Hot Hacks, Mods & Circuitry Posts
How To: Make infrared goggles
Kip Kay of Make Magazine will teach you how to turn welding goggles into infrared goggles with the hack he outlines in this how-to video. The entire project only costs $10. To replicate this hack at home and build your own pair of steampunk infrared goggles, follow along with the steps in this video tutorial. Just don't look at the sun!
How To: Emulate joystick input with a Wiimote and GlovePie
You can connect your Nintendo Wii Wiimote to your PC using GlovePie input emulation software and a bluetooth connection. Learn how to program your PC to recognize analog input or joystick/joypad input from a Wiimote using GlovePie and another piece of software called PPJOY
How To: Make a Lego flash drive
Here's a way to take a boring old flash drive and make it into a Lego flash drive by taking it apart and inserting into a Lego block.
How To: Control your PC with a Wiimote
Did you know that you can make a Nintendo Wii Wiimote function as a mouse or joystick on your PC? Here's how you can use your Wiimote as a PC controller using a bluetooth adaptor or card and some specialty software called GlovePie.
How To: Syncronize a Wiimote to your PC using GlovePie
If you're trying to get your Nintendo Wii Wiimote to connect to your PC via a bluetooth connection, you'll need to sycronize it before you can start using it as an input device. Learn some basic scripting and programming in GlovePie, input emulation software, to get your Wiimote up and running.
How To: Program Wiimote buttons with GlovePie
Learn how to program basic script in GlovePie to allow your Nintendo Wii Wiimote to function as an input device on your PC. Using GlovePie input emulation software and a bluetooth connection you can connect your Wiimote to your PC.
How To: Build an infrared night vision device
Check out this instructional video and learn how to build an infrared night vision device from a modified digital camera. You'll be able to see and record in night vision. For detailed, step-by-step instructions on replicating this hack at home, take a look at this how-to video. Build your own infrared camera with this simple hack.
How To: Hack together a widescreen TV
Learn how to make your own widescreen TV in 5 minutes. The process involves using two full screen TVs side-by-side with two DVD players.
How To: Build a solar powered USB charger
Want to stop wasting energy charging your USB devices? Transform some cheap solar-powered garden lights into your very own solar USB charger. For step-by-step instructions on replicating this hack yourself, watch this video tutorial. Just watch to see how to build your own solar-powered USB charger with a few solar panels from those garden lights and some floppy disk wiring.
How To: Make a USB-powered Furby
If you thought your Furby was annoying as is you should try this out. Learn how to modify a Furby to run on USB power.
How To: Increase the range of a Wi-Fi Antenna
Increase the range of your wi-fi antenna for about 5 cents. Check out this how-to video and learn how to double your range and signal strength to that of a $30 add on antenna Increase the range of a Wi-Fi Antenna.
How To: Spin cotton candy in a bottle cap
This confectionery hacking how-to video demonstrates that, with an electric motor, juice lids, battery and sugar, you can make your own cotton candy machine. Don't wait for a carnival or fair to get your next taste of sweet, sweet cotton candy. Watch this video tutorial to see this hack in action and to learn how to build your own bottle-cap candy floss machine.
How To: Trigger traffic lights to change from red to green
This instructional video shows how change traffic lights from red to green, using science, and without actually having to know anything about magnetic fields or properties! Save gas, time, and frustration in your car and during your commute! Works great! See the test results! Yay for Kipkay! The trick in this video hacking tutorial will teach you how to get green lights on your bike or motorcycle that is too small or light to trigger the traffic light.
How To: Make a Wi-Fi extender from Asian parabolic cookware
Want to boost your WiFi reception? Have an extra wok or parabolic collander? This video tutorial demonstrates a simple hack that will allow you to build an effective radio antenna that will significantly increase the gain of your WiFi signal. To replicate this hack at home, you'll need the following items: (a) a piece of parabolic cookware, (b) heavy tape, (c) a USB WiFi stick, (d) tin snips, and (5) a USB extension cable. For detailed instructions on building your own wireless signal extende...
How To: Make a disposable camera belt
A piece of homemade spy gear - learn how to make a belt with a disposable camera attached to it.
How To: Make a fridge magnet out of a hard drive
Hard drive dead? All is not lost. You can still make a refrigerator magnet out of it. Learn how to remove a rare-Earth magnet from your old or dead hard drive.
How To: Build an electronic stash box with an Altoids tin
Want a safe place to hide your stash? Here's how to build a miniature electronic safe out of an Altoids tin and a Hallmark musical greeting card.
How To: Build a condenser microphone
For under $20 in parts, build this condenser microphone yourself at home.
How To: Overclock a lighter
This instructable will tell you how to get a 3 in. flame out of a lighter, and turn it into a mini flamethrower without breaking it or anything.
How To: Turn a C cell battery into a D cell battery
Your Flashlight battery are DEAD!! You have C batteries available. We will show you how to use them as D batteries. Turn a C cell battery into a D cell battery.
