Here's a steampunk iPhone station that functions as a night light, charging station and audio station.
The unit can charge the iPhone with or without playing music. The night light functions independently, and if the phone rings while playing the music you will hear that through the speakers, so it is a great unit for the kitchen, bath or nightstand.
It basically is a project that repackages new components (except the DC Ammeter) into a handmade enclosure. It takes some rather basic woodworking & finishing skills, basic circuit understanding and intermediate to advanced electrical circuit board soldering skills. The copper nameplate utilized the Muriatic acid & Hydrogen peroxide etching process using a laser printed mask technique. If you really want to bring together all of these medias into one project - this is it!. Ready? Let's get started with the components used:
The unit can charge the iPhone with or without playing music. The night light functions independently, and if the phone rings while playing the music you will hear that through the speakers, so it is a great unit for the kitchen, bath or nightstand.
It basically is a project that repackages new components (except the DC Ammeter) into a handmade enclosure. It takes some rather basic woodworking & finishing skills, basic circuit understanding and intermediate to advanced electrical circuit board soldering skills. The copper nameplate utilized the Muriatic acid & Hydrogen peroxide etching process using a laser printed mask technique. If you really want to bring together all of these medias into one project - this is it!. Ready? Let's get started with the components used:
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1:
I bought a basic speaker set that plugs directly into a iPhone ear bud jack for $20 at Best Buy. They come with a small built in amplifier with a volume and on off switch you will need to relocate to the front of the new box you will build. There are a number of options & costs for these - check your local Goodwill, Craigslist site, etc. for some low cost suplus stereo equipment - but be sure they have an amplifier as your iPhone can't drive large speakers. But the larger the amp, the larger your cabinet needs to be to house it!
The power supply wall plug for the speakers had a strange triangular socket screw holding it together. I didn't have that kind of screwdriver, so you will see how I dealt with it later!
The DC ammeter will only work when connected correctly, in series on thepower wire from the supply to the load (what is being powered). Plus (+) connects to the power supply, Negative (-) connects to the amplifier board incoming power lead.
The iPhone power cord was a cheap one but it works and was chosen because it was really small on the power supply end.
The night light is an Aerolux neon bulb found on eBay - a great touch for my girlfriend's nightstand. You can get these in a number of configurations and at a number of places - just search aerolux figural light bulbs. Be forewarned that the real antique ones are quite expensive!!!
The power supply wall plug for the speakers had a strange triangular socket screw holding it together. I didn't have that kind of screwdriver, so you will see how I dealt with it later!
The DC ammeter will only work when connected correctly, in series on thepower wire from the supply to the load (what is being powered). Plus (+) connects to the power supply, Negative (-) connects to the amplifier board incoming power lead.
The iPhone power cord was a cheap one but it works and was chosen because it was really small on the power supply end.
The night light is an Aerolux neon bulb found on eBay - a great touch for my girlfriend's nightstand. You can get these in a number of configurations and at a number of places - just search aerolux figural light bulbs. Be forewarned that the real antique ones are quite expensive!!!
Visit Our Store »
Go Pro Today »
One suggestion: You may want to consider covering the speakers to protect the diaphragms. Maybe brass drain grills, or a piece of brass coated aluminum radiator cover, to keep with the steampunk theme.
You got my 5-star vote!;-)