Hacks, Mods & Circuitry How-Tos
How To: Build and use a voltage divider
A voltage divider is one of the easier-to-understand pieces of circuity in use in modern electronics. They divide voltage, and are crucial to most modern electronics. This video will show you how they work and how to build one yourself for your circuits.
How To: Use oscillators in circuits and electronics projects
Oscillators are basically just machines that make waves, but they are used everywhere in modern life and if you want to know electronics you should understand them as well. This video will teach you how oscillators work, what they're for, and how to make some simple circuits with sine and square wave models.
How To: Find and wire linear voltage regulators and make a 5V power supply
This handy electronics tutorial will teach you all about one of the most important electronic components: the linear voltage regulator. You'll learn how they work, how to wire them, where to find them, and how to make an awesome 5V USB charger to use your newfound skills.
How To: Test a starter capacitors in your car
If you're looking to see if you're working with a live, dead, or leaking capacitor, this video is just what you need. You'll want to have a multimeter and you need to remember: capacitors can be dangerous things. They hold and release electricity very rapidly, so you can get shocked or electrocuted if you don't exercise caution.
How To: Test an electrolytic capacitor with a digital multimeter
If you're working with a capacitor and wondering whether it's working or not, this video will help you find out. You're going to need a multimeter, available at any good electronics store. This device is capable of testing many different electric devices, and capacitors are one you can test. Set the dial, hook it up and see if things are working! These multimeter devices are essential in the world of home electronics, so put one in your tool kit today!
How To: Hack a local wifi internet connection with your PSP
Play remotely with all your friends, stream videos and music from the Internet or even check your Facebook and email - all with your PSP. The PSP has Internet capability, but not every network will be available to you at all times. Here is how you can hack any wifi connection with your PSP.
How To: Get your PSP hooked up to the Internet without needing wifi
If you can't get access to a wifi hotspot or an Internet connection with your PSP, you can use this method to get online. You will need access to a computer that is online, and a USB cord that can connect the computer to your PSP. Then, open up the command prompt on your computer, configure your IP and then add your PSP as a device on the network. This method uses the DNS method of getting to the Internet rather than having to hack a wifi connection.
How To: Make a small robot gripper out of household items
A perfect project for the budding roboticist in you! This video shows you how to make a small robot gripper using basic household items. Press the button and make the robot's come together! You will need: a small blow torch or butane lighter, a glue gun, a dremel or rotary tool (along with several different bits), the free cutting pattern, a permanent marker, a micro servo, some small nails or pins, a small piece of Plexiglass and a paperclip. If you don't have access to a dremel, you can fak...
How To: Make a robot out of household items
This do it yourself robot can be made out of many materials you can find around your house. You'll need a few special non household items, such as an arduino and a class 3 laser. However, once you assemble everything correctly, you can make a sentry robot inspired by the robots in the game PORTAL. Even if you've never built a robot before, as long as you have a basic knowledge of electronics, you can start with this simple and fun project.
How To: Use the rattlesnake knot, square braid and other paracord braiding techniques
Paracord braiding is a popular technique used to make lanyards and ties for survival gear. There are many different techniques a braider can use - the most common are the rattlesnake knot and the square braid. This video shows you the nuances of both techniques, a few variations, and how you can decide when to use one or the other. You can also alter the appearance and tensile strength of your paracord braid by changing how tight you make your knots.
How To: Put Gameboy emulator (Gba) on your Blackberry Storm
Well your friend's won't stop dissing your BlackBerry Storm, and you need to show them it can actually play some games. This video shows how-to install the Gameboy emulator on your BlackBerry Storm so that you can play a whole host of cool video games. This method is pretty simple and requires your smart phone be connected to your PC, and that you go and get some software as described in the video. Give it a try and show them you ARE cool!
How To: Make home made night vision goggles
OK master spy, it's time to get your lurk on. If you're going to be spying, you'll need to be able to spy at night. This video will show you how-to make your very own night vision goggles so you can keep up with your mark well after the sun goes down. You'll need a 9V battery, an infrared LED, some wire cutters, a small screw driver, and some wire with a battery clip. You can easily find your needed infrared LED in any old TV remote control. Try it, and make some home made spy gear today!
