Hacks

Soda can solar heater

Soda can solar heater

Dan’s soda can solar heater provides up to 120 degrees of temperature differential. Ever since I built my first soda can solar heater three years ago, I’ve received plenty of input on how to improve the design for better heat output. For that reason, I never hooked up the first one – in fact, I […]

Add an accelerometer to an RC transmitter

If you are into Radio Control Models or robotics chances are that you have an old RC transmitter laying around. This article describes how to create a motion control module for your RC transmitter, that will allow you to control your model or robot by simply tilting the transmitter case. The tutorial includes schematics, instructions, […]

How-To: Radioshack light-up switch hack

How-To: Radioshack light-up switch hack

When shopping for switches, it’s really satisfying to dig through a drawer full of awesome options for your project, but it’s easy to get stuck with something that’s not quite right if you don’t read the package carefully. I identify with Randy Sarafan’s illuminated switch problem: I was about to wire it all up into […]

Giant LED matrix

Giant LED matrix

Richard Kline wrote in with his detailed and well-written tutorial on how to create your own ginormous 5×7 display. I built this large display, which is designed to mimic a common 5×7 LED readout, out of pink foam insulation and sundry other bits from Home Depot. The LED’s are diffused 5mm RGB’s wired together with […]