Recycled Scanner Hack!

I found my old serial port, flatbed scanner and decided to do something useful with it. I have seen other scanner Instructables, like this one from jpitz31 and this one from trebuchet03 but nothing like what I had in mind. This is easy to make and versatile. Watch the Test Results in the video.

Step 1: What You Need...

1. A flatbed scanner. I used an HP 3200C. You can find them all day long at garage sales...
2. 1/2" clear vinyl tubing
3. 2 Project Enclosures (Radio Shack Model: 270-1801)
4. Switch

Step 2: Disassemble the Scanner

This scanner only had 2 screws and the top came right off. Save it if you want the glass out of it. Remove the carriage assembly off the steel rod. I saved the rod for another day.

Step 3: Remove the Lamp and the Inverter

Remove the Inverter by unplugging the (2) connectors and carefully remove the lamp. Save the AC Adapter, you may need this one.

Step 4: Prep the Housings...

I drilled 2 - 1/2" holes in the ends of the boxes, one small hole in one box for the ac adapter wires and a hole for the switch. I mounted the Inverter in the main box with hot glue. I also used a 6volt - 500Ma adapter instead of the original. (Some bench testing may be necessary to determine the exact voltage required to fully light, yet not blow the fluorescent lamp.) Run the wires from the ac adapter into the smaller hole in the box. Install the switch. Solder the negative ac adapter wire to one end of the switch and solder the other end of the switch to the black wire coming from the inverter. Solder the red wire from the Inverter to the positive side of the ac adapter. You should add some heat tubing and tie a not in the wires from the ac adapter to keep it from pull stress.

Step 5: Build the Lamp Housing...

Cut the 1/2" tubing to the size of the lamp. After threading the lamp connector into the box, plug it in to the Inverter. Slide the tubing over the lamp and about an inch into each of the two boxes and secure with hot glue...Now plug it in and test it out! I used velcro to secure it wherever I want to use it. Hope you enjoyed this Instructable.

Comments

[pdub77]

i just took apart my scanner and i found this. can anyone tell me what it is? tell me the truth. it's a flux capacitor, isn't it?!?! ; ) (the black and silver thing on the circuit board, not the whole circuit.)

[njmalhq]

A flummoxed capacitor.

[sensoryhouse]

It's the CCD stupid(s)

Image for n00bs

[Yonatan24]

Thanks, I was wondering what that was

[pdub77]

You totally missed the point. But thanks for being condescending. . .

[bleachworthy]

Don't believe the lies they tell you about it being a scanner, it IS a flux capacitor, now hot-glue it to the back window of a Dalorian and GO GO GO!!!!

[awang8]

I think you're being sarcastic but if you're not, well it ISN'T a flux capacitator. It's the actual scanning thingy. The lamp is just to light up the page so the thingy can "see" the page.

[svrobots]

I agree it is the camera that scans the page

[pdub77]

I still prefer the term 'thingy,' but thanks, scrobots.

[pdub77]

i don't want to be rude, awang8, but yes, we were employing a it of playful jocularity. everyone knows that flux capacitors are found in printers!!

[mman1506]

awang8 is wrong its a flux capacitor

[awang8]

Why would a flux capacitor be found in printers? It needs like... 1.21 Gigawatts of power. Well, what scans the page if that's a flux capacitor?

[mman1506]

the bar adsorbs power from the earth and stores it powering the axon tube to adsorb the electrons of the ink,its simple really

[pdub77]

good call mman1506. you really know your scanners!

[mman1506]

ive been studying the for a whole 3 days now

[Doctor Freeman]

this is heavy (lol)

[tomtortoise]

glue it in your car and if a cop pulls you over for speeding say you had to reach 88 MPH

[sora]

i do believe it is a ccd charge-coupled device

[Argon27]

 It's actually a surface mount flux capacitor for your more discrete time travel needs. :D

[Plasmana]

I have one of those in my scanner too, I think It is the actual scanner...