How To: Unify a junk hard drive and glass vase into an exquisite makeshift table lamp
Junk is not usually known for its usefulness. That's why it's called junk. If it were called anything else, it might have a purpose, but junk… well… it's junk.
How To: Turn a pen and film canister into a rapid-fire airsoft machine gun
Make a homemade airsoft machine gun with Kipkay! You will need a basic ball point pen, a film canister or medicine bottle, and an assortment of Airsoft pellets (6 mm size pellets work the best). You'll also need access to a drill, and a hot glue gun.
How To: Hack Your Electricity Meter
This video will show you what you'll need to know to hack a digital electric meter. You'll need 2 magnets, one much bigger than the other, an AC adaptor that you'll cut into pieces, or some speaker wire, distilled water, electrical tape, a knife, some plastic wrap, and a plastic cup. Remember, this is illegal, and shown only for educational purposes.
How To: Hack a coin operated laundry machine
Man, it's laundry day and once again you have NO quarters. Well, check out this video and you'll never need quarters again. This how-to shows how to pick the lock on a coin operated laundry machine and then rig it up so you'll never need to pay again. Sweeeet.
How To: Use a laser to pop a batch of tasty popcorn
Lasers really can do everything! Next time you want some popcorn, don't reach for one of those microwaveable bags! You can mod a laser to make it the ideal tool for perfectly popping a delicious, fluffy batch of fresh popcorn.
How To: Hack Your Office Clock For Extra Lunch Time
Do you have one of those jobs where the minutes seems to stretch by like hours? Then shaving off an extra twelve might make all the difference. All you need is cunning (to kidnap the workplace clock for the night) and hacking skills (not to worry, creator Randy Sarafan will help you with that), and you'll be the office hero. Sarafan says:
How To: Start a single phase induction electric motor
OK, you've got yourself a single phase induction electric motor, but you don't know how to start it. Check out this simple how-to to discover a few methods of starting this motor up. You'll need to know this unless you want to burn out your motor!
How To: Make a rechargeable light / mobile charger powered by USB or solar panels
Samimy is at it again. And this time, his ingenuity has tackled a clever way to take something old and broken and restore it to something new and useful. What are we talking about? Modding a broken hard drive and some busted cell phones into a useful rechargeable USB / solar-powered light, which also acts as a portable mobile charger.
How To: Build an Illuminated Star Map
It's what every astronomy-loving geek has always wanted... a beautiful, twinkling home galaxy. As Instructables user MrTrick rightly warns, this project is no small feat. Be prepared to get schooled in:
How To: Hack a laser pointer into a burning laser
It's not just for annoying cats, anymore. You can upgrade your laser pointers and turn them into an actual burning laser! This tutorial by Kip Kay shows you how to mod a basic laser pointer into a higher powered laser.
How To: The history and technology of batteries
Learn about the history and technology of batteries in this informative video, and learn how to make your own voltaic cells at home, along with other scientific experiments. Jeri Ellsworth demonstrates how and provides several informative facts about the history and technology about the battery.
HowTo: Boost Your WiFi Signal With a Tin Can
Budget Hack's cheap Wifi range extender works off of the age old concept of adding tin foil to your TV's rabbit ears. The materials are cheap, and the project is relatively easy (if you're willing to pick up some soldering skills).
HowTo: Make a Trippy 3D Animated LED Cube
chrof Instructables boasts: "This is the most comprehensive step-by-step guide to build an 8x8x8 Led Cube ever published on the intertubes. It will teach you everything from theory of operation, how to build the cube, to the inner workings of the software."
How To: Prank your friends by scaring them in the middle of the night
This is a very easy tutorial - all you need is a chosen sound effect file (like a creepy growling animal or a person screaming) and a sneaky sound system. Play it during the middle of the night and freak out your friends.
How To: Make a homemade fractal antenna for HD and digital TV reception
Want great reception? Then a fractal antenna may be your answer. And you can make one yourself, right at home! Fractal antennas uses a fractal design to maximize the perimeter of the material that can receive and transmit electromagnetic radiation within a given total surface area or volume. Sounds complicated, right? Not after you watch this DIY video. Just follow along and see how one is built!
