How-To: Electronic Piggy Bank (video)

Learn to make a glowing electronic piggy bank in this tutorial video using the Programmable 1 Coin Acceptor. Video on YouTube and Vimeo, code on Github.

ID786 LRG

Coin Acceptor – Programmable 1 Coin Type.

Your project may be free-as-in-speech, but that doesn’t mean it has to be free-as-in-beer. This handy coin validator/acceptor module is just like the ones you’ve seen in arcades. First, program it with what coin you want it to accept, any coin from 10.8mm to 25.1mm in diameter can be used. When a valid coin is inserted, the output line will pulse for 20-60ms (configurable). The acceptor looks for diameter, thickness, dropping speed, etc to determine if a coin is valid. You can select 3 different “strictness” levels.

Comes with the acceptor itself, mounting hardware, and a cable for power/signal.

To program the validator: power with 12VDC (red wire goes to +12VDC, black wire to common ground). Press and hold the little button on top for 5 seconds and release. The LED will be on. Now insert 30 sample coins of the value you want to detect (say 30 quarters or 30 Euro coins). Once the LED goes out it’s programmed! Connect a 10K (1K to 100K is fine) pullup resistor from the white wire to your microcontroller’s VCC line (for Arduino, this is a +5V). Insert a coin, and verify that the LED line pulses high for about 40 milliseconds.

  • Power requirements: 12VDC (+- 20%)
  • Quiescent current: ~25mA
  • Peak current (for solenoid): 400mA
  • Accepts coins from 10.8mm to 15.1mm in diameter, 1.2mm to 3.0mm thick
  • Programmable for a single coin

ID787 LRG

There’s also a 4-coin model: Coin Acceptor – Programmable 4 Coin Type



Jenny Holzer printer (video)

It’s really easy to change the output of the Internet of Things Printer– the Twitter query is just one line of code you modify in the Arduino sketch. In this video I show you how to reprogram the IoTP to print Jenny Holzer aphorisms directly on my desk (although yes, I realize the twitter account isn’t run by Holzer herself).

The Internet of Things Printer is open source: you can read the tutorial, download the code and enclosure laser files, and please share your own versions with us in the Adafruit Flickr pool!


Window-101

NEW PRODUCT – Adafruit IoT Printer Project Pack “Internet of Things” printer. Build an “Internet of Things” connected mini printer that will do your bidding! This is a fun weekend project that comes with a beautiful laser cut case. Once assembled, the little printer connects to Ethernet to get Internet data for printing onto 2 1/4″ wide receipt paper. The example sketch we’ve written will connect to Twitter’s search API and retrieve and print tweets according to your requests: you can have it print out tweets from a person, a hashtag, mentioning a word, etc! Once you’ve gotten that working, you can of course easily adapt our sketch to customize the printer.

The project is not very difficult but does require some light soldering, so you’ll want to have a little experience with a soldering iron. You’ll also need a small flathead screwdriver to assemble the box. It’s also best if you’ve had a little Arduino experience so you can feel comfortable downloading the IDE and uploading our example sketch.

Contains:

Kit-Parts

This pack does not contain an Arduino+Arduino Ethernet Shield, Arduino Ethernet or Ethernet cable To complete the project you will need to add either an Arduino + Ethernet Shield or an Arduino UNO Ethernet. If you’re using an Arduino UNO Ethernet you will also need an FTDI friend or FTDI cable to upload the sketch. A plain straight-thru Ethernet cable is also required (any length)

Before purchasing, please check out the full tutorial with images, code, etc!

In stock and tweeting now!



Slip Ring (video)

Here’s a video of our new slip ring in action, which rotates freely while maintaining six wire connections.


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NEW PRODUCT – Slip Ring with Flange – 22mm diameter, 6 wires, max 240V @ 2A. With a slip ring assembly, your electronics can now twist and turn safely. Add wheel encoders, 360 degree sensors, rotating LEDs, rotors and more! We’ve seen a lot of people DIY slip ring’s out of desperation but no longer, simply pick up one of these to solve any rotation needs you have.

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Inside the plastic tube is a gold plated slip ring for 6 wires. There are six color coded wire sets made of 26 AWG and no matter how you twist the assembly, they will remain in continuity. Each of the wire sets can carry up to 2A at up to 240VAC or 240VDC. There’s a 44mm (1.7″) diameter flange with mounting holes to make it easy to attach or you can cut it off with a hacksaw and drill/machine as you wish it seems to just be ABS plastic. Rated to rotate up to 300 RPM (but you can probably go faster if you don’t mind a reduced life and/or noise).

  • Rated voltage: 240VAC/240VDC
  • Rated current: 2 Amp
  • 6 x 6″ long 26 AWG wires

In stock and twirling!

Filed under: Adacast,wires-cables-etc — by Becky Stern, posted at 1:30 pm


NEW PRODUCT – 12mm Diffused Flat Digital RGB LED Pixels (Strand of 25) [WS2801]

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NEW PRODUCT – 12mm Diffused Flat Digital RGB LED Pixels (Strand of 25) [WS2801]. RGB Pixels are digitally-controllable lights you can set to any color, or animate. Each RGB LED and controller chip is molded into a ‘dot’ of silicone. The dots are waterproof and rugged. There are four flanges molded in so that you can ‘push’ them into a 12mm drill hole in any material up to 1.5mm/0.06″ thick. They’re typically used to make outdoor signs. These pixels have a flat square back, we also have pixels that are long and thin, both are the same electronics, just different shapes!

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The pixels are connected by a 4-conductor cable. +5V (Red), Ground (Blue), Data (Yellow) and Clock (Green). Data is shifted down from one pixel to the next so that you can easily cut the strand or attach more onto the end.

