Safety Alarm Clock

I often find getting out of bed in the morning a bit tricky. When i have somewhere to be at a certain time, i get up pretty reliable. However when I want to get up it always seems that I manage to turn off my alarm clock before fully waking up.

Put it on the other side of the room? Multiple alarms? Sooner or later I acclimatise, and fall back to old habits...

This instructable will hopefully show you how to put your alarm under lock and key! This is the safety alarm clock.

Step 1: Things you need

The chart below, I think does justice to the battle between my sensible conscious mind who wants to get up and do stuff and the selfish sleepy one who only wants to lie in bed.

The main point of my alarm hack was only to allow control of the alarm clock to me once the critical time had passed, once the sensible me was in control... I want the selfish sleepy me to be locked out of any alarm turning off privileges!

Things you will need

Cheapo digital alarm clock Get one with a back up battery if you want to do steps 6-8

Wire Cutters
Screwdriver to open alarm clock
Soldering iron
Wire ( double insulated core and jumper)
Project Box
Heatshrink/electrical tape
SPST Key switch (available from maplins for �3 in the UK!!!!)

for making the clock unpluggable you will need
a 2N3904 transistor
buzzer (6 - 12V)
multimeter

got all these? no? doesn't matter, the only thing you really need for this is the key switch and alarm clock the rest I'm sure you can improvise!

Comments

[rmurphy13]

Made a compact version with a cheap travel alarm clock. It's been great so far :)

[Cashew]

If you need to get up, set the alarm, hear it and get up. Not too hard. Or ask your Mommy to wake you up. Or your spouse......

[mushrooms401]

easier said then done my friend.i have tried that...i have failed...

[adam 101]

no amount of self motivation can overcome sleep brain's selfishness!!

[jules15]

yea for real.. its like you have no control over your mind that early in the morning

[jvpernis]

So when you unplug the clock the buzzer goes off alarming you that the clock has been unplugged or when you unplug the clock the buzzer goes off when he has to, just like when the clock is plugged? This is a very awesome idea!

[rustygray]

Those who do not suffer from the dreaded sleep monster ( Z monster) have no idea how difficult it can be to shake the seratonin, melatonin induced coma from the brain.

This is a nifty idea. I also like the clocks that start lighting up the room 15 minutes early and by the time the alarm goes off they are fully bright.

[Ceiling cat]

I think it would be a good idea to run a longer wire for the key box to another room so that you need to get up, walk to another room, and turn it off. That way the walking will help wake you up, and you can't just keep the key next to the clock and turn it off and go back to sleep.

[johnston1991]

would be a great idea if it wasnt easier to just glue or take the snooze button off?

[vandal1138]

1:38 = best time ever.

[stephenniall]

I see a tescos Radio alarm clock  !

I have the same one!!

[adam 101]

Couldn't a wire cutter and/or wire stripper render the clock turnoffable?

[Lowney]

What YOU need is the "sonic bomb" alarm clock. My friend has REAL trouble getting up so he bought this. It sounds the alarm at an ear piercing 130 decibels! That's louder than a helicopter at take off! It also has a mini padded bass speaker which you put under your pillow.

[toogers]

dumb salesman.

[Lowney]

lol that's pretty much what he said when he told me about it minus the second sentence. I tried it out but I didn't like it. IT'S SCARY!

[D.A.N]

connect something to the snooze button that'll electricute you

[Madrias357]

Camera capacitor under the button. I've done that to friends with "Snooze-button-itis" as a 'remedy' to slapping the snooze. First thing I did was cut the snooze-button into 3 parts, glue the 2 outer pieces, and place a capacitor and charging circuit in there running off of his 3volt battery backup. I've never heard of him hitting a snooze again after the first morning when he confronted me with, "You coulda told me the snooze would shock me!"

[PCfreak]

yeah like one of those prank shock pens

[Madrias357]

Yep, but with a little more kick.

[daywalker42]

and as for the whole unplugging problem....you could do something REALLY stupid and dangerous, and hardwire it into the socket to the point that it is all but unremovable. :)

[bwpatton1]

I really wouldnt try that unless you are a qualified electritian. (I really cant spell) {I really dont like grammer either} Not to spoil the party but even 110 volts can be dangerous. (my dad is a qualified electritan) {again with the spelling}

[daywalker42]

I was kidding, and as a legal disclaimer: Do not ever, ever try what I said......EVER!

[Koolraap]

I'm totally going to steal that line for my sig !

[PCfreak]

or as adam and jaime from mythbusters say: "Were What you call Experts , So Dont Try Anything You See At Home EVER!!!!!! i was watchin them and decided to post as a referance to daywalkers post

[shaneomacmcgee]

haha... knowing me, I'd just throw the clock across the room... good instructable, look forward to tryin it out!

