Pnematic Pop up w/ Prop-1, 12v Solenoid, Velleman IR Trigger, and 50sec MP3

[halloweenrick]

Hello all. I would like to rework a simple pop up head thats on a 8" pneumatic cylinder that is located behind a tombstone.  Before I just had a trigger and a 110 ac solenoid, so the head came up and that was all.  I would like to have the Velleman IR Lightbarrier kit do the triggering automatically, and hopefully find a way to add the 50sec USB Mp3 player from Electronics123.com for a one sound scream that would play when triggered.  So here is a laundry list of questions:
A)  Can I safely hook up the 12V solenoid directly to the V+ and GRD Pins?
B)  I have recorded the sound onto the 50sec USB MP3 player and have cut off the speaker and replaced it with computer speakers. The speakers are powered, the player is battery powered, the only thing now is the switch.  Can I cut off the switch and wire it to the P2 Servo pins?  Would W and R go to one wire and B to the other, or would that not work at all?
C)  Can I get a program for this?
Sorry for all the requests, I just don't want to mess anything up. Thanks in advance
Rick
The info for the 50 sec USB player : http://www.electronics123.com/s.nl/it.A/id.2841/.f

[JonnyMac]

I'll do my best to answer your questions.  In the future, please provide direct links to products you're using that we don't manufacture -- we don't like hunting for data sheets to answer questions on stuff we don't design/build.

A) If you connect a 12v solenoid to the V+ and GND pins it will operate any time the power switch is in the P2 position, this is probably not what you want.  You will instead use the V+ and an OUTx terminal to control the solenoid.  As far as safety, you need to ensure that your solenoid doesn't draw any more than 250mA (3W).

B) No. That device draws about 50mA and that is too much for a servo pin. 

C) We need the specs on the IR sensor you want to use and determine how you're going to power the MP3 player before writing a program.

[halloweenrick]

Whoops sorry. Here is the specs for the Velleman IR Lightbarrier kit:http://www.vellemanusa.com/us/enu/product/view/?id=350693. As for the 50 sec USB Mp3 player, it is powered by 3 AG10 batteries (approx 4.5v total), so I was hoping the Prop-1 would be able to just turn on the switch to operate the player.  I was hoping the program would be: Person breaks lightbeam trigger, solenoid fires air, and MP3 file plays. Then the solenoid would be turned off, and the prop head would then lower.  The whole project I'd like to see appox 4-5 seconds long.  Thanks again for your help!
Rick

[JonnyMac]

You would have to hack the IR sensor to get a signal out of it, and there don't seem to be docs that are helpful in that regard.

You can connect a relay to the output of the Prop-1 to switch power to the MP3 player. 

Assuming you find a way to get an active-high signal out of the IR device and switch MP3 power with a relay, this program will get you started.

' =========================================================================
'
'   File......
'   Purpose...
'   Author....
'   E-mail....
'   Started...
'   Updated...
'
'   {$STAMP BS1}
'   {$PBASIC 1.0}
'
' =========================================================================


' -----[ Program Description ]---------------------------------------------


' -----[ Revision History ]------------------------------------------------


' -----[ I/O Definitions ]-------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  Trigger         = PIN6                  ' SETUP = DN

SYMBOL  Audio           = PIN1                  ' V+ OUT1 to relay
SYMBOL  Solenoid        = PIN0                  ' V+/OUT0 to solenoid


' -----[ Constants ]-------------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  IsOn            = 1                     ' for active-high in/out
SYMBOL  IsOff           = 0


' -----[ Variables ]-------------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  timer           = B2


' -----[ Initialization ]--------------------------------------------------

Reset:
  PINS = %00000000                              ' clear all outputs
  DIRS = %00000011                              ' make P0-P1 outputs

