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Hey everyone,  I'm completely new to all this do it yourself stuff. I'm really excited about it, but I have a few questions: 1. What do you think is the best project that a newbie should start with? I have no experience with soldering, or any other advanced stuff, and I do not have anything to solder with. Also, I'm interested in mechanical stuff, electronics, gadgets, and computer related stuff... I really like the Powerlace instructable, and am thinking about doing it, but it seems quite hard for someone who is just starting...  2. On average, how much does it cost to do an instructable on Instructables?? 3. Is there anything I should know before I start making things? Thanks in Advance

Hey guys I'm a newb at batching and I'm wondering if you guys could help me in my batching adventures. Just post some commands or any advice you guys could give me. Here is list of the top 3 things I want to know (do not limit your advice to just this): 1. How to make different colors 2. How to open another batch from a batch 3. How to make movies P.S. My PSN name is qui-gon621 just incase you wanted to know

I very much enjoy this site but am completely new to the building stuff thing. I don't even know enough to know where my lack of skills to begin. Is it possible that someone with more experience could create a daisy-chain list of basic building/electronics/etc. that I could use as a blueprint for my development? If possible I would like this to include Instructable lists thanks in advance Shamus

Why people can't rate my instructables ?

Hi folks- What should I use to turn a single LED off automatically after a preset amount of time, say 6 hours? Thank you in advance! 'bub

Hi everyone, a new member here! Looking forward to learn new great ideas and be informed by some new interesting features present by this forum site. I really hope to have a great stay and share my knowledge as well. See you around! :)

Just wanted to introduce myself to the community and say hello!!    HELLO!!! I'm still learning my way around here in my spare time which is sparse. I have to say that in the spare time I do have, I have seen some really awesome folks out there with really awesome talents. You guys rock! I hope to one day have that special instructable that blows everyone away but until then I will settle for my simple fun and cheap ones. If anyone has any advice, I am more than open for suggestions regarding the way i format my instructions. I would appreciate any constructive criticism in that dept. :-) I try to write them like I'm writing to a 12 yr old girl just starting to craft on her own. I hope it comes across as such and not like I think everyone is stupid... hehe   Anyway thanks a bunch guys and gals for the creative stimulation and I hope to be a sufficient contributor. 

So... im the new one here.. i want to make something simple... with leds.... xD that would require lots of skill :> i got leds resistors....soldering kit and othere tools xD any ideas for newbie ? :>

*********************How to __Discourage__ "newbies"*****************Speak of them in the 3rd person.Condescend.Demonstrate a lack of patience.Other methods? ***************************How To __Encourage___ Newbies:Ask clarifying questions about their poorly formed inquiry.Assume the best of their motives.If in doubt, assume that english may not be their first language. Don't assume that a person has had the same educational advantages available that you may have had. Just about anyone on earth with extremely varied socio-economic status, etc may arrive here. patience.Other tips?

I'm going to intro myself. I'm AussieJay! I've been in forums including G4F and AJ's forums (my very own) Thanks to all who have read this and I hope to remain here! (check out my instructables when I make them!) THANKS

Ok guy's i need a little help, or to be pointed in the right direction, backround: i want to buildd a retrofit kit for a existing automatic sandblast curtain.. reason: basically every monument company in the country own's an older automatic blast curtain, that is controlled by limit switches only, and the new ones are cnc and cost 50,000 ish, and the existing machines are screeming for a retrofit kit... i own the "hirons model j" automatic curtain, it an x,y easy as pie thing, my problem is that i can get the parts machined and the rig built, however the g-code is my problem, and i think it will be very easy for someone whom can do it, to do it.. all i need is the machine to make strait passes left to right and back while slowly progressing top to bottom and back, the nozzle will also have a "spindle" motor, that will make it make a circular pattern constantly for the duration of the job, could anyone help with the g-code, ????    i can do all testing as i own the machine,

Ive got a dc motor with this type of plugs. How do i connect this to any power source?? what do i have to buy??

As you know from the title, i am new to the field of technology/robotics, does anyone know a good place for me to start learning (for free) any complete beginners tutorials would be great p.s. what is raspberry pi??? --- saw its website but still don't see the use of it

Okay so silly question but for a newbie like myself, is there any sort of section for newbies that don't have any idea how to solder or have any experience with electronics? like maybe instructables that just explain how to make simple electronics like... i have no idea how a circuit board works but they are essential to the cooler projects.

Hello world of the internet. I have an Arduino Uno, an ICM7218DIJI, and a ton of leds. I want to make a matrix. Preferably a 64 led matrix. I pretty much need help with all of it because I really have no experience with programming, arduino, or led drivers. The best way would be to dumb everything down. Lol,

I became a new member today.  After a couple of hours, I tried to download a PDF from a project posted by member "acantine" showing , how to make "Awesome Cutting Boards".  When I clicked on the PDF icon to download after logging on, the log in screen kept popping up and would not open the PDF. My email address is gooddeal8@att.net, user ID is "woodman44". Please help.

