Introduction: Game Show Buzzer Lockout System
Introduction
Looking for a cheap alternative for a GAME SHOW BUZZER LOCKOUT SYSTEM. In this project we use construction helmets for the fun factor instead of a box type console and create a very affordable game show buzzer system. The total cost will be about $50-$70 depending on what materials you find around your house. Check out the demonstration video.
Comment if you have any questions or if I missed anything.
Step 1: Materials/Tools/Cost
Materials:
- 3 Construction Helmet
- 3 Momentary Switches
- 3 Flashlights (or just use regular LEDs)
- 3 AAA batteries (came with flashlights)
- 4 Phone jacks (pulled them out from old phones)
- 4 Bolts & 4 Nuts
- 1 Arduino Uno Board
- Lots of Wires (I took apart and used left of ethernet cables)
- 1 ON/OFF Switch (any on/off switch will do)
- 1 Buzzer (RadioShack 6VDC Mini Buzzer)
Tools:
- Drill
- 1/4" & 1/2" drill bits
- Marker
- Sharp Kni fe
- Dremel
- Cut off bit for Dremel
- Sanding bit for Dremel
- Hot Glue
- Soldering Iron and Solder
- Electric Tape
Cost:
- 3 Construction Helmets @ $7.88 ea (ebay.com) = $23.64
- 3 Momentary Switch @ $5.49 for 5 (ebay.com) = $3.29
- 3 Flashlights & AAA batteries (HarborFrieght) $1 ea = $3
- 4 Phone jacks $3.16/old phone (Goodwill x 2) = $6.32
- 4 Bolts & 4 Nuts = FREE (had some)
- 1 Arduino Uno Board (amazon.com) = $27.97
- Wires = FREE (use ethernet cables or any other cable)
- 1 ON/OFF Switch = FREE (had some, can take it off an old device too)
- 1 Buzzer (Radio Shack) = $3.99
My Total Cost: $68.21
Step 2: Programing the Arduino Uno Board
Program Basic Set Up
So the way the Arduino program is coded is as follows:
Switches: S1 = Pin 2
S2 = Pin 3
S3 = Pin 4
Lights: L1 = Pin 5
L2 = Pin 6
L3 = Pin 7
Buzzer: B = Pin 8
Arduino Code (feel free to copy and paste)
// define pins to be used
int S1 = 2; //switch 1
int S2 = 3;
int S3 = 4;
int L1 = 5; // light 1
int L2 = 6;
int L3 = 7;
int B = 8; //buzzer
void setup() { // initialize the digital pins. // assume switches will wire from ground to input pins
pinMode(S1, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(S2, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(S3, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(L1, OUTPUT); // leds wired from output pin to ground }
pinMode(L2, OUTPUT);
pinMode(L3, OUTPUT);
pinMode(B, OUTPUT); // buzzer wired from output pin to ground }
void loop() { if (!digitalRead(S1)) { digitalWrite(L1,HIGH); // turn on lamp 1
digitalWrite(B,HIGH); // turn on buzzer
delay(500); // wait 2 seconds
digitalWrite(B,LOW); // turn off buffer
delay(5000); // wait 28 more seconds
digitalWrite(L1,LOW); // turn off lamp 1 }
if (!digitalRead(S2)) { digitalWrite(L2,HIGH); // turn on lamp 2
digitalWrite(B,HIGH); // turn on buzzer
delay(500); // wait 2 seconds
digitalWrite(B,LOW); // turn off buffer
delay(5000); // wait 28 more seconds
digitalWrite(L2,LOW); // turn off lamp 2 }
if (!digitalRead(S3)) { digitalWrite(L3,HIGH); // turn on lamp 3
digitalWrite(B,HIGH); // turn on buzzer
delay(500); // wait 2 seconds
digitalWrite(B,LOW); // turn off buffer
delay(5000); // wait 28 more seconds
digitalWrite(L3,LOW); // turn off lamp 3 } }
Step 3: Actual Building/Wiring Schematic
For actual building instructions see the attached youtube video.
