Hacks, Mods & Circuitry How-Tos — Page 23 of 26 « Hacks, Mods & Circuitry

How To: Make USB air conditioning

Wondering how to most effectively combine ice cubes and a simple USB-powered computer fan into a fully functioning air conditioning system? In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to hack a coffee can and USB-powered fan into a simple, but effective, air conditioning unit. For detailed instructions on hacking together your own tin-can AC unit, watch this über-short how-to.

How To: Make a USB flashlight

Use a few simple household items to make a flashlight powered by you computer through the USB port.

How To: Hack Software & Run a Trial Program Forever

With this video tutorial, you'll learn how to hack demo versions of applications such that they'll run indefinitely. You'll just need to modify the date and time on your computer. Learn how to use trials of programs without them ever expiring instead of buying the real thing with the hack outlined in this how-to video.

How To: Hack a cheap multi-touch whiteboard using the Wiimote

Using infrared (IR) light pens and the Wii Remote, it is possible to create very low-cost multi-point interactive whiteboards and multi-point tablet displays. Johnny Chung Lee, Carnegie Mellon University. The software can be downloaded at http://johnnylee.net

How To: Hack iPhone jack to support headphones

As any informed PopSci reader will know, the iPhone is definitely a game-changing piece of hardware, but it's not without its problems. Chief among those nagging little imperfections, for me, was the recessed headphone hack that rejected any headphones but Apple's trademark gleaming white buds. Apple's 'phones aren't that bad, but my Shure in-ear pair is better for blocking out noise on the subway (and my Grado SR60s are better for listening at home). Thankfully, an easy solution to this prob...

How To: Hack together LED candles

Ah, the alluring glow of the LED light. Whether you're looking to create a bit of romantic (albeit extremely geeky) ambiance, or you just want to have some extra emergency lighting around the house, a set of mini LED candles is a great thing to have. They also happen to be quick, easy, and cheap to make yourself. In this video, executive editor Mike Haney demonstrates how to do it.

How To: Power an LED with a lemon battery

See how to power an LED with a lemon battery.

How To: Hack a call center telephone system

Tired of touch-tone hell? Get human with our cool phone hacks and cheats with the tips from this how-to video. Become a life hacker - we'll show you how to find phone numbers, cheat the computer and hack the call center system with our hacking tools. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to hack a call center telephone system. Hack a call center telephone system.

How To: Clean the lens of a green laser pointer

A tutorial demonstrating how to clean a green laser pointer lens and the equipment you should use.

How To: Make a homopolar spiral motor

The homopolar spiral motor is one of the simplest and most easy to make motors in the world. This video shows you how.

How To: Build your own circuit boards for guitar effects

This video tutorial will tell you how to make your own circuit boards for guitar effects. There are hundreds of great gadgets out there and a lot of the good ones don't come in a ready-to-build kit, so this video teaches you how to make your own circuit board. This method uses acids that etch copper so follow the safety instructions.

How To: Build a Bedini motor

This two part video shows you how to build a Bedini motor. If you get bored of the endless ranting about the motor in part one, jump to Part 2 where they start building the bedini circuit.

How To: Set up a breadboard and play around with electronics

In this video, Bre Pettis shows you how to set up a breadboard for power and then play around with electronics on it.

How To: Hack a camera

If you are a photographer and are handy with a screwdriver and electrical tape, this is a really cool project to do. Basically, you "Frankenstein" a camera, taking a camera apart and rebuilding it with different lenses and the like, which makes for really cool photo effects.

How To: Make a trip wire alarm

Want a heads up next time that annoyingly chirpy coworker is heading over for some annoyingly chirpy chitchat? Rig up this little system and you’ll never be caught off-guard again.

How To: Make a water gun alarm clock

Having a little trouble waking up in the morning? There’s nothing like a good soaking to get you going.

How To: Make a water alarm clock

You will never be late to school again once you begin using this small yet super powerful water alarm clock. Rather than just ringing like most alarm clocks do, this little baby will not turn off until all its buttons are pressed, a process which requires diving your head underwater. Fun, right?

