3 Simple Ways to
Share What You Make

With Instructables you can share what you make with the world — and tap into an ever-growing community of creative experts.

PhotosPhotos

Share one or more photos of a project, recipe, or whatever you've made, quickly and easily.

Step by StepStep-By-Step

Share your step-by-step photos with text instructions of what you made so others can do it too!

VideoVideo

Share your how-to video. You'll need your embed code from a video site such as YouTube.

MiniPOV3 Kit

MiniPOV3 Kit
«
  • img_0345 (Modified).jpg
  • img_0378 (Modified).jpg
This is an inexpensive Persistence of Vision (POV) toy, which is designed for beginners in electronics. You swing this little thing around to reveal a customizable message or image through it's 8 red LEDs. It has 4 holes for mounting on bikes, fans, and anything else that swings around. You can purchase this kit from the Make Store.

This project is the third revision of the MiniPOV. This version is nearly identical to the last version, MiniPOV2 but uses the serial port (possibly with a USB/Serial converter) instead of a parallel port, for programming. Because the programmer is built into the kit, one does not need a special "microcontroller programmer". This version can be used with PCs (Linux/Unix or Windows) and Macs (running MacOS X and with a USB/serial converter).

This kit is great for soldering beginners. To learn the basics of soldering check out this great guide by noahw. Also, here's a good video tutorial from the MAKE blog.

 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up
 

Step 1What you get and what you need.

What you get and what you need.
«
  • img_0266.jpg
  • img_0268.jpg
  • img_0272.jpg
This kit is great because it's mostly self contained. The only thing you really need is two AA batteries and time. It's also easier if your computer has a serial port; it looks like the monitor output but inverted.

A note on the resistors: electrical components are marked by colors, and you'll be getting all sorts of things that look the same. Be careful not to mix them up!

What you get:
1 PCB
1 ATtiny2313 Microcontroller - IC
1 20 Pin Socket for microcontroller - IC1
3 1/4W 5% 4.7K resistors - R10-R12 (Red band)
8 1/4W 5% 47 ohm resistors - R1-9 (Brown band)
3 5.1V Zener Diode - D1-D3 (Red body)
1 Battery case with screw - U1
8 Red LED - D1-8
1 DB-9 female connector w/solder cup
1 Sticky pad

What components you'll need:
2 AA batteries
(if you don't have a serial port) USB to serial converter
The ones with the PL-2303 chipset work:
Here or here or somewhere else

What tools you'll need.
Rosin core, 60/40 solder
Soldering Iron hopefully with a pencil-like tip
Wire clippers
A vice to hold up the PCB
(You can get all this stuff really cheap at http://www.all-spec.com/ or http://www.allelectronics.com/)
« Previous StepDownload PDFView All StepsNext Step »
45 comments
1-40 of 45next »
Aug 28, 2010. 9:01 PMkindrudekid says:
okay i own a street bike.... Yahama FZ 16 the front tyres have disk brakes... is there anyway u or any1 temme i can use this trick on my front wheel ... sucuh that i i can take power frm my bike's battery..... i owuld like to know something sort of wire arangement that would easil keep connection on the rotating tyre while driving
Sep 16, 2011. 1:40 AMjisaiah says:
if you want to build something onto your wheel that does not need a battery, try rigging up a magnet on the stationary post and a coil of wire attached to your circuitry on your wheel. As the wheel turns the coil will generate power by traveling through the magnetic field. You will need a power regulation circuit to smooth out the power generated by this method. Just the power circuit would be a challenging project for me, but its a start.

The only wire connection i can envision would be similar to the brushes inside a brushed dc motor.
Sep 16, 2011. 3:54 AMkindrudekid says:
too late buddy,
i sold off the bike and now m in states

thnx for the help tough
Jun 4, 2011. 9:34 AMarbita2 says:
ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok
May 11, 2009. 1:45 PMNanovirus says:
NO IVE PUT MINE IN BACKWARDS!! WAAA. I don't have a desoldering Iron, Vacuum pump or desoldering tape. What do i do?
Oct 1, 2009. 4:27 PMtssguy123 says:
lol, i just heated the solder back up with the soldering iron, but im sure that isn't good. but eh it worked?
Oct 2, 2009. 3:21 AMNanovirus says:
Haha. Nah I solved that problem ages ago now XD. I got to Really pay attention to the diagrams. Thanks very much anyway
Aug 20, 2009. 3:55 PMdark clerick says:
hey could i get all this stuff from radio shack? im trying to make the 3x3x3 led cube.
May 21, 2009. 6:37 AMpaopaosha says:
could you give me the code of this function please,my email:gzg.119@163.com thanks in advance
Apr 27, 2009. 12:00 PMram1728 says:
This is a great project. Has anyone ever tried/seen one of these with 16 or 32 LED's?
Apr 3, 2009. 11:19 AMCapt. Fat says:
I bought a clock that works the same way, but it is automatic
Nov 12, 2008. 1:33 PMhughligen says:
instead of using the DB-9 female connector it would be cool if you could do it with USB because most PCs and no Macs have serial ports these days
Jan 4, 2008. 8:31 AMmikemmcmeans says:
what is the sensor for????????? 3 pins in the corner marked (+)(-)(s) why are they left unsoldiered? why?
Oct 23, 2008. 6:08 PMltkenbo says:
The sensor is to determine how the miniPOV3 is moved. Because if you use it without a sensor it doesn't know when to start pulsing to it might display backwards sometimes.
May 31, 2007. 10:34 AMimarunner2 says:
I'm wondering about the feasibility of implementing a "font" then have this thing display any string that can be sent in via the serial port. With a wireless serial link you could feed it RSS streams realtime... How cool would that be?
Jul 18, 2008. 9:34 AMDerin says:
too cool
Jun 17, 2008. 6:40 PMTalon876 says:
Would you be able to use this, or something similar?

