Taking a audio signal and driving a DC Motor

[Eric]

Hello all,

I am trying to build something for my deaf brother. I want to hookup an
amplified audio signal to a small 1.5v - 6v DC motor. It needs to be
able to speed up when the sound is louder, slow down when there is less
sound and stop if no sound. It needs some type of regulator or
something to cut the voltage to a max of 6V DC.

Can someone help me figure this out? Please help! As I said, this is
for my deaf brother and I would like to make this for him for x-mas. It
would make him VERY happy! It would also make my parents happy since
they get mad at him for turning the volume up real loud so he can feel
the sound.

It can be either a stand alone unit with an input from a headphone jack,
or something integrated into a headphone amplifier. The integrated way
would be the best but either way will work.

Thank you very much!

Eric

If you reply by email, delete REMOVEALLCAPS from
REMOVEALLCAPSericcellis@netscape.net (Stupid spammers force me to hide
my email addresses)

___________________________
Report SPAM to uce@ftc.gov
___________________________

 

[Phil Allison]

"Eric"...

Hello all,

I am trying to build something for my deaf brother. I want to hookup an
amplified audio signal to a small 1.5v - 6v DC motor. It needs to be able
to speed up when the sound is louder, slow down when there is less sound
and stop if no sound. It needs some type of regulator or something to cut
the voltage to a max of 6V DC.

** A bridge rectifier is probably *all* you need ( do not add a
apacitor) - the AC terminals connect to the speaker line. An extra diode
wired in reverse from the + to - terminals is worth trying too. On music
programme, the average voltage will not easily exceed 6 volts.





............... Phil

 

[Geoff C]

Eric <REMOVEALLCAPSericcellis@netscape.net> wrote in
news:5OOdnXmcXPWfcTLcRVn-ig@adelphia.com:

Hello all,

I am trying to build something for my deaf brother. I want to hookup an
amplified audio signal to a small 1.5v - 6v DC motor. It needs to be
able to speed up when the sound is louder, slow down when there is less
sound and stop if no sound. It needs some type of regulator or
something to cut the voltage to a max of 6V DC.

Can someone help me figure this out? Please help! As I said, this is
for my deaf brother and I would like to make this for him for x-mas. It
would make him VERY happy! It would also make my parents happy since
they get mad at him for turning the volume up real loud so he can feel
the sound.

It can be either a stand alone unit with an input from a headphone jack,
or something integrated into a headphone amplifier. The integrated way
would be the best but either way will work.

Thank you very much!

Eric

If you reply by email, delete REMOVEALLCAPS from
REMOVEALLCAPSericcellis@netscape.net (Stupid spammers force me to hide
my email addresses)

___________________________
Report SPAM to uce@ftc.gov
___________________________

Jaycar used to have a subsonic backpack for feeling games such as Nintendo
etc. It had a small built in power amp and is virtually inaudible. I bought
one for my kids but they never used it. It only cost about $15 and must
have been a surplus item. This might be another thing to try.

 

[Eric]

Someone said something to me before about a backpack "Shaker" but they
didn't have any specifics and I couldn't find anything on the web about
it. I will see if I can find one, but half the fun, for me at least, is
building something. I thought it might be cool to take the left and
right signals to motors on his left and right arm. That way he could
feel where the sound is coming from (ie someone shooting from his right
would activate the right motor)

I think that would make him the happiest. Thank you for the imput
though.. I will look into it as a backup plan if I cannot get this
thing working in the next few days.

Thanks again,

Eric

Geoff C wrote:

Eric <REMOVEALLCAPSericcellis@netscape.net> wrote in
news:5OOdnXmcXPWfcTLcRVn-ig@adelphia.com:


Hello all,

I am trying to build something for my deaf brother. I want to hookup an
amplified audio signal to a small 1.5v - 6v DC motor. It needs to be
able to speed up when the sound is louder, slow down when there is less
sound and stop if no sound. It needs some type of regulator or
something to cut the voltage to a max of 6V DC.

Can someone help me figure this out? Please help! As I said, this is
for my deaf brother and I would like to make this for him for x-mas. It
would make him VERY happy! It would also make my parents happy since
they get mad at him for turning the volume up real loud so he can feel
the sound.

It can be either a stand alone unit with an input from a headphone jack,
or something integrated into a headphone amplifier. The integrated way
would be the best but either way will work.

Thank you very much!

Eric

If you reply by email, delete REMOVEALLCAPS from
REMOVEALLCAPSericcellis@netscape.net (Stupid spammers force me to hide
my email addresses)

___________________________
Report SPAM to uce@ftc.gov
___________________________


Jaycar used to have a subsonic backpack for feeling games such as Nintendo
etc. It had a small built in power amp and is virtually inaudible. I bought
one for my kids but they never used it. It only cost about $15 and must
have been a surplus item. This might be another thing to try.

