Here is a cool project that you can build from a few parts that will allow you to power fluorescent lights with a 12 volt battery.

This low cost project even teaches you how to wind your own transformer from salvaged parts.

This link is from a interactive electronics e-magazine stocked full of electronics projects and tutorials. There is also a basic electronics course and micro-computer programming course that can be purchased for a small fee.

Many of the lessons feature animated gif images that really aid in the learning process on how electronics circuits work.

Here is a link to the Fluorescent light project

Here is a link to the Talking Electronics web site

This is an exciting time at Hacked Gadgets. We are going to see some fantastic articles written by some new faces. Over the next number of weeks we will see the addition of four great writers who have lots to contribute!

Joe Pitz has a variety of interests that range from flying to software development, to learn more about Joe Pitz have a look at his bio.

Joe also has many of his projects featured on Hacked Gadgets in the past, one of my favorites is his Solder Re-work Station. Below are a few of my favorite pictures from the Joe Pitz’s Photos Flickr site.

Please make Joe feel welcome here.

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Teamcynergy has come up with a Laser Beam activated Paintball Gun. It is constructed using a Parallax Basic Stamp kit purchased at Radio Shack. This project truly demonstrates that you don’t need tons of equipment to build something that is very interesting.

“Watch as this machine gun senses someone in its path using laser and fires relentlessly when an object crosses its path. Watch the making of on www.teamcynergy.com to learn how this machine gun was made using a basic stamp2 microcontroller, photoresitor, laser and a Tipman X7 Flatline Paintball Marker using Egrip with 3 round burst to fully automate the response trigger.”

Thanks Alexander

By adding a microcontroller and some white LEDs this normal everyday clock is transformed into a very interesting and unique clock.

“KapteinKUK have modified his wall clock by adding 12 LEDs controlled by ATtiny2313 microcontroller. LEDs are flashing randomly driven patterns with some variable intensity driven by PWM channel.”

Congratulation to the last contest winner.

The prize this week is a 2.5″ PATA hard disk enclosure that allows you to take your data on the road. Just slide in a drive (not included) and plug into your USB port.

This contest will run for this weekend only (November 24- 25, 2007) . 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 November 28, 2007

Thanks to all who entered.
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Below is a pictures of the prize.

We don’t show off many retail products here. But occasionally a product like this Eye Fi device becomes available. There are a few high end digital cameras that have WiFi built in so that they can automatically transfer pictures to your computer. Now for about $100 you can simply swap out your existing SD card and transform your picture taking experience. Just imagine no longer having to remove the card and plug it into a reader or mess with docking stations and USB cables. Kirk Yuhnke from Fox 13 News has put together a good review of the device that also shows off how you can have it automatically upload your images to your favorite picture site.

“The Eye-Fi Card is a wireless memory card. It automatically uploads pictures from your digital camera to your PC or Mac and to your favorite photo sharing, printing, blogging or social networking site.”

Babblin5 created a simple way to save some of your heating costs this winter. For the effort needed this project sounds like it would pay for itself in a about a week of operation!

“Create a cheap and green solar heater for less than $10. All you need is foam board, lots of pennies, black spray paint, and plexiglass. The assembled product should be placed next to a window and can increase the room temperature by a minimum of 10 degrees (according to the video), depending on the amount of sunlight that reaches the heater.”

Via: Life Hacker