[Madrias357]

Easy solution to render a clock incapable of being used as a projectile: Bolts and apply some nice threadlock to the nuts when you put them on. I'd like to see the sleeper who can undo that in their sleep. If you can undo bolts while sleeping, use epoxy...

[sierrabravo]

i can't remember how many times my wife has told me i was undoing bolts in my sleep LOL! great instructable

[john12692]

must build zzzzz still asleep zzzzz need to get up zzzz.......

[alekszandor]

This feels a bit like a alarmclock Jigsaw would build... :P Good idea though!

[Yerboogieman]

Every morning, all i have to worry about is HEARING my alarm, i even put a louder speaker on it (whole lot louder than the last) but i'm a heavy sleeper.

[Madrias357]

I've tried things like that before. My current one is louder, and flashes an LED array to attempt to lure you from sleep.

[Yerboogieman]

I know something that gets me up, i use jetaudio's alarm clock and the beginning of Tool - Eulogy. Works like a charm.

[nolte919]

Great Instructable. Just so you know, in step 3, in the first image, you have an image note that's impossible to get to. If a smaller note is completely inside a larger note then the smaller one is impossible to get to. As soon as your mouse goes over the outer one, the inner one disappears. Or maybe it's just me that has this problem. I use Firefox if that makes a difference.

[lukeyj15]

i got the same problem

[xproplayer]

it says This pin is the common ground for all of the buttons i am interested in. follow the silver to see it connects to all the buttons

[zleebme]

(removed by author or community request)

[stephenniall]

I think it'd be cool if you added a emergency Momentery push switch so you turn the key and flick the switch then press it ! lol

http://www.autotoys.com/pics/plsw26.jpg

Sorta like that but not a flick switch

[dylan2106]

Yes! I have been looking for a project that will incorporate the missile style switch cover for a while. Perhaps v2 will incorporate it!

[twist2b]

I realize your method is easy as well :P But, you could have cut the line from the snoose back to the buzzer, making the lock the new path of flow... make the key a switch and your done. :) Still, this is an awesome project. Bravo for the idea!

[dylan2106]

problem was that the other buttons, "set alarm" and "set clock" and "sleep" also caused the buzzer to stop...

[Plasmana]

That is actually a very good idea, I might try that... Another thing, you have the exact same multimeter I have! :-O

[dylan2106]

it's a goodun!

[randumbum]

Great idea, and a relatively straight forward hack on any cheapo digital alarm clock. Thanks.

[radiobath]

I have the exact same issue. I used to use two alarm clocks and my cell phone. But I managed to sleep through all of that. So then I got FoxyTunes and I would use Norma Jean (read: hardcore screaming at the beginning of the song) as my alarm. I'd turn my speakers up all the way, put on a movie at low volume to go to sleep, and then 7 AM would roll around and I'd wake up through sheer terror. Haven't been late for work since.

[Arghus]

I have got the same problem, i tried it all, even putting the alarm clock on a table near my feet, but no matter what, my unconscious mind was able to get me up and turn it off and go back to bed .. so instead of wiring a key lock like you did, i separated the speaker, so i got the alarm clock in the drawer of the bedside table with the speaker on top, drawer locked with key, to turn it off i have to take the key , open the drawer and then i am able to snooze or turn it off.. Great idea Btw :D

[Sandisk1duo]

text cubes inside text cubes! i can't read them!

[dylan2106]

So I'm trying to remedy the situation of just being able to unplug the alarm. When un plugged the clock draws 2.3mA from the 9V back up battery, when plugged in it draws 0.3 mA from the battery. I tried putting using an npn transistor to switch on an external buzzer (25mA current), in the circuit shown. transistor is a BC558B. It didn't work... any thoughts? It probably shows my complete lack of understanding of how transistors work :)

[dylan2106]

Ok, so the circuit above works, i swapped out the BC558B for a 2N3904 in the same config above. Now the pretty loud buzzer goes off if you try and unplug the clock!!! yea!

[kc0wys]

I'm surprised that works. Transistors are current amplifiers. In short, a transistor must have a resistor connected in series with the base (B), otherwise you risk blowing it.

[armchair_enthusiast]

Get one of these and super-glue it shut to prevent unplugging of the alarm clock:

http://www.childsafetystore.com/.sc/ms/dd/ee/150/Adapter%20and%20Plug%20Cover%20by%20Safety%201st

[daywalker42]

Great idea! If/when my current method of silecing sleepy me(alarm clock with wheels that runs away after one snooze) I'll try this and hook it to my old alarm clock that I mdified to hook to a speaker from an old boombox(yes, even THAT wouldn't wake me up in time to get to my classes.....sad) though I don't know where to finone of those switches here in the states. I'll figure something out. good job on the -ible

[andrew101]

this is cool... but what if i hear the alarm and walk to the living room and fall asleep on the couch?