How To: Make an LED flashlight from a match box
Learn how to build, in less than 5 minutes a LED flashlight using a match box. Make an LED flashlight from a match box.
How To: Make a USB laser air purifier lamp
Laser can refresh your air by kill the bad bacteria and fungus in the air.You can make a cool lamp too. All with the usb power.
How To: Boost your wi-fi using a strainer
Kitchen utensils and computers, that's right! This video will show you how to increase your computer's wireless connection using a strainer!
How To: Build a simple motor
Video showing how a battery-magnet-wire motor creates a rotating electro magnetic field. Watch the hanging bar magnet react to the rotations. You need a battery, magnet & copper wire.
How To: Use an oscilloscope
Oscilloscopes visualize electronic signals. This information can be useful for tests, debugging, and reverse engineering. If you work with electronic circuitry, being able to use an oscilloscope is a must have skill. Here Bre Pettis and Make Magazine hook you up with great tips.
How To: Use the flash of a camera without taking a picture
Ever wonder if the flash is still working on a one time use camera. This is a good way to see if the flash is still working without having to waste actual film. This is done using a knee and elbow, both human. Use the flash of a camera without taking a picture.
How To: Use a basic stamp to create multiple projects
This video introduces you to the basic stamp to create your own electronics. The basic stamp is a microcomputer that can be programmed using basic to do anything from turning on a LED light to cellphone ringtones.
How To: Make sounds with circuit bending
Circuit bending is when you take an old sound producing machine and change the circuitry to make new sounds. Make Magazine's Bre Pettis and circuit bending expert Justin Gerardy discuss the various tips and tricks of circuit bending.
How To: Make a vinegar battery
Need to use up vinegar? Here is an interesting way to convert your standard vinegar into a working battery. Learn the technique to create an alternative source of energy using vinegar. Make a vinegar battery.
How To: Make a cola and pennies battery
Learn how to make a functioning battery from a can of soda. I made a battery out of cola and pennies. Awww, snap! Who's got iPhone power at burning man?! Me!
How To: Make an astrocam from a webcam
Learn how to take detailed photographs of outer space using a modified webcam. These are some really cool hacks & mods from a guy on youtube. Avoid the high costs of telescope cameras and supplement with an inexpensive webcam.
How To: Turn a pencil into an emergency light
You are stuck in the middle of nowhere and can't see a thing. Luckily you have pencil and your car battery. You can create 20 minutes of bright light using the graphite from a regular pencil, wired to the positive and negative of your car battery. Basically, the graphite serves as a bright filament for your emergency light. Follow along with this how-to video tutorial to learn the step by step process of turning a pencil into an emergency light.
How To: Build jackhammer headphones
These home-made hifi headphones work as well or better than Sony or Bose noise-cancelling headphones. Cost: $2. Time to make:one minute. Difficulty:none. Unlike the commercial products, these block outside noise instead of cancelling it.
How To: Build your own HD DVR
Want to break free from the confines of DVR land? If you're tired of spending all the money to download program listings from your DVR, then it's time for a change. If you don't want to mess with DRM files anymore, but want to backup your system, then MythTV is the way to go. You'll need to build your own PVR (personal video recorder) with thanks to MythTV, and it will end up costing you less than $500. Well worth the investment. The MythTv software is free and open source, so you just need t...
How To: Make an immersion heater while in prison
Prison isn't really the place to snuggle up to your prison inmate. Learn from the once incarcerated Angelo how to keep yourself warm with a homemade immersion heater.
How To: Make a battery cigarette lighter while in prison
Everyone has a Zippo but if you don't, try making this battery cigarette lighter instead. Learn from the once incarcerated Angelo how to stand out in a smoky crowd with this crafty prison invention.
How To: Make and repair audio cables
In this video series, watch as professional sound engineer Kip Bradford teaches how to make and repair audio cables. Learn the tools needed to repair and make audio cables, learn what kind of solder to use, learn the types of connectors and wires to use, how to solder audio cables, how to remove solder from a solder joint, and how to roll audio cables.
How To: Wire an electrical outlet
In this series of how-to videos, home improvement expert Amelia Tallman shows you step-by-step instructions on how to install a new power outlet in a wall of your home. She demonstrates how to strip the existing wires, drill holes and properly install a new box for a new outlet. She also shares tips for improving your home by installing insulation using a blower, which should help you save money on energy costs by maintain temperature. By following the advice and techniques shown in these fre...
How To: Build electronic circuits
Does this sound difficult? It probably does to most people. Don't feel overwhelmed. Iin this step by step video series it will not only be better explained but Ross Safronoff, our expert, will show you how simple it really is and how to put it to work for you. Electricity is very powerful when harnessed correctly. He will walk you through every piece of equipment and detail of how electricity works and how we use it to our advantage as well as show you how to put it to use on a garage door. B...
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