 

[Eric]

Thanks for the help Phil! Do you think it would be wise if I use an
audio transformer to isolate the soundcard from the headphone amp/bridge
rectifier/motor? I have some old Radio Shack audio transformers that
are 1,000 ohm center-tapped primary, 8 ohm secondary. Do you think that
this would be ok to use?

Also, I have measured the headphone amps output and it hits 9.5 volts
while I am playing one of the games he plays. I know I could turn down
the volume to lower the voltage but I can't depend on my brother to keep
it turned down. It would be nice it I could find a way to cap it to a
max of 6v DC but still allow for the lower voltages so the motor would
vibrate lighter at quiet sounds and harder at louder sounds (but not
burn up the motor with too much voltage). I've tried to find a
vibrating motor (or a weight that I can attach to any motor) that has a
larger working range but so far I have not found it and I am running
short on time before x-mas!

Thanks agian for your help and for any more hints you can provide!

Eric


Phil Allison wrote:

"Eric"...

Hello all,

I am trying to build something for my deaf brother. I want to hookup an
amplified audio signal to a small 1.5v - 6v DC motor. It needs to be able
to speed up when the sound is louder, slow down when there is less sound
and stop if no sound. It needs some type of regulator or something to cut
the voltage to a max of 6V DC.




** A bridge rectifier is probably *all* you need ( do not add a
apacitor) - the AC terminals connect to the speaker line. An extra diode
wired in reverse from the + to - terminals is worth trying too. On music
programme, the average voltage will not easily exceed 6 volts.





.............. Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

"Eric"

Thanks for the help Phil! Do you think it would be wise if I use an audio
transformer to isolate the soundcard from the headphone amp/bridge
rectifier/motor?

** Who said anything about headphone amps ???

No way one of them can drive a DC motor. A normal speaker amp of a few
watts output at least is needed - I suggest you lose the speaker and turn
up the bass for a trial run.





................ Phil

 

[Alan Rutlidge]

"Eric" <REMOVEALLCAPSericcellis@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:s5OdnQEQ9uAwpi3cRVn-1A@adelphia.com...

Someone said something to me before about a backpack "Shaker" but they
didn't have any specifics and I couldn't find anything on the web about
it. I will see if I can find one, but half the fun, for me at least, is
building something. I thought it might be cool to take the left and
right signals to motors on his left and right arm. That way he could
feel where the sound is coming from (ie someone shooting from his right
would activate the right motor)

I think that would make him the happiest. Thank you for the imput
though.. I will look into it as a backup plan if I cannot get this
thing working in the next few days.

Thanks again,

Eric

Geoff C wrote:
Eric <REMOVEALLCAPSericcellis@netscape.net> wrote in
news:5OOdnXmcXPWfcTLcRVn-ig@adelphia.com:


Hello all,

I am trying to build something for my deaf brother. I want to hookup an
amplified audio signal to a small 1.5v - 6v DC motor. It needs to be
able to speed up when the sound is louder, slow down when there is less
sound and stop if no sound. It needs some type of regulator or
something to cut the voltage to a max of 6V DC.

Can someone help me figure this out? Please help! As I said, this is
for my deaf brother and I would like to make this for him for x-mas. It
would make him VERY happy! It would also make my parents happy since
they get mad at him for turning the volume up real loud so he can feel
the sound.

It can be either a stand alone unit with an input from a headphone jack,
or something integrated into a headphone amplifier. The integrated way
would be the best but either way will work.

Thank you very much!

Eric

If you reply by email, delete REMOVEALLCAPS from
REMOVEALLCAPSericcellis@netscape.net (Stupid spammers force me to hide
my email addresses)

___________________________
Report SPAM to uce@ftc.gov
___________________________


Jaycar used to have a subsonic backpack for feeling games such as
Nintendo
etc. It had a small built in power amp and is virtually inaudible. I
bought
one for my kids but they never used it. It only cost about $15 and must
have been a surplus item. This might be another thing to try.

Yep, Jaycar Electronics used to stock them but according to their website
the item is no longer available. However I did find this for you - hope it
helps. http://www.chantronics.com.au/ecornershop/itm00042.htm

BTW. They work quite well and I'm sure your deaf brother will be impressed.

Cheers,
Alan

 

You may find the following link interesting

http://www.bpesolutions.com/conproduct.html#anchor124265

Kind regards,

 

[Eric]

Yeah, that is exactly what I am looking for except there is no
schematic. I'm a freshman in high school and wanted to build this
as a gift for my little brother that is deaf. Does anyone have a
schematic for this device or a device that would do the same thing?

Thank you,

Eric

To email directly please delete the REMOVEALLCAPS portion of
REMOVEALLCAPSericcellis@netscape.net. Sorry, last time I posted my
email address on a news boards I was emailed a ton of spam and a few
viruses.

