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Step 8Improvements + Notes
Originally, I had built the Shake Mic using parts I had readily available, so at the time it didn't occur to me to improve its various elements. Aside from the shake flashlight, all the parts can easily be found at your local RadioShack and so I felt that would make a really great Instructables. However, there are definitely things that can be changed to improve the loudness of the speaker or the clarity of the sound.
1. I've always found the LM386 amplifier to have poor sound quality. It may be how I've been making my circuits or the parts involved, but It would be nice to try and use a higher quality amplifier.
2. The speaker used in the Shake Mic is a very low wattage one. To be exact, it uses 0.1W. The LM386 circuit also allows a speaker with an impedance range of 8 - 30 ohms. So playing with a larger wattage speaker within that range could improve the loudness and sound quality. However, the higher wattage speaker you use will run the internal capacitor of the flashlight down faster.
Tip: Old computer systems equipped with internal PC sound often use 8 ohm speakers. This may be a good place to find a free speaker for testing. Low quality computer speakers can also be another device to look into.
3. I had originally used the Hummer shake flashlight because I found it in the trash still fully functional. I'm sure most shake flashlights would work for this project but my instructions are specific to the Hummer flashlight. If anyone is willing to use another shake flashlight and confirm that my Instructables worked for them, please message me and I'll create a table of compatible shake flashlights.
If anyone decides to improve the circuit, swap out the parts for improved ones, or has any tips on how to improve the electronics or even the Instructables, please feel free to send me a message.
1. I've always found the LM386 amplifier to have poor sound quality. It may be how I've been making my circuits or the parts involved, but It would be nice to try and use a higher quality amplifier.
2. The speaker used in the Shake Mic is a very low wattage one. To be exact, it uses 0.1W. The LM386 circuit also allows a speaker with an impedance range of 8 - 30 ohms. So playing with a larger wattage speaker within that range could improve the loudness and sound quality. However, the higher wattage speaker you use will run the internal capacitor of the flashlight down faster.
Tip: Old computer systems equipped with internal PC sound often use 8 ohm speakers. This may be a good place to find a free speaker for testing. Low quality computer speakers can also be another device to look into.
3. I had originally used the Hummer shake flashlight because I found it in the trash still fully functional. I'm sure most shake flashlights would work for this project but my instructions are specific to the Hummer flashlight. If anyone is willing to use another shake flashlight and confirm that my Instructables worked for them, please message me and I'll create a table of compatible shake flashlights.
If anyone decides to improve the circuit, swap out the parts for improved ones, or has any tips on how to improve the electronics or even the Instructables, please feel free to send me a message.
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