Introduction: PC SPEAKERS: Wired Volume Remote Control With Perfume Cap


(Before all: sorry my english I from Brazil...)


Hi, my mother bought a edifier 2.1 PC speaker with wired remote control. (Photo 1)
It's very nice and easy to use...but expensive, and knob volume is a little small...

I like big volume knobs, like another wired remote control from edifier (look  below)...but more expensive yet...

The most of big volume knobs are soft to rotate and smooth to touch ... like my Yamaha receiver and others ...and more: some light big knobs you can control it with only a finger!

My PC speaker is  a cheap clone 2.1 system.  Knob volume is small, away from hands and not smooth...after some time thinking about a way to solve my "problem" without spending much money... I had a idea...

You will need:
1 - phone cable or lan cable
2 - Plier
3 - Carolina Herrera 212 for men. :)  (or another perfume cap - or something rounded and cool) 
4 - Iron solder
5 - Araldite glue or another strong glue...
6 - isolating ribbon
7- a match or peace of hard plastic
8 - Strong double face tape
9 - Small plastic box.

Comments with eulogy or criticism will are welcome.

:)



Step 1: My 2.1 Pc Speakers....

My 2.1 cheap clone system with small, not soft and not smooth knob volume

Step 2: Look My Carolina Herrera 212 for Men ... Did You See Anything Similar My Photos?


Step 3: Disassembly Your 2.1 or 2.0 System Computer Speakers. (it Will Avoid Warranty)


Step 4: Position of Volume Knob Inside Speaker...

Find position of volume knob like last step...there are one or two potentiometer...in electronics, potentiometer is a way to increase or decrease something...my system has 2 potentiometers: One to increase or decrease volume level and another to increase or decrease sub woofer effects. In my case they are in a separated...  (separated board because some times, this systems only have a central board (amplification board) with alone volume potentiometer separate). Original knobs will be stay on the same place...look photo 2 of this step to know more...

Step 5: Two Choices....

I have two choices: Remove my vol potentiometer from little board or make my remote control with little board and two potentiometers... (this photo is another potentiometer for example....I do not removed vol potentiometer of little board) -  however, look photo... 6 legs on potentiometer.. lan cable has 8 wires.....you can use 2 extra wires of lan cable to pull a blue led. Put led near or under perfume cap to make your perfume remote control much more beautiful yet!!! :) Look photo 2 of last step: my system has a blue led on on/off button, but I did not pull it... (I had this idea after project :(   ) .

Step 6: My Choice...


My choice: make it with little board and 2 potentiometer....remember: there are two: vol and sub potentiometer. But, this sub woofer is very weak...so, a put it on max (turn complete to right side) on potentiometer and cut the bolt with dremel.... look red arrow...   (after disassemble, mark it with a pen...look "Red V" on vol potentiometer...)

Step 7: Measure Length...

Measure length between the place where did you remove potentiometer and the place where you will want remote control...

Step 8: Remote Cord....

To make a cord for remote, I used a pair of phone cable, but, you can do it better with lan cable....... for this spep, you will need solder iron and a electrical ribbon tape to isolate wires...you can isolate it with hot glue too... this step don't have mystery...solder cable phone/lan cable on little board ...this is a simple "extension" for little board.... if wire colors are the same, very good, if not, the only caution is a little of attention....   if your speaker only has a potentiometer alone or if you want make it without little board, the step is the same, but, in this case, you will need unsolder potentiometer from little board and solder phone cable or lan cable directly on potentiometer legs...)  after this, find a hole or make a hole on the back of your speaker or subwoofer to pass lan/phone cable. Look last photo of this step.



Step 9: Find a Good Place for Your Remote...

on "trash room" at my home, I found a plastic box from an old alarm car...

Step 10: The Plastic Box and Little Board...

Find a good position on your little box....

Step 11: Plastic Box and Bolt of Potentiometer...

Make a hole like photo, but not so big like I did....  :)  



Step 12: Put Little Nut on It, and Adjust With Plier...


Step 13: Caution...don't Block It...

... you will use araldite glue, so, where araldite touch, it glues and can ruin the project....  look photo: Don't block this line with glue...this line makes potentiometer works.....





Step 14: Caution...protect It...

.....protect the perfume knob with plastic of kitchen/film kitchen, or normal tape... if glue fall here, knob will be very unattractive...

Step 15: CENTRALIZATION of Perfume Knob - Very Important Step

You will need to put potentiometer accurately on the center of perfume cap with araldite....it's very difficult without a secure method...     without this perfect centralization, it will seeming "oval knob" when rotate it....(you will need measure the hole perfume cap...and make a axis of centralization on potentiometer...look photo..   (I forgot this photo, so I did it on photoshop)

Step 16: SETTING HEIGHT of Perfume Knob - Very Important Step

Very important step too... you will need adjust equal height on all sides of knob...you can make it with 2 equal pens, 2 equal rubbers, etc.         without this, when you will rotate knob, it will seeming unbalanced ...

Don't forget 1 :
You don' t have much time after put araldite. (you can put araldite after this step)

Don't forget 2 : Don't put a very slim object ...don't submerge work line of potentiometer (explained some steps ago)


Step 17: Tape for Better Control and Security....

if you do not put araldite before, put it after this step...

Step 18: Put the Plastic Box With Potentiometer on Araldite...

Wait dry very well...don't touch more...  wait some hours....(read araldite package)....if weather is cold, wait more...

Step 19: Photoshop X-ray Projection...