Dec
31
31
Ring in 2017 with some DIY projects made in the spirit of New Year's Eve.
The post 8 Festive Projects to Ring in the New Year appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Archive for the ‘New Year’s Eve’ Category
Dec
31
31
Ringing in the new year with an Arduino and Calcium Carbide
arduino hacks, Carbide, carbide cannon, New Year's Eve Comments Off on Ringing in the new year with an Arduino and Calcium Carbide
It’s the first we’ve heard of it, but a New Year’s Eve tradition in The Netherlands called Carbidschieten sounds like it’s just up our alley. Basically, a small chunk of calcium carbide and a little bit of water is placed in a metal milk churn. The carbide decomposes into acetylene and a flame is held up to a small hole in the milk churn. The resulting explosion sends the lid of the milk churn across a field and much fun is had by all.
[Edwin Eefting], [Johan Postema], [Elger Postema] are exploding 1000 liters of acetylene this New Years and needed a safe way to detonate their celebration. They came up with an electronic ignition system based on an Arduino that probably makes just as much noise as the explosion itself.
The build is basically an Arduino with a few relays. When a pair of buttons are pressed for longer than a second, the Arduino goes into countdown mode with the requisite alarms and ringing bells. When it’s time to fire the carbide cannon, a power supply is turned on that heats up a glow plug, igniting the acetylene. It’s a great build, and adds an adequate amount of safety for an event involving exploding 1000 liters of acetylene.
You can check out the videos of the countdown timer after the break, or check out the Facebook group here.
Filed under: arduino hacks
Dec
26
26
Buzzed Buzzer gives you a Breathalyzer test while ringing in the new year
alcohol sensor, arduino hacks, breathalyzer, buzzer, mq-3, New Year's Eve, Teensy Comments Off on Buzzed Buzzer gives you a Breathalyzer test while ringing in the new year
We’re not sure if there’s enough time to get a parts order delivered, but no geeky New Year’s party will be complete without a party buzzer that doubles as a Breathalyzer. The Buzzed Buzzer hides all of the necessary bits inside of a paper and plastic party favor. We guess it only buzzes if you’re over the limit? Actually that’s not the case at all. The accuracy of the sensor used in the project really just measures the presence of alcohol and can’t quantify BAC.
A Teensy 2.0 microcontroller board drives the project. Powered by a Lithium cell, it monitors an MQ-3 Alcohol gas sensor and drives a buzzer. The components are just small enough to be hidden by the cone of the party buzzer. You can see a demonstration of this in the short clip after the jump.
This is a fun project, but we’re still big fans of getting the crowd involved with this large LED meter which is hooked up to the same style of alcohol sensor.
[via Dvice]
Filed under: arduino hacks
