Forums > Technical Discussion > New type of LED poi and how I made them
Login/Join to ParticipateBRONZE Member
stranger
5 posts
Location: USA
stranger
5 posts
Location: USA
Posted:
So, I bought myself a pair of poi while vacationing in Australia and loved them. On my return to the cold country of Canada in the winter, I found that my fingers got really cold when spinning outside, so I decided to make a pair of LED poi that I could use indoors. I went to my local craft store and bought Styrofoam and what look like christmas tree ornaments, clear hard spheres with hoops on them and split in half. I then went to my local electronics store and bought a selection of the brightest LEDs I could get. I found that the styrofoam I used diffused the light well, and the poi looked great. I used red, blue, green, white and UV LEDs.
Now you ask me, What makes these different from any other LED poi?
Well, to put it simply, they change color to the music! I decided since I am an electrical engineer I might as well put my skills to use. I considered making them strobe to the beat but I decided it would be best to have them continually lit and change color to music. I made it out of a few resistors, capacitors, transistors, a mic and of course, LEDs. It works just like a Vu meter , and measures volume. I included an on/off switch and a dial for adjusting the sensitivity. I have the UV LED pretty much always on, at a little bit of sound the red one comes on, followed by the white then the green then the blue LED. It looks pretty cool, but the is only one problem. If you've ever heard syrofoam moving you know its pretty loud, putting that inside a closed amplifies the noise, so all LEDs are pretty much on all the time because the foam moving inside the ball makes noise that the mic picks up over everything else. If anyone wants to see them or a schematic of how to make them, I would be happy to post more information. I made mine for about $5 each. They run on 9V batteries because I figured the more voltage the brighter the LEDs, but they will run on any voltage due to their ingenious design.
I'm surprised I haven't seen anything like it before, but I'm not entirely sure if they exist already.
Let me know if you think its a good idea, and if you own floytoys and are reading this, hire me!
Mike
So, I bought myself a pair of poi while vacationing in Australia and loved them. On my return to the cold country of Canada in the winter, I found that my fingers got really cold when spinning outside, so I decided to make a pair of LED poi that I could use indoors. I went to my local craft store and bought Styrofoam and what look like christmas tree ornaments, clear hard spheres with hoops on them and split in half. I then went to my local electronics store and bought a selection of the brightest LEDs I could get. I found that the styrofoam I used diffused the light well, and the poi looked great. I used red, blue, green, white and UV LEDs.
Now you ask me, What makes these different from any other LED poi?
Well, to put it simply, they change color to the music! I decided since I am an electrical engineer I might as well put my skills to use. I considered making them strobe to the beat but I decided it would be best to have them continually lit and change color to music. I made it out of a few resistors, capacitors, transistors, a mic and of course, LEDs. It works just like a Vu meter , and measures volume. I included an on/off switch and a dial for adjusting the sensitivity. I have the UV LED pretty much always on, at a little bit of sound the red one comes on, followed by the white then the green then the blue LED. It looks pretty cool, but the is only one problem. If you've ever heard syrofoam moving you know its pretty loud, putting that inside a closed amplifies the noise, so all LEDs are pretty much on all the time because the foam moving inside the ball makes noise that the mic picks up over everything else. If anyone wants to see them or a schematic of how to make them, I would be happy to post more information. I made mine for about $5 each. They run on 9V batteries because I figured the more voltage the brighter the LEDs, but they will run on any voltage due to their ingenious design.
I'm surprised I haven't seen anything like it before, but I'm not entirely sure if they exist already.
Let me know if you think its a good idea, and if you own floytoys and are reading this, hire me!
Mike
SILVER Member
Serial Experiments...
22 posts
Location: London UK
Serial Experiments...
22 posts
Location: London UK
Posted:
I want to see them! YOUTUBE man..go go!
I want to see them! YOUTUBE man..go go!
What if everything around you isn't quite as it seems?
What if everything you think you know is an elabourate dream?
..and if you look at your reflection, is that all you want it to be? - Right Where It Belongs: NIN
-->Marmite Lover <3
SILVER Member
Unofficial Chairperson of Squirrel Defense League
4,061 posts
Location: South Africa
Unofficial Chairperson of Squirrel Defense League
4,061 posts
Location: South Africa
Posted:
Hmmm.... Can you not find a way to put something that does not move inside them? And how are they at dealing with impact?