Surija wrote:

You may find the following link interesting

http://www.bpesolutions.com/conproduct.html#anchor124265

Kind regards,

 

[KLR]

On Fri, 03 Dec 2004 06:00:37 GMT, Geoff C <notinterestedin@spam.com>
wrote:

Eric <REMOVEALLCAPSericcellis@netscape.net> wrote in
news:5OOdnXmcXPWfcTLcRVn-ig@adelphia.com:

Hello all,

I am trying to build something for my deaf brother. I want to hookup an
amplified audio signal to a small 1.5v - 6v DC motor. It needs to be
able to speed up when the sound is louder, slow down when there is less
sound and stop if no sound. It needs some type of regulator or
something to cut the voltage to a max of 6V DC.

Can someone help me figure this out? Please help! As I said, this is
for my deaf brother and I would like to make this for him for x-mas. It
would make him VERY happy! It would also make my parents happy since
they get mad at him for turning the volume up real loud so he can feel
the sound.

It can be either a stand alone unit with an input from a headphone jack,
or something integrated into a headphone amplifier. The integrated way
would be the best but either way will work.

Thank you very much!

Eric

If you reply by email, delete REMOVEALLCAPS from
REMOVEALLCAPSericcellis@netscape.net (Stupid spammers force me to hide
my email addresses)

___________________________
Report SPAM to uce@ftc.gov
___________________________

Jaycar used to have a subsonic backpack for feeling games such as Nintendo
etc. It had a small built in power amp and is virtually inaudible. I bought
one for my kids but they never used it. It only cost about $15 and must
have been a surplus item. This might be another thing to try.

As I rememeber - they were called "aura interactor". Jaycar had them
I'm pretty sure - and the way the price kept dropping and dropping
they must have had some trouble selling them. Maybe they still have
some lying around.

Maybe also there might be some used for sale on Ebay too ?

They had a driver in them similar to a speaker but it had a heavy mass
of metal in the centre instead of a cone. This would vibrate and
shake - rather than move air mass as a normal cone speaker does.

The PCB in it was basically a subwoofer amp with low pass filtering.

 

[KLR]

On Fri, 03 Dec 2004 02:35:40 -0800, Eric
<REMOVEALLCAPSericcellis@netscape.net> wrote:

Thanks for the help Phil! Do you think it would be wise if I use an
audio transformer to isolate the soundcard from the headphone amp/bridge
rectifier/motor? I have some old Radio Shack audio transformers that
are 1,000 ohm center-tapped primary, 8 ohm secondary. Do you think that
this would be ok to use?

Also, I have measured the headphone amps output and it hits 9.5 volts
while I am playing one of the games he plays. I know I could turn down
the volume to lower the voltage but I can't depend on my brother to keep
it turned down. It would be nice it I could find a way to cap it to a
max of 6v DC but still allow for the lower voltages so the motor would
vibrate lighter at quiet sounds and harder at louder sounds (but not
burn up the motor with too much voltage). I've tried to find a
vibrating motor (or a weight that I can attach to any motor) that has a
larger working range but so far I have not found it and I am running
short on time before x-mas!

to make a motor vibrate, you just have to add a weight (try using a

small steel washer or hex nut) but attatch it to the shaft off-centre.
Doesnt have to be terribly big. drill a small hole for the shaft to
go in and weld it in there, or just weld it to the edge. sheet metal
shop could do this for you most likely if you dont have access to
welding gear

This works quite well as a "shaker"

Thanks agian for your help and for any more hints you can provide!

Eric


Phil Allison wrote:

"Eric"...

Hello all,

I am trying to build something for my deaf brother. I want to hookup an
amplified audio signal to a small 1.5v - 6v DC motor. It needs to be able
to speed up when the sound is louder, slow down when there is less sound
and stop if no sound. It needs some type of regulator or something to cut
the voltage to a max of 6V DC.




** A bridge rectifier is probably *all* you need ( do not add a
apacitor) - the AC terminals connect to the speaker line. An extra diode
wired in reverse from the + to - terminals is worth trying too. On music
programme, the average voltage will not easily exceed 6 volts.





.............. Phil

 

[quietguy]

I am curious as to why you want to use a motor, if it is vibration that you are
looking for. Had you thought about something really simple like a relay with a
normally closed contact? Feed the coil through the normally closed contact and
the relay will vibrate nicely when fed the audio signal through a simple (bridge
or diode?) rectifier -

David

so the motor would
vibrate lighter at quiet sounds and harder at louder sounds (but not
burn up the motor with too much voltage). I've tried to find a
vibrating motor (or a weight that I can attach to any motor) that has a
larger working range but so far I have not found it and I am running
short on time before x-mas!

