circuits

Weekend Projects – Covert Listening Book

Complete instructions for this episode of Weekend Projects can be found at
http://makeprojects.com/Project/Covert+Listening+Book/2150/1

Connect an amplified listener with an in-car FM transmitter, and you’ve got a wireless bug. Place the circuit in a hollowed-out book with the microphone concealed by the dust cover, and you’ve got a super-sneaky covert listening device! Tune in via a FM radio receiver set to the correct frequency, and you’ll be able to hear through walls.

Continue Reading November 15th, 2012April 20th, 2015 Makemagazineuser

Smart Umbrella Stand

Being wet weather season, this ambient weather forecasting umbrella stand hack from Simone Marra illustrates just how easy it is to integrate a networked controller with your project. Utilizing a Grove Nest board, a WiFi networking module, a motion sensor, and some RGB LEDs, Marra has built a handy way of remembering to bring an umbrella on your way out the door.

Continue Reading November 14th, 2012 Adam Flaherty22

Freeform Arduino Bliss

Designer Kimio Kosaka soldered together an entire Arduino using the difficult freeform method.

Continue Reading November 9th, 2012 Michael Colombo14

New in the Maker Shed: Prototyping Pi Plate Kit for Raspberry Pi

Are you ready to make some embedded projects and experiment with your Raspberry Pi? The Prototyping Pi Plate Kit (now available in the Maker Shed) fits right on top of your Pi and gives you plenty of prototyping goodness.

Continue Reading November 8th, 2012November 16th, 2015 Michael Castor6

Jeri’s Short Circuit: A One-Bit ADC

We love Jeri Ellsworth’s electronics videos and have missed them of late (as she’s made the move from Oregon to Washington to work at Valve Software). She’s baaaaack! And with a cool, simple circuit for building a 1-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) using a single flipflop IC (such as a 74LS*) to do the sampling. If […]

Continue Reading November 5th, 2012 Gareth Branwyn4

Weekend Projects – PIR Sensor Arduino Alarm

Complete instructions for this episode of Weekend Projects can be found at
http://makeprojects.com/Project/PIR+Sensor+Arduino+Alarm/72/1

This project is great for those beginning to build with Arduino, and requires no soldering. Using very few components, and some jumper wire, we’ll build a simple motion-sensing alarm. This project combines technologies we’ve used in previous Weekend Projects, including a PIR sensor and piezo buzzer. It’s great for practical jokes and doubles as an early warning system for the zombie invasion!

Continue Reading October 31st, 2012August 13th, 2015 Makemagazineuser3

New in the Maker Shed – Bare Conductive Paint and Kits

When I was a kid, I remember drawing lines on paper and saying they were the schematics for a robot. Of course I had no real concept of circuitry or electronics at that age, but it was cool to think I did. Now what if I’d given some Bare Conductive Paint (now available in the Maker Shed) to 6 year old me?

Continue Reading October 29th, 2012March 7th, 2016 Michael Castor