How To: Make a battery with a nickel, penny and vinegar
Generate electricity using only a nickel, a penny and a mild household acid like lemon juice or vinegar. Make a battery using an alternating stack of these coins and create enough electricity to power a desktop Christmas tree. Follow along in this instructional video and learn how.
How To: Wire your home mailbox to send push alerts to your iPhone
You can get push alerts to your iPhone from lots of things online like Facebook and Foursquare, but now here's a way to get push alerts sent to your phone from everyday household objects like the mailbox or the refrigerator. In this Arduino project, a mailbox is wired so that a push alert is sent to the iPod when mail is delivered.
How To: Back up important computer files online and on external storage devices
Back up your computer data and save your time, money and valuable information using these helpful tips. There are several options to backing up and storing your important data, ranging from tiny keychain USB drives to backing up your files online. This informative and lighthearted video from Kipkay shows you how.
How To: Untether a tethered jailbroken iPhone 4, iPod Touch or iPad
If your iPad, iPhone 4 or iPod Touch is already on a tethered jailbreak, this is the tutorial on the new Redsn0w release for all you experienced users. An untethered jailbreak is a type of jailbreak where the device does not require rebooting with a connection to an external jailbreak tool to power up the iDevice. Jailbreaking allows users to get root access to the command line of the operating system, to download otherwise unaccessible extensions and themes, or install non-Apple operating sy...
How To: Make a flexible aluminum electroluminescent display
Make a flexible aluminum electroluminescent display using aluminum foil, EL phosphors and a simple electrolytic etching bath. This video shows the chemical process behind etching foil in an electrolytic bath, and develops it into a practical application for it by creating an electroluminescent caution display.
How To: Make an IR detection device and measure temperature w/ quenched phosphors
Phosphors are great for lighting up areas where fire will not burn, and also for keeping humans alive in very small quantities. Quenching phosphors allows you to use them for all sorts of cool projects, and this video will show you how to make an IR detection device with quenched phosphors and also how to measure temperature with thermally quenched phosphors.
How To: Make an electrophorus and use it to create electricity from your cat
An electrophorus is a type of capacitor that generates electrostatic energy. Most of you probably know this force as static electricity, the domain of door handles and polyester shirts. It can be used for all sorts of other fun science experiments though, and this video will show you how an old hard drive, some plastic, Styrofoam, foil, a cat, and other simple materials can be used to make a a simple functioning electrophorus.
How To: Use various methods to detect greenhouse gasses
In this informative video series, Jeri Ellsworth explores several methods that can be used to detect greenhouse gases, including building a homemade mass spectrometer and mid-Infrared absorption. Jeri provides a comprehensive overview of the science behind IR absorption, the mass spectrum and ion filtration.
How To: Make your own EMF detector for under ten dollars
An EMF detector will help you find invisible electromagnetic fields, and you can make an inexpensive one for under ten dollars. This will only detect the presence of a field, you will need other tools to be able to measure its strength.
How To: Make an EMF detector out of an Arduino
An EMF detector lets you pick up on electromagnetic fields, a useful tool if you're into amateur ghosthunting. To make this, you will need some wire, a resistor, and an LED. You will also need an Arduino to use as a controller.
How To: Hack a Sony Handi-Cam to be able to film in infrared
Start with a Sony Handi-Cam (or any other camera that allows you to film using night vision) and then add in a special infrared filter and a little extra hardware. Now you can film completely in infrared and film in X-ray vision!
How To: Make a Ticklebox as a gag gift for holidays or birthdays
This gift will give the recipient a nice little zap when they open it! All you'll need is some basic electronics that you can find at any retailer like Radio Shack, and a soldering iron for a little bit of detail work.
How To: Make the ultimate LED glowsticks in any color you want
This is an easy and fun project that will add a little light to any night time celebration. Take a few LEDs in any color you want, some basic electronics gear and a hot glue gun. This will be more vibrant than any glowstick you can find in the store, and will last much longer