Mousebot Revisited

Step 5 Layout the design and install the relay

There are quite a few good component layouts for the mousebot. The best layout is probably the one picture on the top of page 100 of vol 2. However this alternate setup pictured below works better on certain mice. I chose to use the standard layout. The circuitry of the mouse will be free formed since there is not much extra room for a pc board.

Once we know where everything will go its time to get to the real work. Set down the relay and solder wires in an X connecting pins 8 to 11 and 6 to 9. (see pin labels on second image)

Then connect pins 1 and 8 with a wire along the side and add stranded wire to leads 8 and 9.

Solder the collector of the transistor (right pin looking at the flat side) to pin 16 and clip the lead short. Then connect the wire we soldered to pin 9 to the emitter (left pin looking at the flat side) leaving a little bit of slack.

Now glue the relay into the case. I have added two clipped leads to act as positive and negative voltage rails which will get rid of some clutter in the motor area. Use your razor knife to strip the shielding from the wire connecting pin 9 and the emitter and solder it to the - voltage rail. Then connect pin 8 to the + voltage rail.

Comments

[dany_11]

this instructable is very cool..i want to try this one..but i have a problem. i had only found a 6v relay and it only has 5 pins..PLEASE I NEED HELP

[henrybot]

the relay is for the backing-up movement of the mouse when it bumps to something so you can use that 5 pin relay for one motor only so instead of the robot backing up, it will just spins 'coz only one motor will reverse, here is my modified diagram of the mousebot. (and the corrected circuitry). i hope this will help you a lot.. Goodluck

[mr.future11]

well i did hav dpdt relay rather than spdt so was wondering how to connect 5 pronge. thank u very much for this.

[the science girl]

can i use a 12vdc relay, or can i use two relays?

[christinb]

The number on the relay is telling you how many volts are required to trigger the switch by sending the voltage through a coil between two pins. If your robot uses a 9VDC battery, then you will need a relay that can be triggered by about 5 or 6 VDC. A standard 9V battery won't trigger a 12VDC relay.

You want one Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT) relay rated for 5VDC or two Single Pole Double Through (SPDT) relays rated for 5VDC.


You can purchase and appropriate 5V DPDT relay from Solarbotics or just read more about how they work on their site. http://solarbotics.com/products/re1/

Hope this helps.


Sincerely,
Christin Boyd
http://robotfun.wordpress.com

[the science girl]

can i use a 6 notch relay? will that change anything?

[n410gangwar]

if we dont have an old mouse can i use infrared LEDs instead of what found in mouse ?

[magiccowy]

M-jake seems to have abandoned this instructable can anyone help with which pins are which on the LM386 and the relay Thanks =)

[ahlexys]

there should be a notch that shows the front of the chip, pin one is to the left of that on the lm386. the relay should have numbers on the underside indicating pin numbers. (well, at least the ones ive seen have.) :

[magiccowy]

Thank you very much

[magiccowy]

sorry for the amount of comments but i add as i find if anyone needs the info pin 1 and 8 are closest to the semicircular mark on one side

[dany_11]

i don't found relay 5 volts
please help me what shal Ido?
 

[Unreal X]

one question...is there a wheel in the back or something i skimmed tro this first so i didnt c

[pobturtle]

what are those mettle things next to the + and the - sign connected to?

[Argurios19]

positive and negative voltage rails

[Didrtan]

Does anyone know if a 5vDC relay will work it has four pins in back and one infront so its basicly all you need as far as pins go any help?

[vengeance89]

this instructable is very cool..i want to try this one..but i have a problem. i had only found a 6v relay and it only has 5 pins..PLEASE I NEED HELP

[slowslow325]

Can I use a 5v SPDT relay?

[Dragos]

well...it has been usefull. thanks. but, the problem is that there are electronics but not what i need..AUDIO AMP 1X0.33W 6V 0.2%.......AUDIO-AMP 4-12V 0,5W DIP8...

[kohlious]

is this something helpful? remember i can't read the language, so don't make fun of me if it's something completely unrelated... : )
http://www.vitacom.ro

[Dragos]

ok, but i can't find it in some stereos or anything like that because i am from romania and it would take some time to get here

[kohlious]

the site said two weeks for delivery but i swear it was at my house in like 4 days.

[kohlious]

http://www.solarbotics.com/products/index.php?scdfa-250100084-viewDetail-productzq3990zq4categoryzq348=true

[Dragos]

where i can find the relay and the LM386 op-amp.

[robotix]

Oh I see it's the LM386 op-amp.

[robotix]

Where did the chip come from?