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Gadget Freak

Gadget Freak Case #128: Syncing Music and Fireworks

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Deane Williams fixed up his PC to synchronize fireworks with music. He used his PC's parallel printer port to connect the circuit controlling the fireworks. He fanned out the port with a 16-line decoder which allows for up to 225 firing devices. Since the parallel port is difficult to control directly in the newer versions of Windows, such as XP, Williams worked with a software whiz to write an ActiveX control module called HWinterface to control the synchronization. The software was written in Agilent VEE 8.0 but Williams says it could have been written easily in Visual Basic 6 or any similar language that can use ActiveX calls.

 

Gadget Freak Case 128 Syncing Music and Fireworks

Amt Part Description Allied Part #
3 Fairchild CD4514BCN 4 to 16 Line Decoder IC 735-2460
1 7805 5V Regulator 735-3008
1 220 uF Filter Capacitor, Electrolytic 613-0657
30 IRLZ44N Power Mosfet, 55V, 47A 273-0263
30 LED, Red, T-1 679-9981
30 Resistors, 10K 1/10W, (Gate Pull-Down) 895-1379
30 Resistors, 2.2K, 1/10W (LED Current Limit) 895-1220
3 25 Pin D-Shell Connector, Female, Right Angle, PCB Mount 360-0014
3 25 Pin D-Shell Connector, Male for 3 Cables 810-0036
Additional parts required:
15 4 Terminal Speaker, Quick Connectors for 3 Slats
360 Ft, 12 Conductor Cable, #24AWG or Larger Conductors for 3 Slats.
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