My original intention was to create two nearly identical (except for color) vintage lamps. However, as I was working on the circuitry, I realized that one of the Bluetooth modules I had was not working. This ended up being a happy accident, because it forced me to think of alternate plans - given that I had been simultaneously creating the enclosure and was nearly finished with both. So, instead of this second lamp being controlled by a custom iPhone app like the first, I ended up using a 433Mhz transmitter/receiver to create my very own remote control. This technology is similar to garage door openers, in that it is wireless and does not require line-of-sight like TV remotes. I recently came upon a very nice small plywood box (about 2x2x4 inches). I was bound and determined to cram all the circuitry for the remote inside. I was (barely) successful, having to add a latch to securely hold everything in. The remote has: - a slide-potentiometer to control the lamp's meter - a gear mounted on a radial potentiometer to control the lamp's LED blink speed - a toggle switch to turn on the lamp's main lights - and a push-button switch with a peso coin to ring the lamp's bell. Of course, before installing the electronics, I also used the "Lichtenberg Technique" of passing 2000 volts of electricity across the surface of the box to create interesting dendritic burn patterns. I filled the crevices with glow-in-the-dark resin, and applied a dozen or so coats of polyurethane. And for anyone who's geeky enough to care, I have provided the schematic and Arduino code for both the remote and the receiver:
|