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Each dot is digitally controlled, with an internal 8-bit PWM LED driver (24-bit color for 16 million different shades). The pixels must be clocked by a microcontroller, we have an example code linked below that works on an Arduino, it should be simple to adapt it to any other microcontroller.

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The pixels use 8mm diffused RGB LEDs, with a 120 degree beam width. The total max brightness of all LEDs is about 1600mcd but with the light more evenly distributed & mixed than a clear LED. (Please note: mcd ratings of LEDs are notoriously inflated by most LED sellers, so be extra-skeptical when reviewing LED ratings!)

Sold by the strand, each strand has 25 pixels in series! Each strand has two JST SM 4-pin connectors so you can connect multiple strands in a row, as many as you wish, just watch for how much current they want. We now have LED pixel strands with the power wires (red & blue) spliced out so its really easy to connect 5VDC in using a 2.1mm jack terminal adapter. We have a 5V/2A supply that should be able to drive 2 or more strands and a 5V/10A supply that can drive up to 160 LEDs all lit up at once

If you want to connect to the input of a strand (to wire it to power and a microcontroller) please get a plug connector. If you want to connect to the output, get a receptacle cable.

You can drive these with an Arduino using any two microcontroller digital pins, check this library which also has example code to demonstrate the strands and be sure to read our very detailed tutorial on usage!

  • 12mm diameter (0.45″) 23mm deep (0.9″) from the top of the LED to the back of the rubber
  • 88mm / 3.5″ apart on the strand
  • 25 pieces per strand
  • These pixels use a WS2801 chip for full 24 bit color
  • 5V power, 60mA maximum per pixel (LED on full white)
  • 2-pin SPI-like protocol
  • WS2801 Datasheet for the chip inside each pixel
  • Brightness: Red = 3.3 Lumens/300 mcd, Green = 10 Lumens/1000 mcd, Blue = 2.7 Lumens/300 mcd (mcd calculation based on full 120 degree beam)

In stock and blinking!

Filed under: Adacast,leds-lcds — by adafruit, posted March 5, 2012 at 5:57 pm


Adafruit featured in iPad magazine – GO, GO GADGETS – THEDAILY

GO, GO GADGETS @ THEDAILY. This is that new iPad magazine, and it’s also online – Adafruit makes an appearance!

Meet the real-life MacGyvers. Engineers and garage tinkerers across the country are building their own MP3 players, 3D printers and, yes, even light guns. And they say you can too. The Daily talked to some of the leaders of this gadget revolution and found that you don’t have to be a genius to make something. You just have to be curious.

Filed under: Adacast — by adafruit, posted March 10, 2011 at 12:00 pm


END OF REEL – Mazel tov!

END OF REEL – Mazel tov! (video)

Filed under: Adacast — by adafruit, posted October 22, 2010 at 12:01 pm


Our DIY tray for the Pick and Place in action! (video)


Our DIY tray for the Pick and Place in action! (video).



What’s new in the new Arduino UNO (video)


Wondering about the past Arduinos? Or what’s new with the Arduino UNO? In this short video we talk about Arduino past and present! (video, m4v).

This video is a companion to the Arduino FAQ here.



Open source hardware summit keynote – Limor “Ladyada” Fried


Open source hardware summit keynote – Limor “Ladyada” Fried (video m4v).



USB, serial and you (photos & iTunes video link)…

Pt 10361

USB, serial and you (photos & iTunes video link, m4v)…

Filed under: Adacast — by adafruit, posted September 15, 2010 at 10:43 am


The mysteries of Apple device charging (video)

In this 7 minute video we explore “The mysteries of Apple device charging“. Usually device makers need to sign a confidentially agreement with Apple who want to say “works with iPhone / iPod” and never talk about how the insides work. If you don’t put these secret resistors on the data lines to you get the dreaded “CHARGING IS NOT SUPPORTED WITH THIS ACCESSORY”. We demonstrate how anyone can do this and make their own chargers that work with iPhone 4, 3Gs, etc. Video above, HD and (m4v).

Usb4Res

Mintyboost Lrg

We’ve updated our open source charger, the MintyBoost as well, today is its official release.

Want more details? See our article on Apple Charging with more technical info and schematics



Slides from HOPE

Slides from HOPE and the PDF article of getting started with a kit biz. We’ll try and get a video posted later!

Filed under: Adacast,events — by adafruit, posted July 19, 2010 at 12:49 pm


Site updates – all products now have product IDs

Pt 10181

Pt 10184
We now include a product ID on each product in the listing pages as well as the product page for every item now. For example the Arduino is prodect ID: 50. These product IDs make it easier for purchasing managers to confirm that they’re ordering the right stuff, these product IDs are also in our downloadable PDF.

Filed under: Adacast,random — by adafruit, posted July 1, 2010 at 6:00 pm


Adafruit now has a catalog – printable PDF

Pt 10140

By popular request – Adafruit now has a catalog – a printable PDF. We automagically generate it each time we have new products and also each month. It’s linked on every single page at the bottom of the left side navigation & product list – download / view it / print it / share it – Printable catalog (PDF).



Million dollar baby – Businesses designing and selling open source hardware, making millions


At O’Reilly’s foo camp east 2010 at Microsoft’s NERD center (MIT campus) we presented “Million dollar baby – Businesses designing and selling open source hardware, making millions” at the Ignite hour. 20 slides, 15 seconds per slide – we tried to capture the excitement and great work from just a few of the dozens of open source hardware companies & resellers. Above, slides, photos & video (m4v). Special thanks to all the companies who helped with some data points and to the OSHW workshop group. There are additional videos/posts/tweet from other attendees, this is our quick video we were able to put together on the train ride back from MA to NYC.



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