Introduction: Super Easy Lego Speaker
I am a music person and have always been fascinated by the portable speakers I see here on Instructables. Unfortunately I'm not great with electronics, although I'd consider myself a master with all things structural, including Lego. This is an easy project for beginners or anyone with a bit of time to kill, since you only have to build a Lego box and splice two wires. This could also be a good hands on project for anyone who teaches about sound, circuits or electricity, especially since it gives the students something to bring home. This is my first instructable so go easy on me. I'd love any feedback or comments, but don't expect me to answer any tough electrical questions. I tried adding power to the circuit to increase volume but ultimately failed. Anyone who is willing to work through that, tinker away and tell me how it goes. Good Luck.
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Step 1: Parts
For this project you will need:
Materials
-A speaker (mine was ripped from a nonworking one sitting on my desk)
-Headphone Jack (taken from speaker or crappy headphones)
-Assorted Lego pieces: a base the size of your speaker, about 2 or three layers of pieces, enough to cover, and a grate.
(this is the simplest part of the project so use common sense, also every speaker will be sized differently so me listing won't even help)
- Source: iPod, computer etc (not messed up during project)
Tools
- Electrical tape or soldering iron
- Wire stripper or teeth or sand paper
Materials
-A speaker (mine was ripped from a nonworking one sitting on my desk)
-Headphone Jack (taken from speaker or crappy headphones)
-Assorted Lego pieces: a base the size of your speaker, about 2 or three layers of pieces, enough to cover, and a grate.
(this is the simplest part of the project so use common sense, also every speaker will be sized differently so me listing won't even help)
- Source: iPod, computer etc (not messed up during project)
Tools
- Electrical tape or soldering iron
- Wire stripper or teeth or sand paper
Step 2: Electronics
Lay speaker on work surface. Strip wires coming from it if necessary. Cut headphone jack about two and a half inches from the plug (this will give you a chance to mess up without ruining jack). Strip both wires, any extra stuff, (cotton, uninsulated wires) I sometimes find in wires can be ignored. Connect one of wires to speaker. Make sure connection is good. Connect other wire to other speaker wire. Do not tape yet!!!! Insert jack into Source and see if you get music. If so, you are good.Tape or solder. If not go to next paragraph.
If you are not getting any sound disconnect and try again it will work sometime. Remember to check that source is playing music. If your sound is funny (can't hear words, but can hear instruments) or something like that check to make sure all the extra filaments (little copper mini wires) of the jack are connected to your speaker. Once sound is good tape or solder. (This happened to me but I figured it out eventually).
Your speaker should play now.
Feel free to experiment with other kinds of housings, or stay tuned for the Lego case.
If you are not getting any sound disconnect and try again it will work sometime. Remember to check that source is playing music. If your sound is funny (can't hear words, but can hear instruments) or something like that check to make sure all the extra filaments (little copper mini wires) of the jack are connected to your speaker. Once sound is good tape or solder. (This happened to me but I figured it out eventually).
Your speaker should play now.
Feel free to experiment with other kinds of housings, or stay tuned for the Lego case.
Attachments
Step 3: Lego Housing
Start with base made of Legos. Make sure you have a base that is wider than the speaker so you can fit it inside. Build up sides until they surround and are the height of or higher than you speaker. Make sure to leave a hole for the headphone jack to escape from and be plugged in.
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Step 4: Finishing Housing Up
Insert speaker and finish housing. Find or make a covering with holes in it so your speaker is protected but can still be heard.
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Step 5: JAM!!!!!
Congratulations, You are done! Plug your speaker in and listen to anything you want to anywhere because you can. Again this is my first instructable so any comments will be appreciated below. Try it in different colors or inside an Altoids tin or pretty much anything else. Have fun and keep building.