Hmmm.... Can you not find a way to put something that does not move inside them? And how are they at dealing with impact?
'We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad." [said the Cat.]
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here."
- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland
BRONZE Member
stranger
5 posts
Location: USA
stranger
5 posts
Location: USA
Posted:
there are no moving parts inside. I bought a foam ball and cut it in half. On one side I carved out a spot for a battery. I jammed the LED's into the foam and they dont move at all. On the other side I stuck a circuit board, the On/Off switch and the sensitivity knob. They are pretty good with impact because the shell I used is strong and there is no room for movement inside the ball.
I can send some pics if you want, PM me your e-mail.
EDITED_BY: Wrock (1235725139)
there are no moving parts inside. I bought a foam ball and cut it in half. On one side I carved out a spot for a battery. I jammed the LED's into the foam and they dont move at all. On the other side I stuck a circuit board, the On/Off switch and the sensitivity knob. They are pretty good with impact because the shell I used is strong and there is no room for movement inside the ball.
I can send some pics if you want, PM me your e-mail.
EDITED_BY: Wrock (1235725139)
SILVER Member
Unofficial Chairperson of Squirrel Defense League
4,061 posts
Location: South Africa
Unofficial Chairperson of Squirrel Defense League
4,061 posts
Location: South Africa
Posted:
So them what makes the noise?
So them what makes the noise?
'We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad." [said the Cat.]
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here."
- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland
SILVER Member
Rampant whirler.
2,418 posts
Location: Geelong, Victoria, Australia!
Rampant whirler.
2,418 posts
Location: Geelong, Victoria, Australia!
Posted:
My understanding is that its your stereo that makes the noise, the poi just change colour in response to spikes of volume... like a clapper or similar.
My understanding is that its your stereo that makes the noise, the poi just change colour in response to spikes of volume... like a clapper or similar.
GOLD Member
Kebab Embalmer
316 posts
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma, Philippines
Kebab Embalmer
316 posts
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma, Philippines
Posted:
As you swing mic pick ups the swoosh sound while twirling! Probably that's why it's always lit or explains the noise inside.
As you swing mic pick ups the swoosh sound while twirling! Probably that's why it's always lit or explains the noise inside.
Tam tam tam cheketitamtam, ketumpantam, ketumpan kete kete kete, tam tam tam ketumpanketey!
BRONZE Member
stranger
5 posts
Location: USA
stranger
5 posts
Location: USA
Posted:
no, the mic is inside a windproof casing, the noise comes from the foam ball shifting slightly inside its case slightly, and the noise being amplified by the fact that its in a small closed space
no, the mic is inside a windproof casing, the noise comes from the foam ball shifting slightly inside its case slightly, and the noise being amplified by the fact that its in a small closed space
SILVER Member
Unofficial Chairperson of Squirrel Defense League
4,061 posts
Location: South Africa
Unofficial Chairperson of Squirrel Defense League
4,061 posts
Location: South Africa
Posted:
Ah. That makes sense.
Also, now that I see the photos, it makes even more.
I will need to see if I can find the casing but the other stuff should be easy enough.
Thanks for the ideas.
Ah. That makes sense.
Also, now that I see the photos, it makes even more.
I will need to see if I can find the casing but the other stuff should be easy enough.
Thanks for the ideas.
'We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad." [said the Cat.]
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here."
- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland
SILVER Member
newbie
42 posts
Location: New Zealand
newbie
42 posts
Location: New Zealand
Posted:
Schematic of the circuit, please? There's some serious geeks on here working on similar stuff, and it's always good to share.
Schematic of the circuit, please? There's some serious geeks on here working on similar stuff, and it's always good to share.
BRONZE Member
stranger
5 posts
Location: USA
stranger
5 posts
Location: USA
Posted:
you know, I can provide the circuit diagram if you really want, but I've found something alot better, its a chip called an LM3915, its a 10 LED Vu meter at 3dB increments. I like it alot because you can set it to illuminate more and more LED's as the Vu levels rise, or just light up one LED to indicate the level.
you know, I can provide the circuit diagram if you really want, but I've found something alot better, its a chip called an LM3915, its a 10 LED Vu meter at 3dB increments. I like it alot because you can set it to illuminate more and more LED's as the Vu levels rise, or just light up one LED to indicate the level.
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