  PAUSE 30000                                   ' post-trigger delay


' -----[ Program Code ]----------------------------------------------------

Main:
  timer = 0                                     ' reset timer

Check_Trigger:
  PAUSE 5                                       ' loop pad
  timer = timer + 5 * Trigger                   ' update timer
  IF timer < 100 THEN Check_Trigger             ' wait for 0.1 sec input

  Solenoid = IsOn                               ' pop up
  PAUSE 250                                     ' adjust as desired

  Audio = IsOn                                  ' start audio
  PAUSE 50000                                   ' adjust for duration

  GOTO Reset


' -----[ Subroutines ]-----------------------------------------------------


' -------------------------------------------------------------------------


' -----[ User Data ]-------------------------------------------------------

[bsnut]

I was looking at the Velleman IR Trigger info(installation instructions) and I may have found a way to hack it and it's not guaranteed it will work. I think the buzzer is powered when the light beam is broken. So, what I would do is to look at schematic of this kit find to out how the buzzer is powered to see if it can be done. The drawing showing how the options are connected to the Prop1 is based on looking at the schematics from Velleman firsthand.

If you need any other help we are here to help you. I hope I didn't confuse you.

[JonnyMac]

I'm loathe to offer "hacking" schematics without a schematic for the product to be hacked.  You need to have full understanding of how the buzzer is driven before replacing it with a relay.  You also need to understand how much drive is available so that you size the relay coil appropriately.

It goes without saying, but any advice offered in these forums by EFX-TEK or forum members is for educational purposes only, and you use it at your own risk.  Please, get the schematic for that device before tearing into it.

[bsnut]

Jon,
Thanks for reminding me of that point and you are 100% correct. I was going by the PDF that was on the Vellemen website and will correct my post stating that fact.

[Jeff Haas]

FYI, the question about replacing the buzzer on the Velleman IR kit with a relay has been answered on the Velleman forums, by their tech support.

http://forum.velleman.eu/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5353&hilit=ir+barrier

However, why not try using the Parallax PIR that is sold here in the EFX store?  It'll give you the same effect (person walks up, triggers the prop - head pops up, sound plays) and there's already code for this type of application here on the forum.  It also means you won't have to put both modules of the IR barrier up; you just mount the PIR in your prop and point it where the people will walk.  The price for the Velleman kit plus a relay will be about the same as using the PIR, and no work needed to get the IR barrier hack to act right.

[halloweenrick]

Actually I got the idea to use the Velleman IR Kit from the Garage of Evil guys (Friends and ardent supporters of EFX-TEK products)  I had a gift code to Amazon.com and they were available (through Parts Express) so I got two to play with.  Here is the link to GOE's how to: http://www.garageofevilnetwork.com/profiles/blogs/10-dollar-ir-break-beam-with Again, Thanks to all you guys, Jon, Bsnut and especially Jeff Haas who is also helping me on HauntForum. You guys make working on this stuff much, much easier!

[JackMan]

halloweenrick,
        I have several of those USB players, it can be powered and triggered easily from the Prop-1. Remove the battery section from the player and connect the positive wire to any R pin on the Prop-1. Connect the negative to GND on the Prop-1. Remove the trigger button from the player and the wire furthest from the USB connection (it's just a ground). Connect the other trigger wire to a programmed OUTx on the Prop-1. I use a 500ms pulse to trigger the player, but you can probably get away with 200ms.

[Jeff Haas]

Rick, you're welcome.

By the way, I checked out the link to GOE...excellent idea to hook directly into the W and R pins.  Much easier than figuring out the relay. 

But all those people in the comments there complaining about the PIR...I didn't have that kind of problem with the ones I used this year.  I put them in PVC endcaps, as one of the sites suggested, and used some code to allow them to warm up, and they were completely reliable (until the battery died on one).

[JonnyMac]

Using the R pins for 5v is fine and the regulator can handle nearly an amp.  Just be very careful at the current on the W pins; it really should be restricted to 10mA or less as these lines connect directly to the processor.  Part of the reason we put a 220 inline with each Px pin is to protect them from an over-current condition that could burn out the pin.