» MAKE: NOISE — Discuss this article

Showing messages 1 through 3 of 3.

• It works!
  You must be logged in to reply.
  
  
  After letting it sit for a while, I went back and tried following the directions, and they work. The only thing wrong with the article seems to be instruction 4., which says to connect the red wire to a positive 12V and the black to ground and you will hear the buzzer and the light will illuminate.
  That's wrong.
  The red and black wires output 9V and are used for checking the speaker polarity.
  

  The pop test is when you have two speaker wires and they are not marked for polarity, or you're not certain that they are hooked up as they should be. Touching the red to the positive and the black to the negative speaker wires will induce a popping sound from the speaker, so you know you have the wires identified correctly.
  

  Another neat test uses the green and red wires, which when hooked up to a hot set of wires will buzz and light when hooked up to correct polarity, and only light when hooked up backwards.
  

  Posted by Pierson on September 29, 2005 at 18:30:52 Pacific Time

• Problems with Ubertester
  You must be logged in to reply.
  
  
  The first time I tried making the Ubertester I got the first test to work, the green and black clips gave me a tone and a light. I couldn't get the second test to work, the red and black hooked up to a low voltage. I figured that it was because I used butt connectors and the size of the wires were too far apart. So I made it again, this time soldering the wires. I triple-checked that I was wiring everything per the article, and still the red and black test doesn't work. Is it possible that the article is incorrect in its description?
  Also, even though Radio Shack part numbers are supplied, which was helpful, the photos make it clear that Radio Shack parts weren't used. There isn't any loose space inside the Radio Shack box that needs cotton padding. I needed to cut out the circuit board posts on the bottom of the box, and after about 20-30 minutes of jiggling, got everything to fit inside.

  Posted by Pierson on August 10, 2005 at 13:35:19 Pacific Time

• User questions about Ubertester
  You must be logged in to reply.
  
  
  Very neat. I decided to make this because I'm working on installing a commercial remote system which I scrounged for and bought parts from PartsExpress.
  
  I have to do a little troubleshooting (start from scratch) because I blew out a big hole using the half inch drill bit (I'm going to start with smaller bit and work my way up) and I'm not sure exactly how to use it.
  
  What indicates a positive or negative polarity? What is the speaker "pop" test? Is wire loop back the same as a resistance test? The others I think I can figure out.
  
  Great idea. Thanks.
  
  Pierson

  Posted by Pierson on August 07, 2005 at 18:11:03 Pacific Time