Hey guys, I'm trying to learn the Arduino Uno. Actually it will show up via fed ex in 2 days. I was thinking about using it to build a an electric baby gate for the stairs. One that slides vertically and maybe opens via PIR sensor when people come downstairs. It would probably stop using some kind of switch and have a failsafe in case it closes and someone is in the way. Any kind of help would be appreciated. Thanks. P.S. I am still learning the Arduino code

Hi there, I'm creating a simple circuit project for my students, though I don't know the first thing about electronics, so I foolishly bought tons of LEDS and 9V clips without the resistors - Doh! But now that I know I needs resistors, I'm not sure which type of resistors I need. A list like this is quite daunting to choose from. The LEDs I'm using need 1w resistors (I think...). Please feel free to ask my any questions or hand out other advice. Thanks! Lance

Im brand spanking new to electronics so i have a few questions here on LEDs. If you connect say 20 LEDs in series, can you still power them with regular batteries (1.5V)? I would like to use the mains to power the LEDs. I have various adapters lying around ranging grom 5V to 12V. What changes, if any, will I have to make to the configuration and will I need extra components? I want to make lighting for a very small permanently dark room where I can use a switch to turn on the LED lights.

I'm building a DIY, small AC unit using a desk fan, ice, and an ice box cooler. The fan I'm using is the one below. http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/e-kurashi/item/1468640/ I'm planning on making tubes connected to the sides. I will insert the tubes inside the cooling box (I'm not sure where is best... Above or below the ice?) I'm also thinking about where to put the holes for the air to go in. Should I put them below the ice, above the ice, or does it not matter? Also for the ice: salt water ice, or frozen bottles in salt water ice mixture, dry ice, or just plain ice? What do you think? I'm hoping to have the ice last the night. 

Hi everyone, I'm new here, and new to making circuits. I've been scrapping them for quite some time and feel terrible about how much goodies I've thrown out in the process :(  anywho, I saved a ton of it, And today I picked up a "Futura 100 color graphics at its finest" box, it has 5 knobs on the front for: Hue, saturation, contrast, black, and white, has a power on led and reset button, floppy drive. in the back it has a 3-25pin connectors (2female and 1male) for printers, a video in and video out, power switch and 3 prong plug, fan, keyboard connector, and a 9-pin male test port?  Inside it had a dark drive and has TONS of ic chips. ill quit blabbering and get on with it, does anyone have any ideas on what this can be turned into? One or multiple projects is fine, as long as this thing gets a good use. I'm hoping to make a variables power with led display for my atx.

Hi there, A few years ago I picked up a lovely ornament - a crystal ball contained within a conical spiral wire thing.  When suspended you could manually spin the wire to create the illusion of the crystal ball falling (very poor explanation but hopefully you get it?). Anyway - I've always wanted to automate this, so that you can hang it up in the conservatory and enjoy a nice cup of tea whilst this thing continues to spin. My simple idea was to have the ornament hung on a basic motor (solar powered / using a solar powered battery would be even better). And that's where my idea stops.  I've searched online and remain baffled by the plethora of motors and accessories that I might need. In very simple terms can anyone advise what: electric motor I need (the ornament is probably around 1kg, I'd like it to spin at around 60 rpm?) whether I can power it via solar (ideally to charge a battery so that I can have it working at night when there is no sun!) Any other helpful tips? First time on this place - looks incredibly interesting and fun. Thanks in advance, Jamie

I Tried!!! well what i mean is i read and read but no use, Im pretty new to things although do have basic understanding about cuircits, well physcs anyway... think i may have just confused myself with all my reading. Also I have forgotten allot of terms and definitions for things, so please be patient, as i am a fast learner BUT a practical hands on learner and struggle with a bit of theory. Let me explain, i want too design and build a simple remote controlled switch to turn on/off a lamp. now its 230v as i am in uk, so thinking.... Are there any certain components i will need to take into account with the high power load? guessing a capacitor....or are some of these really good existing designs ok for uk power. Help, as u can see from text i don't even know how to explain/word things =s But if someone can point me in right direction to get me off and running things will snowball and before you know it, I wlil b giving out advice lol. Really hope im not making a dire first impression here, but patience is a virtue lol. P.S Great site admin..... im on every and will be completing several projects in due course. Cheers all

Hey guys, I know hardly anything about electronics so I'm hoping you can help. I have a switched marked 20A12V DC, it was originally for use in a car but I wonder if I can use it on a circuit that uses a 9V battery.

I have attempted to make a ball machine numerous times and failed. I have a good sized lot of knex yet i am stuck with roller coaster chain. Also i have no tubing. Can you please help me?