 

[quietguy]

Are you aware that there are 'coneless speakers' that you attach to a surface
(such as a window)? One of these audio drivers might do the trick, just go to a
HiFi store and ask for a demo

David

Eric wrote:

Someone said something to me before about a backpack "Shaker" but they
didn't have any specifics and I couldn't find anything on the web about
it. I will see if I can find one, but half the fun, for me at least, is
building something. I thought it might be cool to take the left and
right signals to motors on his left and right arm. That way he could
feel where the sound is coming from (ie someone shooting from his right
would activate the right motor)

I think that would make him the happiest. Thank you for the imput
though.. I will look into it as a backup plan if I cannot get this
thing working in the next few days.

Thanks again,

Eric

Geoff C wrote:
Eric <REMOVEALLCAPSericcellis@netscape.net> wrote in
news:5OOdnXmcXPWfcTLcRVn-ig@adelphia.com:


Hello all,

I am trying to build something for my deaf brother. I want to hookup an
amplified audio signal to a small 1.5v - 6v DC motor. It needs to be
able to speed up when the sound is louder, slow down when there is less
sound and stop if no sound. It needs some type of regulator or
something to cut the voltage to a max of 6V DC.

Can someone help me figure this out? Please help! As I said, this is
for my deaf brother and I would like to make this for him for x-mas. It
would make him VERY happy! It would also make my parents happy since
they get mad at him for turning the volume up real loud so he can feel
the sound.

It can be either a stand alone unit with an input from a headphone jack,
or something integrated into a headphone amplifier. The integrated way
would be the best but either way will work.

Thank you very much!

Eric

If you reply by email, delete REMOVEALLCAPS from
REMOVEALLCAPSericcellis@netscape.net (Stupid spammers force me to hide
my email addresses)

___________________________
Report SPAM to uce@ftc.gov
___________________________


Jaycar used to have a subsonic backpack for feeling games such as Nintendo
etc. It had a small built in power amp and is virtually inaudible. I bought
one for my kids but they never used it. It only cost about $15 and must
have been a surplus item. This might be another thing to try.

 

[Eric]

I don't have any problem finding a motor that shakes, just the circuit
to drive it from an audio source. I would prefer building it instead of
buying a whole backpack unit because it isn't what I want. The backpack
unit is larger and would be uncomfortable to wear. If it was worn as
designed, you couldn't lean back in the chair. The little motors would
be pretty quiet (a big plus in my house!) and could attach to his arm.
This would be ideal for his situation. I'd really like a schematic or
link for an Audio Signal to a DC Motor Controller. Something like the
unit at -

http://www.bpesolutions.com/conproduct.html#anchor124265
(Thanks Surija for this link).

If anyone has any info on how to build something that does this
function, I would really appreciate it!

Thanks again,
Eric

KLR wrote:

On Fri, 03 Dec 2004 02:35:40 -0800, Eric
REMOVEALLCAPSericcellis@netscape.net> wrote:


Thanks for the help Phil! Do you think it would be wise if I use an
audio transformer to isolate the soundcard from the headphone amp/bridge
rectifier/motor? I have some old Radio Shack audio transformers that
are 1,000 ohm center-tapped primary, 8 ohm secondary. Do you think that
this would be ok to use?

Also, I have measured the headphone amps output and it hits 9.5 volts
while I am playing one of the games he plays. I know I could turn down
the volume to lower the voltage but I can't depend on my brother to keep
it turned down. It would be nice it I could find a way to cap it to a
max of 6v DC but still allow for the lower voltages so the motor would
vibrate lighter at quiet sounds and harder at louder sounds (but not
burn up the motor with too much voltage). I've tried to find a
vibrating motor (or a weight that I can attach to any motor) that has a
larger working range but so far I have not found it and I am running
short on time before x-mas!


to make a motor vibrate, you just have to add a weight (try using a
small steel washer or hex nut) but attatch it to the shaft off-centre.
Doesnt have to be terribly big. drill a small hole for the shaft to
go in and weld it in there, or just weld it to the edge. sheet metal
shop could do this for you most likely if you dont have access to
welding gear

This works quite well as a "shaker"




Thanks agian for your help and for any more hints you can provide!

Eric


Phil Allison wrote:


"Eric"...


Hello all,

I am trying to build something for my deaf brother. I want to hookup an
amplified audio signal to a small 1.5v - 6v DC motor. It needs to be able
to speed up when the sound is louder, slow down when there is less sound
and stop if no sound. It needs some type of regulator or something to cut
the voltage to a max of 6V DC.




** A bridge rectifier is probably *all* you need ( do not add a
apacitor) - the AC terminals connect to the speaker line. An extra diode
wired in reverse from the + to - terminals is worth trying too. On music
programme, the average voltage will not easily exceed 6 volts.





.............. Phil