Introduction: Simple Taser (detail)

This instructable will show you how to make a taser for about $5. I will show you, in as much detail as I can give, how to make one of these. THIS INSTRUCTABLE IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE COMPLETLY LOST WHEN IT COMES TO THESE THINGS! if you know what you're doing, you're wasting your time. You will need to know how to solder (even if you're not good at it).

Step 1: What You Will Need

Nothing special or expensive.

1)toggle on/off switch
2)normally open push button switch
3)any type or size of wire (thinner is recommended however)
4)cheap disposable camera

Step 2: Rip It Open.......carefully

Use gloves if you have them. If not, be REALLY careful not to touch any metal parts. Pry the camera open. The film is the standard roll so if you plan to save it, open the camera in a dark place and rewind it. Next, remove the flash circuit. Remove the battery but make sure you remember which way it went. Installing the battery backwards after completing the circuit will cause the taser to burn out and smoke so this is really important. Then you will need to remove the flash capacitor. If you don't know what this is, don't panic. Picture #1 shows this piece. DO NOT TOUCH THE METAL LEADS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FLASH CAPACITOR UNTIL IT HAS BEEN SHORTED! Doing so will cause you to get tasered. Picture#2 shows you how to short it. Simply place a metal piece with an insulated end (i.e. a screwdriver) between the two leads. The capacitor might spark pretty loud so be ready for that. After this it is safe to touch and the capacitor can be cut off with regular scissors. Picture#3 shows what this should look like and the cut-off capacitor is in the top left corner of the picture

Step 3: Installing Switches and Output Wires

This step is easy, but you need to know how to solder. Wire both switches in series (one after another) just like in the pictures. The output wires go where the capacitor used to. There were two leads, so there will be an output wire on each of the lead places. Now for the switch intallations. Look closely at the circuit and you will find a thin metal plate that you can push down. This is the button that activates the flash. Remove it. Almost every flash button of this sort will only be held in place by a piece of tape. You should see that there is one connection point in the middle and about 3 others surrounding this middle connection. Solder one wire of your series-rigged switches in the middle and the other in one of the outside connections. The metals should NOT be touching. picture#1 shows the completed series-rigged switch layout and picture#4 shows where the switches go. After competing this step, make sure there are no short-circuits in the added components

Step 4: Building the Case (part 1)

The easiest step. The pictures are self explanatory. Build the lego case. I think I used 1/8 inch bolts.

Step 5: Wiring the Output Wires and Switch Position Test

This step will show how to attach the output wires and how to test the switch to find the "safe" position. The output wires wire right in front of the head before the lego peice, as shown in picture#2. Now for the switch psition test. if you have a multimeter, such as the one in picture#7, use method one. FOR THIS METHOD, DO NOT INSERT THE BATTERY UNTIL AFTER THE TEST. Set the multimeter to measure resistance. Place probes on the leads of the toggle switch. If the multimeter shows no resistance, the toggle switch is in "Arm". Flip it the other way because you want it in "Safe". Picture#7 shows the "Arm" position and what should appear on the screen. In picture#8, it shows what the screen should show if the toggle switch is in "Safe". The screen shows "OL" or overload, meaning no current is flowing. On some multimeters, there might not be a number or anything on the screen. THe "OL" does not appear on every multimeter. After this, insert the battery (remember, the switch should be in "Safe"). If you don't have a multimeter, don't panic. You can use Method #2. Pictures #9 and #10 show this. Every flash cicuit has a light. find it. Insert the battery at this point but remember, only insert it now if you are using this method (#2). Push the push button switch (the pictures show which switch is the one you push). If the indicator light comes on, the toggle switch is in "Arm". If not, the switch is in "Safe". Leave it in this position.

Step 6: Building the Case (part 2)

Finish the case. The switch should be in "Safe", remember? You could add labels like I did if you'd like.

Step 7: Try It Out!

Have fun. check out the video to see how to use it. I stayed up late making the instructable so my voice sounds monotone-ish.