How to make a K'nex solar alarm clock with built in small electronics charger and lockbox.

 by Killer~SafeCracker
Featured
Here it is. The first knex solar alarm clock. This has taken me over a month to design, build, rebuild, perfect, and make instructions. In fact I ran out of parts and had to take several things apart to finish it.

Anyway this project works by harnessing the sun, using the solar motor sold by knex.com. You set the Solar Receiving Unit or (SRU) on your windowsill or wherever the sun first shines in the morning. Then when the sun hits the solar panel it turns on the motor. On the main shaft there is a gray clip that spins and hits a plastic ball, which in turn makes an annoying noise to wake you up.

This also has a power button to turn it off once you are up. Although it is still smart to close the cover on the solar receiving unit when you get up to prevent a burned out motor.
  
There also some added features. One of them is the small electronics charger. Anything that is thinner than 1-¼ inches will fit in the charging slot. (A Nintendo DSi was used in the pictures.)
 
Another added feature is the “lockbox” on the bottom. It has a latch on the right side of the door to keep it from opening. It's a great place to store video games, small toys, other knex, etc.

The main down-fall of this device is that the sun does not shine through everyone’s window at the same time every morning. But don’t worry there are still ways to make it work as long as you have a window in your room. Check out the last step. 

*EDIT* This Instructable hit 4.16 stars within 2 hours of posting. 
But It has has gotten up to 5.00 stars a few days after that.


So, what do you think?? Let me know, it only takes a few seconds.
Oh yeah...This is also my twentieth Instructable so yeah!!
Thanks
Killer~SafeCracker
 
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Step 1: Part count

FFK75UTFY3KSDIS_MEDIUM.jpg
Connectors:
White 43
Blue   34
Yellow 13
Purple   110
Green 64
Red   25
Orange 51
Dark gray 2
 
Rods:
Red 13
Blue 2
White 137
Green,  Some where around 250
 
Odds and ends:
1 solar motor. You can get these on Ebay
1 connection rod for the motor
1 Solar panel
1 the wire to hook up the motor with the panel
1 knex ball
3 tan clips
1 ball joint
32 blue spacers
3 gray spacer
2 black and blue hinges
1 blue gear
1 red gear

The part most won't have is the motor. Knex.com doesn't sell/make them anymore, but Ebay is always a good place to search for anything.
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knexinventions 49 says: Oct 19, 2012. 5:22 PM
I bought the solar power 10 models kit but the motor did
n't have the motor shaft. Where could I get one?
knexinventions 49 says: Oct 19, 2012. 5:19 PM
I bout this kit but the motor didnt have the motor shaft. Where could I get one?
knexman2001 says: Jan 9, 2011. 1:42 PM
do you need the solar panel?
Killer~SafeCracker (author) in reply to knexman2001May 3, 2011. 7:29 AM
Yes..
Furloy says: Nov 7, 2010. 10:10 AM
i was the 100 person to rate!!!!!!! five stars muthafucka!!!!!!!
Picture 48.png
shadowninja31 says: Nov 24, 2009. 8:49 AM
When you search for knex and go to highest rated it's on the first page.
Killer~SafeCracker (author) in reply to shadowninja31Nov 24, 2009. 10:05 AM
I know, I have three ibles on the front page.
Shadowman39 in reply to Killer~SafeCrackerNov 26, 2009. 7:16 PM
My stair lift was up there with 4.13, but someone rated it down to make it go to the fourth page. :-(
shadowninja31 in reply to Shadowman39Nov 27, 2009. 8:17 PM
probably some n00bs who want their stuff rated higher.
Shadowman39 in reply to shadowninja31Nov 28, 2009. 12:22 PM
Yeah
KnexFreek in reply to Shadowman39Dec 1, 2009. 5:10 PM
i had the same thing happen to me, my shotgun was on the first page with a 4.07 and one 1/2 star rating knocked it down to 3.89 i hate this rating system and haters too ):-(
smattman22 in reply to KnexFreekJan 18, 2010. 12:38 PM
I'll go rate it up! ⇔®...sweeeeettttt
KnexFreek in reply to smattman22Jan 18, 2010. 12:45 PM
 awesome!!!! thankyou :D ill do the same for you :)
smattman22 in reply to KnexFreekJan 18, 2010. 1:31 PM
dude you still here?
KnexFreek in reply to smattman22Jan 18, 2010. 2:39 PM
 NOw i am :)
Killer~SafeCracker (author) in reply to Shadowman39Nov 26, 2009. 7:23 PM
I know how you feel man. Those haters can be a real pain. :-(
Shadowman39 in reply to Killer~SafeCrackerNov 26, 2009. 7:31 PM
It might be because of the video, I should get a better video camera. But it's most likely ball machine haters.


