This interesting DIY IR Light Dimmer project allows you to make your light into a remote controlled dimmable system, best of all it uses one you your existing remote controls. Have a look at the schematic below and notice that there is no low voltage transformer for the microcontroller. The board layout, schematic and microcontroller code is available so that you can build your very own.

Thanks Muris

"Dimmer is connected to existing home wiring installation inside a junction box, which is usually located above the light switch. In order to properly connect the dimmer to installation one should follow the schematics provided for that purpose. If connected differently there is a very big chance of some freaky side effects such as burned PIC microcontroller, serious fire and who knows what else."

Even if you aren’t a car guy this High Octane Chess Set which is made from Car Parts is sure to put a smile on your face. Instead of dumping the old engine parts into the scrap metal bin where it will fetch a few cents the RevRod crew decided to make one of the heaviest chess sets I have ever seen.

Via: DIY LED Chess Set Comments

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This Servoelectric Guitar is an interesting concept, it is cool so see the combination of art, electronics and mechanical components. What we need next is a machine that also automatically pucks the strings as it tensions the strings.

Thanks Keith.

"A servoelectric guitar is a fretless guitar that is played by controlling servomotors that change the tension of the strings over an octave or more on a real-time basis. Tuning is maintained by closed loop tension feedback for rapid and predictable response. Relatively small electrical motors and DC servo amplifiers are possible through a novel compensator spring design."

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Here is a cool RC Controlled Propeller Powered Skateboard. I am impressed at how quick Ryan Bavetta from Crazy Builders was able to put it together. Watch the time lapse video below to watch the 4 hour build progress a plank of wood and some parts into one of the coolest DIY skateboards I have ever seen! There is also some build details over at Instructables.

"It took approximately four hours of building time to complete the build spread over four days as I gathered parts and finalized the design between steps. The build was straightforward and mostly consisted of strapping an overpowered model airplane engine onto a plank and attaching skateboard wheels."

Via: Zedomax and The Daily Hack

Vern Graner wrote an interesting article in the latest Nuts and Volts magazine that goes over some pneumatic basics. Best of all he interfaces the pneumatics to some electronics so that us electronic people can understand it. It’s so true that when all you have is a hammer everything looks like a nail. I can think of lots of times that I would think the obvious solution was a servo motor but a pneumatic cylinder could have performed the job just as well. I think I will have to get some of these valves and cylinders to play with! Vern recommends Surplus Center as a good resource, I had a look and was very surprised at the prices. Some of the cylinders start at $5.00 which is cheaper than an entry level servo. Of course there will be other equipment needed, the most expensive being the air compressor.

Weiss from Volunteer Lab Rats posted a cool picture of an old Electric Cannon in the forum. As you know we love coil guns around here! I didn’t realize that this idea had been around for this long though. I would love to see how the coil sequencing circuit was designed back then, I am thinking it would be completely mechanical. It could be as simple as the projectile pressing on some switches as it moves down the barrel to turn off some coils and turn others on.

Thanks to BudgetGadgets.com for providing the cool prize this week. The USB Mini Fridge Refrigerator Drink Cans Cooler/Warmer will be a welcome addition to the desk of any true geek. In addition to the prize Budget Gadgets is also providing a 5% discount coupon to all Hacked Gadget readers, simply use the coupon code AM5OFF4 when checking out. This contest will run for one week (Feb 7- 12, 2009) . Ending time is based on central standard time. To enter, identify the item pictured above and give an example of what can be done with it.

Please do not give the answer in the comments. 

Send an email to contest @ hackedgadgets.com with "Name the Thing Contest" as the subject, and the message body consisting of:

• The name of the item in the above picture
• An example of what the item pictured above can be used for

The winner will be chosen at random from all of the correct entries.

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Added February 22, 2009

The item to guess was a Color Wheel

The winner is Matthias R. (There were 137 entries)

As of March 17, 2009 Matthias has not responded to winning emails so an alternative winner has been selected. The new winner is Chris G.

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Below is a picture of the prize.

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