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?parentPage=family&summary=summary&techSpecs=techSpecs&currentTab=features&cp=2032058.2032230.2032265&custRatings=custRatings&features=features&accessories=accessories&productId=2102863&support=support&tab=summary

and the rest of the components to make this?
I'm going to Radioshack soon and I'd rather buy all the parts there than have to wait for products to arrive in the mail.
Jun 23, 2008. 11:47 PMjunniver says:
how come the link www.adafruit.com doesn't work?
Jun 18, 2008. 11:16 AM=SMART= says:
wow this is very cool, are you selling kits on the marketplace?? do you know what the overall cost of the parts is??
Jun 18, 2008. 1:06 PM=SMART= says:
ok thanks :D
Jun 11, 2008. 8:38 AMwannaknw says:
i'd like to make one of those someday.... but does anyone know how to make ones that are easily programmable... like not needing it to be attached to a pc to do so?
Jan 27, 2008. 11:44 AMstasterisk says:
The latest minipov source link seems to be broken. Is it available anywhere else?
Jan 22, 2008. 1:36 PMPyroMonger says:
this is a sweet instructable...you should enter the Get the LED OUT contest with it if you haven't already done so.
Nov 24, 2007. 7:04 AMShifrin says:
How do you Program the minipov3???
Nov 25, 2007. 1:02 PMpetes98 says:
using the avrdude software
Jul 16, 2007. 1:27 AMTechnoMancer says:
would it be possible to put a schematic of this up????
Nov 20, 2007. 6:18 PMdannydutton says:
Got them in Eagle.
schematic
Sep 16, 2007. 6:36 PMarseny says:
I think you can get that info from the developer's site. Look up adafruit.
Nov 17, 2007. 6:48 AMpierson says:
To make it easier to solder the socket into the board, put a small rubber band (or two, one on each end, if you can't center just one rubber band perfectly) around the socket and the board. Then you can turn the board upside down without the socket falling out. You only need it until you have enough solder holding the socket in place. Then you can use the soldering iron to melt the rubber bands and snap your fingers. Ouch!
Jul 14, 2007. 10:43 PMnosferatuspacho says:
Hello, I am very been interested in this project and me gustaria in clarifying some doubts. Between(among) the important mas the first one is the cost of the kit, the second one the quantity of letters that apareceran in, the third doubt is since(as,like) the pcb. suits to obtain the pieces com in addition I am in colombia, and it(he,she) wanted to do some projects that include this piece (minipov3) then it(he,she) wanted to know since(as,like) we will be able to be convenient(to agree) the delivery if you are a manufacturer, you prop, many mas you doubt. Him(her) agradesco that me envie information to the e-mail vanguard.hi.tec@gmail.com. I wait upload for a projection project of analyzer of simple spectrum with red laser, but it(he,she) wanted to know where to obtain mas colors. (translated by : elmundo.es) hola, estoy muy interesado en este proyecto y me gustaria aclarar algunas dudas. entre las mas importantes la primera es el costo de el kit, la segunda la cantidad de letras que apareceran en el, la tercera duda es como conviene conseguir las piezas com la pcb. ademas yo me encuentro en colombia, y quisiera hacer algunos proyectos que incluyan esta pieza ( el minipov3 ) entonces quisiera saber como podremos convenir la entrega si usted es fabricante, ademas, muchas mas dudas. le agradesco que me envie informacion al email vanguard.hi.tec@gmail.com. espero upload un proyecto de proyeccion de analizador de espectro simple con laser rojo, pero quisiese saber donde conseguir mas colores.
Oct 13, 2007. 8:24 PMChanio says:
Esta es la dirección a la que me referia:
http://ladyada.net/make/minipov3/hardware.html

iSuerte!
alberto
Oct 13, 2007. 8:21 PMChanio says:
Hola, me parece que tendrías que contactarte con los creadores. Este chico solo está siguiendo las ideas originales para hacer su aparato.

El indica más arriba que hay que dirigirse a: http://store.makezine.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MKPOVKIT pero, si mal no recuerdo, allí te envian a una sede web propia.

Ellos venden el equipo básico y creo que hacen envios por correo. Luego, combinando los manuales de esa sede con lo que hizo este joven, podés tener una idea buena de como armar tus proyectos.

La moda, creo que viene de Japón. Usan unos aparatos más pequeños para enviarse mensajes o dibujos.

Suerte con tus ideas.
alberto
Oct 3, 2007. 12:17 AMIzzie404 says:
From the pictures I have seen, the LEDs are white, but mine came as red. Is that bad?
May 7, 2007. 2:47 PMlucasaf says:
Hello i'm from Brazil. My name is Lucas. Do you send the kit to Brazil? Best regards
Apr 7, 2007. 6:55 PMAthlon says:
Can you upload a print of PCB and is there a model or someting like that or it's just "ATtiny2313 Microcontroller" TNX Great project
1-40 of 45next »

Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

All Steps Viewing
View all steps of an Instructable on the same page when you're a Pro Member.

Upgrade to Pro today!
27
Followers
7
Author:MAKEkits