Killer~SafeCracker (author) in reply to Shadowman39Nov 26, 2009. 8:02 PM
I saw how high it was and I would say it it was just haters that wanted their ible on top or like you said ball machine haters. But whatever it was it's happens to me all the time. :-(
Shadowman39 in reply to Killer~SafeCrackerNov 27, 2009. 10:10 AM
It's on the first page again. :-)
Killer~SafeCracker (author) in reply to Shadowman39Nov 29, 2009. 4:28 PM

Cool.

Shadowman39 in reply to Killer~SafeCrackerNov 29, 2009. 4:36 PM
It actually got up to 4.27, but it's 4.14 now.
Killer~SafeCracker (author) in reply to Shadowman39Nov 29, 2009. 4:43 PM
I know, I think  I saw it in third place. :-)
Shadowman39 in reply to Killer~SafeCrackerNov 29, 2009. 4:51 PM
:-P
Top rated Ibles 4.JPG
Shadowman39 in reply to Shadowman39Nov 30, 2009. 3:01 PM
Sorry for the bad quality.
Killer~SafeCracker (author) in reply to Shadowman39Jan 12, 2010. 9:22 AM
Late but I can see it. :-P
Shadowman39 in reply to Killer~SafeCrackerJan 13, 2010. 2:20 PM
I'm picky with my pictures, lol.
Killer~SafeCracker (author) in reply to Shadowman39Jan 13, 2010. 2:24 PM
Yeah, I'm not too picky but they have to be good.
shadowninja31 in reply to Shadowman39Nov 27, 2009. 8:17 PM
good
KnexFreek in reply to Killer~SafeCrackerNov 24, 2009. 9:07 PM
 *jaw drops*
Killer~SafeCracker (author) in reply to KnexFreekNov 25, 2009. 3:21 PM
:-)
shadowninja31 in reply to Killer~SafeCrackerNov 24, 2009. 8:05 PM
nice!
KnexFreek says: Jan 4, 2010. 1:08 PM

FEATURED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

smattman22 in reply to KnexFreekJan 18, 2010. 12:35 PM

 I CAN DO THAT TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :P

TEEHEE   .......... IF YOU CANT READ THIS GET A NEW SCREEN OR GET GLASSES.
KnexFreek in reply to smattman22Jan 18, 2010. 12:43 PM
YO KSC. LISTEN UP FOO.

(my advice 2 you)

make a video of this and i can garentee the rating will shoot up like a rocket.


KnexFreek in reply to smattman22Jan 18, 2010. 12:40 PM
wahahahaaaaa! i have 20-20 vision foo!  you go get some glasses! haha :D
smattman22 in reply to KnexFreekJan 18, 2010. 12:47 PM
hey last year i got an f on my vision test! i had to get new glasses...far sight :P
KnexFreek in reply to smattman22Jan 18, 2010. 12:54 PM
wahahahaaaaa! i have 20-20 vision foo!  you go get some glasses! haha :D


thats what that small message said :)
smattman22 in reply to KnexFreekJan 18, 2010. 12:58 PM


how do you get it that small?

KnexFreek in reply to smattman22Jan 18, 2010. 2:42 PM
 idk lol
KnexFreek in reply to KnexFreekJan 18, 2010. 12:41 PM
 it says wahahahaahaaa! in the beginning of that last message but its hard to tell. also at the end it says : haha :D
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