Solid-state Halloween controller and how to build a Haunted House

Step 5 Create the mood

The controller is great for computer control of all sorts of things including lights, motors, pumps, fans, fog machines, power tools, and laser pointers. But first, you need a location for your Haunted House. Whether you want to invite trick-or-treaters into your home for a scare depends entirely on your neighborhood. When I lived in Bostons Back Bay, there was a list of Halloween-friendly residences that parents could pick up. Armed with this list, parents felt comfortable bringing their kids inside to go through a haunted maze made of couches, sheets, and mattresses. I have also postered my neighborhood with the theme and address (Red Blood Needed! Open sunset to sunrise and Lost Pet! 7 ft tall, hairy, teeth that dont fit inside mouth, may still be dragging chains on ankles and wrists. Please return to &) and put strobe-lights and Jack-O-Lanterns in upper-story windows to grab attention. Garages and porches make great intermediate locations and can be further enclosed and divided with sheets of black plastic. If you decide on a small display just inside the front door, be prepared for the few kids who will burst in convinced theres more.

Theres a special age when children think they understand the world, but are not totally sure. To them, those long fangs might be real, the red substance in the cup could be human blood, and something actually may have escaped from the basement laboratory. Weave together a story just plausible enough that the kids will focus on whether you are being truthful or not. Once theyre off balance, scare them with something startling. I have had great success with simple, well timed, but unexpected things like the hiss of a fog machine, abruptly changing the lighting from red to strobe, and spraying a little bit of warm water. However, unless you are guiding the kids through, the display needs to be short and concise. Trick-or-treaters arent known for long attention spans, and you dont want the next group arriving in the middle of your sequence and missing the fun.