitive housings for stuff like outdoor spotlights, usually sold in large hardware stores in the home security or outdoor lighting departments. I am sure with some research on the internet, library, or a chit chat with someone in the electrical know, it would not be too hard to convert such a device to work for your project.
Good luck.
[i]It's true that every time you hear a bell, an angel gets its wings.
But what they don't tell you is that every time you hear a mouse trap snap, an Angel gets set on fire.
- Jack Handy, Deep Thoughts [/i]
But what they don't tell you is that every time you hear a mouse trap snap, an Angel gets set on fire.
- Jack Handy, Deep Thoughts [/i]
Adapting a security light isn't a bad way to go, if you can get a good connection to the socket (or get to the wires underneath the socket) and if you're okay with being limited to 100 watts or so.
You could also buy just the motion sensor and hook it up to a relay that will switch however much power you need. If you go this route you'll probably also have to solve a power problem for the sensor (either batteries or transformer off of AC power)
You could also buy just the motion sensor and hook it up to a relay that will switch however much power you need. If you go this route you'll probably also have to solve a power problem for the sensor (either batteries or transformer off of AC power)
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VerbenaMaya
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Wed May 12, 2004 1:50 pm
- Location: Eastern NC
Even cheaper and probably less hassle. Check with friends, thrift stores, or online places for those silly motion activated decorations like the halloween witch that cackles or the gasp, singing fish. More than likely should not be too hard to find since the novelty wears off fast and people get rid of such stuff quick. You could probably just take out the electrical components and rewire it to your sound device. When you take it out, pay attention to how the motion sensor part is wired to the el cheapo sound/speakers and the power sources/batteries in the object.
[i]It's true that every time you hear a bell, an angel gets its wings.
But what they don't tell you is that every time you hear a mouse trap snap, an Angel gets set on fire.
- Jack Handy, Deep Thoughts [/i]
But what they don't tell you is that every time you hear a mouse trap snap, an Angel gets set on fire.
- Jack Handy, Deep Thoughts [/i]
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VerbenaMaya
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Wed May 12, 2004 1:50 pm
- Location: Eastern NC
Guess it does depend on how ambitious the project is on the power end. Hehe. I know so little about wattage and whatnot, except that it only takes once to remember to shut off the power before installing fixtures. Oww.
Wish I had paid more attention in art school, I have seen quite a few art installations that made use of motion sensors, but I was too busy enjoying the effects.
Wish I had paid more attention in art school, I have seen quite a few art installations that made use of motion sensors, but I was too busy enjoying the effects.
[i]It's true that every time you hear a bell, an angel gets its wings.
But what they don't tell you is that every time you hear a mouse trap snap, an Angel gets set on fire.
- Jack Handy, Deep Thoughts [/i]
But what they don't tell you is that every time you hear a mouse trap snap, an Angel gets set on fire.
- Jack Handy, Deep Thoughts [/i]
Thanks you two for your helpful input. I think dissecting a Singing Bass is an excellent place to start. And I've decided it's a good time to dive in and learn enough about basic electronics to understand what I'll need in terms of a power supply to operate whatever sensor system I come up with, but also the power needed for an audible volume on the audio I'm trying to trigger. Found lots of sites for electronics enthusiasts, which is good because I'm about to become one!
infra red midi (ie sampler) trigger controllers
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 3724427401
heya - this is what you need - i just put these on ebay today
will
heya - this is what you need - i just put these on ebay today
will
over kill?
well that depends on your point of view and how technical you are and what the scope of your project is...personally i always like an art installation to be professional and super effective techncially underneath the basic artist idea - mind you i am a professional artist, so my livelihood is based on the stuff i do working out properly...
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Captain Goddammit
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Along the lines of what Wilks just said, I'd be more tempted to find some floodlight motion sensors cheap than to use the "singing bass"-type parts, more reliable, weatherproof, and simpler - the toy units are way too low-power, you'll have to run everything through relays while the floodlight units should handle a few hundred watts of stuff. And won't crap out on you.
GreyCoyote: "At this rate it wont be long before he is Admiral Fukkit."