Attached is the wiring schematic that I used to set up the arduino board.
I don't have the phone jack in the wiring schematic since they act just like connectors from one helmet to another. If need any assistance comment below.
1 Person Made This Project!
- OlehM4 made it!
23 Comments
Question 2 months ago on Introduction
Hi there
I have copied and pasted the code but i'm getting this error:
exit status 1
a function-definition is not allowed here before '{' token
Unfortunately I don't understand the programming side of this project, so I don't know how to fix it.
Any help would be much appreciated
4 years ago
Hello! I am looking to make this in a 12 player system. Is there a single arduino that could handle a system of this size, and if so, what would be a sample code. Greatly appreciated in advance for anyone's response.
Reply 3 years ago
Arduino Mega would be able to handle this. over 30 I/O pins available on this board, however it is nearly 2x the size of the Uno. You could buy a knock-off version from china for fairly cheap (roughly $10-12)
Reply 4 years ago
I'm not sure if there is but I think you might be able to use maybe multiple uno boards but not sure. Never played with a lot of them. Hope you can find it some where online.
3 years ago
Thanks Hrttele for your work. I actually made one and it worked great. I have since modified it to work with 5 users and it works just as great. I used pins 2-6 for my pushbuttons, pins 7-11 are for my LED's and pin 12 was for the buzzer. here is the code for 5 users. it's basically the same code with some minor changes to reflect the 2 extra players. I will try to post pics of my build when I get a chance.
// define pins to be used
int S1 = 2; //switch 1
int S2 = 3;
int S3 = 4;
int S4 = 5;
int S5 = 6;
int L1 = 7; // light 1
int L2 = 8;
int L3 = 9;
int L4 = 10;
int L5 = 11;
int B = 12; // buzzer
void setup() {
// initialize the digital pins.
// assume switches will wire from ground to input pins
pinMode(S1, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(S2, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(S3, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(S4, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(S5, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(L1, OUTPUT); // if using leds please remember to use series resistors with them
pinMode(L2, OUTPUT);
pinMode(L3, OUTPUT);
pinMode(L4, OUTPUT);
pinMode(L5, OUTPUT);
pinMode(B, OUTPUT); // buzzer wired from output pin to ground
}
void loop() {
if (!digitalRead(S1))
{ digitalWrite(L1,HIGH); // turn on lamp 1
digitalWrite(B,HIGH); // turn on buzzer
delay(500); // wait 2 seconds
digitalWrite(B,LOW); // turn off buffer
delay(5000); // wait 28 more seconds
digitalWrite(L1,LOW); // turn off lamp 1
}
if (!digitalRead(S2))
{ digitalWrite(L2,HIGH); // turn on lamp 2
digitalWrite(B,HIGH); // turn on buzzer
delay(500); // wait 2 seconds
digitalWrite(B,LOW); // turn off buffer
delay(5000); // wait 28 more seconds
digitalWrite(L2,LOW); // turn off lamp 2
}
if (!digitalRead(S3))
{ digitalWrite(L3,HIGH); // turn on lamp 3
digitalWrite(B,HIGH); // turn on buzzer
delay(500); // wait 2 seconds
digitalWrite(B,LOW); // turn off buffer
delay(5000); // wait 28 more seconds
digitalWrite(L3,LOW); // turn off lamp 3
}
if (!digitalRead(S4))
{ digitalWrite(L4,HIGH); // turn on lamp 4
digitalWrite(B,HIGH); // turn on buzzer
delay(500); // wait 2 seconds
digitalWrite(B,LOW); // turn off buffer
delay(5000); // wait 28 more seconds
digitalWrite(L4,LOW); // turn off lamp 4
}
if (!digitalRead(S5))
{ digitalWrite(L5,HIGH); // turn on lamp 5
digitalWrite(B,HIGH); // turn on buzzer
delay(500); // wait 2 seconds
digitalWrite(B,LOW); // turn off buffer
delay(5000); // wait 28 more seconds
digitalWrite(L5,LOW); // turn off lamp 5
}
}
3 years ago
Could you make for 4 buzzers and integrate a different light? Maybe use an LED strip?