How To: Build a Morse code telegraph

Keeping secrets out of the wrong hands warrants desperate measures—or maybe just sensical. If you have a secret, the best way to protect it is with a code—and the best way to transfer that secret message is via an electronic telegraph system. This video will show you how to make your own homemade electronic telegraph machine, so that you can send those encrypted Morse code messages to your friends without fear of prosecution.

How To: Make a homemade AA battery connector

Make a battery connector for electronics and science projects with items laying around the house.

How To: Make a homopolar motor

Turn yourself into an electromagnetism maestro with one of the simplest motors known to man—the homopolar motor. It's the "simplest motor" because of its absent polarity change. The magnetic field does not change the direction or strength. It consists of only three parts; copper wire, round magnet and battery. It produces really low voltages, which means there's no real practical application for this motor, but it sure is fun to make! Try your hands at the homopolar motor—watch the video and ...

How To: Make a foxhole radio

During World War II, GIs in the field built really amazing simple radios to listen to. These were made with materials that they could get their hands on and were small enough to carry around in a big pocket. You can modify this design if you want to set it up so that it's tuneable too! To see all the plans, go to makezine.com/podcast!

How To: Crank charge batteries

A cordless drill/screwdriver can easily be used as a hand-crank charger for batteries... even alkalines! See for yourself! Recharging alkaline batteries is done at your own risk. Crank charge batteries.

How To: Make an electrical lighter

Make a lighter with one or two AA batteries and simple tiny wire!!! This is a fantastic homemade electrical lighter for any situation. You'll need two AA batteries, a push switch, a battery holder, wire, solder, soldering iron, electrical tape, crimper, and scissors for this cool electrical lighter, for your cigarettes, and such.

How To: Convert HD-DVD To Blu-ray

This step by step guide shows you how to convert an HD-DVD to Blu-ray that you can either put on a blu-ray disc or multiple DVDs. This can then be played back on your... More? Blu-ray player including the PS3. No loss of quality, no reencoding. No more HD-DVD exclusives because they can be put on blu-ray.

How To: install a PC/XBOX 360 wire controller for MUgen

This tutorial shows you how to install XBOX 360/PC controller for your Mugen. It's very simple and easy to understand just follow the steps and you will be ready to play with a controller in no time.

How To: Build a hover craft

This is a Wired Magazine Geek Dad production. Make your own UFO at home with this hover craft. You need a leaf blower and some ingenuity. Build a hover craft.

How To: Hack a video camcorder

This video shows us how to hack a video camcorder. He shows VideoJug users how to take a one time use video camcorder, and learn to hack it so you can use it again and again, saving you money! Hack a video camcorder.

How To: Hand solder BGA components using SchmartBoard

Hand soldering a BGA....IMPOSSIBLE!...not with SchmartBoard|ez. This video shows you step-by-step how to do it.

How To: Make a Rock Band drum pedal

Learn how to build your own pedal for the video game Rock Band for the Playstation 2 (PS2) and XBox 360.

How To: Make an LED throwie

Learn how to make a magnetic LED throwie. This cool light will stick to anything magnetic.

How To: Make confetti guns, sky guy & foam party with a blower

Mod your leaf blower by attaching a vacuum hose and use it as a party prop creator. Make a foam party or a confetti cannon to excite your guests. You can also make a sky guy, the creature that gets your attention at every intersection with its crazy blowing arms!

How To: Build a motion detector to fire a paintball gun

Team Cynergy presents step by step instructions on how to program an electronics kit to use a laser as motion detector and fire a paintball gun with the sensor is triggered.

How To: Make a Christmas lights controller

Why settle for static lighting when you can bring on the big guns? Learn how to make a Christmas lights controller so your lights blink. Happy holidays!

How To: Measure RF in circuits in Bluetooth

Intersil's Don LaFontaine shows a quick tip on how to measure your circuits susceptibility to RF signals. This design idea is another in Intersil's Whiteboard Wizard series focusing on analog semiconductors.

How To: Make a paper turntable

Okay, this is one of the coolest eco-friendly projects we've ever seen. If weaving plastic bags into a reusable tote bag is not your thing, then maybe this is. Check out the video to learn how to build a paper turntable made entirely out of reused materials.