Making alarmclocks great again - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Supercharged
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 17, 2018, 09:48:44 pm
content: Im currently working on a Nixie clock, creative i know, and i dont want to just use a booring buzzer for the alarm function.But i also want it to be reasonably simple, i thought about using a 8-Bit sound chip, but they are not too easy to find.My current Plan is to use a "DFPlayer" Mp3 module, which seems easy to implement into the design, but seems overkill.Does anyon have a better idea what to use?

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 02:17:53 am
content: Encode the audio to a bitstream, save it into a SPI Flash chip, then use a microcontroller to clock out the audio. Note that the microcontroller doesn't need to do anything with the SPI data - just bit banging a read whole chip command followed by continuing to clock it would be enough.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 06:35:28 am
content: You can still get cassette recorders new, so get a cheap one, gut it for the mechanism and build a tape loop player. Splice a short piece of clear leader into the loop and use a photosensor to trigger stopping it in the right place.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 07:55:45 am
content: Since you are going Nixie, I would say go for a few mechanical bells, at a different pitch each with their own single shot solenoid, & program a chime. Like a 2 chime door bell. In fact, go to a hardware store and just buy and old fashioned multi-chime door bell.Or, if you must wake someone up, buy a fire alarm bell.

author: Supercharged
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 08:05:39 am
content: Quote from: BrianHG on March 18, 2018, 07:55:45 amI had considered that as well, but i thought it might annoy the neighboursedit: I like the idea of a solenoid chime though.

author: Supercharged
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 08:09:31 am
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on March 18, 2018, 02:17:53 amInteresting idea, i have to look into that.

author: Supercharged
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 08:20:42 am
content: Quote from: Ian.M on March 18, 2018, 06:35:28 amNice idea, but it'll probably take up too much space for what i'm doing

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 10:47:12 am
content: Perhaps a miniature gramophone? Those were popular for voice effects in toys, before ROM became large and cheap enough.

author: Twoflower
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 10:50:30 am
content: If you use a espressif ESP32 you might have enough CPU power to fire up a I2S interface. Even the small predecessor had some capability to do so (it has a dedicated I2S interface). So you actually could run 16 Bit not just 8 Bit sounds with reasonable power consumption with normal audio DACs. The Wireless capability also allows automatic setting of the time.How about mounting bass shakers beneath your bed. I had another idea, but you mentioned neighbours. So a train horn is out as well ;-)

author: frozenfrogz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 10:56:05 am
content: Maybe you can go all-tube for the signal generation?http://www.tubebooks.org/Books/vto.pdf

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 11:05:02 am
content: Quote from: Hero999 on March 18, 2018, 10:47:12 amHowever you then have the problem of constructing a recording lathe to cut a disk with the desired sound clip, and it will wear out pretty quickly.Another option would be to use a mechanical music box mechanism. They are compact and cheap, but unless you get the sort that plays from a paper tape, you are pretty much stuck with what's on the supplied cylinder(s). You'll also need a really quiet gearmotor to drive it.

author: Supercharged
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 02:57:32 pm
content: Quote from: frozenfrogz on March 18, 2018, 10:56:05 amInteresting idea, but my powersupply doesn't have the power to drive the cathode heater for the tubes

author: Supercharged
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 02:59:38 pm
content: Quote from: Twoflower on March 18, 2018, 10:50:30 amI have already selected a MCU, and that module seems not to be the thing i was looking for.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 05:24:31 pm
content: What about a small low power mobile phone vibrator motor. Attach it to a flexible upright bracket supporting a bell or gong. A loose center hole in the bell would provide the 'clapper' action. Damp it to taste.

author: frozenfrogz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 05:25:10 pm
content: Quote from: Supercharged on March 18, 2018, 02:57:32 pmAnother option would be the re-enactment of the Sputnik beep via discrete partsFran has made a video about that and also provides corrected schematics. Looks pretty neat too!

author: Supercharged
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 07:11:26 pm
content: Quote from: frozenfrogz on March 18, 2018, 05:25:10 pmMight take a look at it, at least it'll be a interesting video

author: frozenfrogz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 07:25:44 pm
content: Here is a screenshot from another of her videos on the sputnik beeper model circuit.There might be an actual schematic file floating around the web, but this should also just do fine.

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 07:42:10 pm
content: Quote from: Supercharged on March 17, 2018, 09:48:44 pmThat's not true.eBay auction: #181787542441

author: Supercharged
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 08:35:18 pm
content: Quote from: NivagSwerdna on March 18, 2018, 07:42:10 pmlets just say, i didn't know what to search for

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 09:35:49 pm
content: Another vote for a mechanical bell. One tone or two pitches, and not a jarring "rrrring!", but a nice, discrete "ping, ping, ping". (Or "ping, pong, ping, pong..." if you have two different pitches...)The two-tone bells from an old phone should work nicely, and sound much more civilized than they did in the phone if you discretely "ping" them.

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 10:39:58 pm
content: Quote from: Supercharged on March 18, 2018, 08:35:18 pmFair enough.I'm playing with old arcade PCBs at the moment and they have an abundance of AY-3-8910 for a circa 1980 sound.also... you can search YM2149FRather than sound... it could make you a cup of tea/coffee....?https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teasmade

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 11:14:52 pm
content: Quote from: Supercharged on March 18, 2018, 02:57:32 pmHow much power do you have? Directly heated battery radio tubes don't take that much power.