Reply 3 years ago
I'm sure it's possible. But probably be setup a little bit differently.
4 years ago
dont you need 1 board for each helmet and if not which helmet do you put the board in
Reply 3 years ago
one board is fine. And it doesn't matter which one you put it in as long as you wire them all toghther.
4 years ago
Hi,
Thanks for this, it's very cool.
By the way, how do i change the code if I need 4 switches to work?
thanks again.
Reply 4 years ago
I might have an extra { in there. But play with it. This should work for 4 as long as you wire light 4 into pin 9 and switch 4 into pin 10. Let me know if it works.
Reply 4 years ago
// define pins to be used
int S1 = 2; //switch 1
int S2 = 3;
int S3 = 4;
int S4 = 9;
int L1 = 5; // light 1
int L2 = 6;
int L3 = 7;
int L4 = 10;
int B = 8; // buzzer
void setup() {
// initialize the digital pins.
// assume switches will wire from ground to input pins
pinMode(S1, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(S2, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(S3, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(S4, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(L1, OUTPUT); // if using leds please remember to use series resistors with them
pinMode(L2, OUTPUT);
pinMode(L3, OUTPUT);
pinMode(L4, OUTPUT);
pinMode(B, OUTPUT); // buzzer wired from output pin to ground
}
void loop() {
if (!digitalRead(S1))
{ digitalWrite(L1,HIGH); // turn on lamp 1
digitalWrite(B,HIGH); // turn on buzzer
delay(500); // wait 2 seconds
digitalWrite(B,LOW); // turn off buffer
delay(5000); // wait 28 more seconds
digitalWrite(L1,LOW); // turn off lamp 1
}
if (!digitalRead(S2))
{ digitalWrite(L2,HIGH); // turn on lamp 2
digitalWrite(B,HIGH); // turn on buzzer
delay(500); // wait 2 seconds
digitalWrite(B,LOW); // turn off buffer
delay(5000); // wait 28 more seconds
digitalWrite(L2,LOW); // turn off lamp 2
}
if (!digitalRead(S3))
{ digitalWrite(L3,HIGH); // turn on lamp 3
digitalWrite(B,HIGH); // turn on buzzer
delay(500); // wait 2 seconds
digitalWrite(B,LOW); // turn off buffer
delay(5000); // wait 28 more seconds
digitalWrite(L3,LOW); // turn off lamp 3
}
if (!digitalRead(S4))
{ digitalWrite(L4,HIGH); // turn on lamp 4
digitalWrite(B,HIGH); // turn on buzzer
delay(500); // wait 2 seconds
digitalWrite(B,LOW); // turn off buffer
delay(5000); // wait 28 more seconds
digitalWrite(L4,LOW); // turn off lamp 3
}
}
4 years ago
The code appears wrong. Can someone please upload the correct code in full?
It keeps failing while using circuits.io
Reply 4 years ago
Someone said that there was an extra } at the end of the code. Try removing it and see if it works. Sorry about that. Something must of got lost in coping and pasting the code to here.
5 years ago
Are resitistors needed before the LEDs?
Reply 4 years ago
I didn't use any because I got the leds from a flashlight and applied same current as the flashlight and it was fine.
Reply 5 years ago
Yes they are... if you send too much current to an LED, it will burn.
6 years ago on Introduction
hey... could someone tell me how to mke this for 8 people?
6 years ago on Step 2
The error in the code was a } was needed on the line below the last entry.
Thanks
Reply 6 years ago on Introduction
I'm glad you were able to figure it out. Did you build one? Post a picture.