[Eirinn]

Have one in EVERY room of the house >=D

[andrew101]

yea that would work. but the problem is i would shut off the alarm and fall asleep again

[Eirinn]

Well...someone suggested having a bunch of keys that look the same - get 20 or so keys that are identical by quick glance and put them all into a bowl. Before you go to bed put the real key into the bowl and shake it up. I doubt you'll go to sleep after trying out a dozen or so keys. If you still do then you might have to look into a medical solution o.o;

[andrew101]

then id pull my bed from the wall and unplug the damn thing

[Padlock]

This wouldn't work for me... I'd just unplug it.

[Padlock]

Great Idea, though!

[Gypsyman]

well if you have the back up batteries in then that wouldn't work, and by the time you got the batteries out and unplugged it, you would be up.

[Padlock]

The batteries just keep the time. They power a small IC, that's it. No buzzer, no display.

[dylan2106]

Had an idea, what if the 9v battery was hooked up to a transistor driving a buzzer, so that whenever the clock was unplugged a different buzzer went off. Not very practical for those living in places with frequent power cuts, but i think it would work for me!

[Gypsyman]

not on my alarm clock, it keeps running completely.

[The Bottomless Paddling Pool]

I used to have getting up in the morning as an issue, until I put my bed on a mezzanine level and the alarm on the other side of the room. It's just too much work trying to get back up the ladder/stair way when you're zombiefied!

[Father Christmas]

maybe a little more effective?

http://digitaldeco.blogspot.com/2006/12/helicopter-alarm-clock.html

[iBurn]

That thing is satan. My parents got me one for my birthday, it worked....until it managed to shoot the little helicopter OUT THE WINDOW...It ended up following the helicopter.

[Father Christmas]

haahahahah wow. thank you so much for that. It made my day. :)

[jackass1]

i dont bother with this stuff i have a bunch of cheap clocks ,and a hammer

[xproplayer]

ok i think i got the perfect idea you could hook it up to a exercise equipment that is powered by u like bike rider stairs etc but not somtin else like treadmill then just set it to a 1/4 MINIMUM to 1m so u couldnt set it to 1 ft and go to bed

[joey2542667]

they make something like that. when the alarm goes off a spinny flier thing flies away from the base (the alarm clock), and you have to put the spinner back on the alarm clock. pretty cool:D

[pmac93]

Did you have someone else hide the key? because you are capable of doing anything you would when you are awake in your sleep.

[DIY Dave]

I would unwire the snooze button so it wouldn't work and use the key control for the alarm off button.

[mowdish]

This is a great idea, but as you become habituated to it, the use of the key will drift back across the critical time. Once that happens you need to change the process again. Hiding the key is easy and will work for a bit. But when that doesn't work, you might try purchasing 20 nearly identical keys. Searching for the right key while sitting next to a blaring alarm will get your adrenaline going.

[DIY Dave]

Instead you could put the key in another room; like in your garage. Then you would have to run through the house to get the key.

[PKM]

I find the best "make sure you wake up" alarms are the ones that make you think- I tried balancing my alarm clock on top of a wardrobe or in inaccessible places but I appear to be perfectly capable of moving furniture and climbing on things, turning it off and going straight back to sleep.

What we really need is an alarm that makes you do maths problems before it will switch off- maybe a keypad alarm that requires you to sum the digits of the date, multiply by five, find the next highest prime number and modulo that by 13 to work out the code :)

This is the sort of thing I am thinking of.

[harry_osullivan]

that already exists, it's made by mensa and makes you do logic puzzles to turn off the alarm:

http://www.hawkin.com/find/category-is-Gifts/category-is-Gift+Sale/product-is-10155

[fwjs28]

or a alarm clock that lifts the bed as it blares...

[iPodGuy]

If it's really important that I get up at a certain time, I put a thumbtack on my snooze button.

[canida]

I'm horrible about alarms, too. However, the sunrise simulator alarm clocks work well; by the time I'm awake enough to be annoyed by the light it's too late. ;)

[rerat]

Backup batteries don't keep the thing running usually..

[dylan2106]

aaaa.... I just assumed they would fully power the clock... I just checked, they don't and the alarm dies a sad death... Suggestions?

[somethingsaurus]

Build a bigger battery pack?

[mowdish]

You could bypass the plug and wire the clock directly to the mains.

[JamesRPatrick]

Back up batteries just keep the settings from, well resetting.

[randofo]

This is fantastic and wonderfully simple. I would also try to figure out a way to keep yourself from unplugging the thing. Perhaps a battery operated clock with batteries loosely glued in (just enough that you would only bother to open it when it came time to change them).

[Goodhart]

Yes, great idea, and in fact a dab of Hot glue would do the trick I believe.

[dylan2106]

yes, I thought before that the back up batteries would keep it going, but after checking it seems they don't...