Category - Hacking

Doorbell Light for the Hearing Impaired

3D Printing, Build, Electronics, Hacking

Summary: The objective of this project was to create a visual signal on my treadmill to alert me when someone was ringing the doorbell. Why a visual alert? Well, because I invariably have music blaring out of my in-ear headphones when I’m running. Between that and the noisiness of the treadmill itself, I have, in the past, missed the delivery guy knocking at the front door. It is so annoying to have to go on a treasure hunt just to recover parcels that I could have easily received myself if only I had known someone was at the front door. The final device I settled on consisted of a large red flashing LED to get my attention, controlled by a 556 timer chip (which is two 555 timer circuits in one package). I then connected it through internal house wiring to the doorbell. In addition, I designed the enclosure housing this doorbell light to fit into one of the bottle holders on my treadmill’s display console.

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Taotronics Mobile Phone / GPS Car Holder Permanent Mount

3D Printing, Build, Hacking

Summary: If you are the owner of a Taotronics car phone holder and, like me, you like the design and functionality it provides, but dislike suction cup attachments in general and the fact that it occasionally falls off the windscreen when the weather is warm, then check out this project where I convert the suction cup mount into a permanent mount for my car’s dashboard. Super-steady and no more messing around with the unpredictability of suction cups. Looks good too, although would have preferred it in black!

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