I'm endeavoring on an art project which basically consists of a motor attached to a mobile, though I'm quite illiterate when it comes to electronics. The motor that has a fair amount of torque, and I need to have precise control over the speed. Ideally, it should be quiet as well. I was thinking this might be a good time to venture into the foreign territory of Arduino and servos, but again I know nothing. Any advice or resources you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Lance

I've had experience with electronics in general and the Arduino, but I've never done anything with FPGAs or CPLDs. Would the CoolRunner-II CPLD Starter Board be a good start? Am I correct in believing that it doesn't require any sort of serial-to-USB converter or separate programmer to be able to use it? Basically, will I need anything other than the board? (Not including the USB A to mini B cable) Thanks, dedgerton EDIT: Oops, it might be helpful if I give a link to the board: here it is.

Hey there, I am thinking of building a quad copter, but am not quite sure, how they work, hopefully someone can clarify this for me.  Do all the motors connected run at the same speed, then  to move directions you increase the speed of the motor that deals with that direction. For example left control button will increase the speed for the left motor causing it to move left? Also will I be able to get a working prototype using those components below? 4 x 7mm Brushed Motors 4 x propellers. 1 x Arduin UNO  1 x HC-05 Arduino bluetooth module Am planning on dealing with the controls by writing a android app that sends command to the Bluetooth module on the arduino. 

Hi all! I am a new contributor, and have entered some contests. While I don't think I am going to win a prize right out of the bat, (but MAYBE!) I still am anxious to see results of the judging (which is fun in itself, and will give me more feedback on how to do an Instructable better!) for one I entered that the judging deadline keeps changing. I know the judges are volunteers and such, and I don't want to complain because this is an awesome site... but I've noticed one that had a judging deadline in December that results aren't posted yet - I was wondering if that happens often?  Or maybe because of the holidays things got wonky?  I think I'll go to the judging thread and volunteer also - so I can help out when I'm not in a contest.  I really dig Instructables!   Leslie

I am new at this and i suck!!! i am trying to run 6 hobby servos to my arduino uno- i am powering it with an external power source (12v adapter) and on my bread board all servo blk/red wires to the power + and the ground to -. The power on the bread board is going onto the vin diode on my arduino, neg to the ground on my arduino and all the other color wires from the servos to the numbered diodes on the arduino. Is that right? every time i run it i get the "because a USB was drawing too much power from your computer" response.  i know the 12v is a bit excessive to power up the servos, but does anyone know a better approach this? much appreciated let me know thanks, makemelook

Hey everyone, as you may have guessed - i'm a newbie to DC theory! Backstory: after graduating i said 'forget it' to a proper job and moved to Australia to travel. i bought a converted camper van that has an auxillary battery for (whatever), and it looks like it runs off 12 volt dc! the Question: how does DC power work, for me and all those newbies out there putting along on the other side of the planet! -cheers, adrian www.bigquestionmarks.blogspot.com

Looking to get into microcontrollers. Looking for a line of microcontrollers which is fairly easy to program (newbie), not too hard on the budget (poor grad student) and fairly versitile. Anyone know a good starting point ?? Any help would be greatly appreaciated!

Im new to building stuff with wood it would be cool if it was quite modern easy flowing

Hello, I'm fairly new to electronics and i am currently working on project involving an adjustable motor. basically the circuit is just a nine volt battery going through a potentiometer and into a 6-9 volt motor. however the motor only spins when the potentiometer is turned to max. the potentiometer is a 10k.

I am completely new to arduino, so im sorry if I seem quite uninformed, I have completed a few tutorials but need to create a project around connecting to an app. I am using an arduino uno at the moment. Something I haven't found much or any advice or tutorials on on is connecting the to an app to send information. I want to use a Soil Hygrometer, Humidity, Temperature and Humidity Sensor and a light sensor (Most important one being the soil Hygrometer) . I want to be able to send the information received from these sensors out so the information can be displayed on an app, using bluetooth or wifi. I want to know how this could be done? Such as the software for the app and what way I would I do to connect It? Thank you for any help

Hi all Instructables! I follow a lot this site and now i hava a little project to do. I want to build a Led torch that is charged using a DC motor and a couple of High Capacity Capacitors. The problem is that i'm not very good with electronics (i've made a chemistry school) but i really like it. So, what kind of circuit i have to use for something like this? I use a Dc motor that have about 4.5V output, the led are standard white ones, 3.5V 30mA. Some friends told me to use an LM1086 voltage regulator that have the output with the capacitors, other say to use only a rectifier diode, other say that i have to use a Led Driver (but i think it is useful for big one, not mine...) My goal is to make the circuit very relyable, but not impossible to make and that make the Led well balanced, good brightness/consume ratio... Thank you!

Hello everybody.  I have, over the course of the last few months, had a growing desire to build a tesla coil.  It is something that I have always been interested in and I have decided to give it a go this summer.  However, from what I have read, it is very dangerous to just jump in to building high voltage projects when you don;t have any real experience in working with these kind of things.  Which is why I have come here.  With building a Tesla Coil (specifically a musical one) as my ultimate, or final, goal, what steps should I take to learn more about the process, circuits, and high voltage before beginning the attempt?  I am willing to do any kind of smaller project, read up on as much as I need to, and take as much time as necessary to be safe.  If anyone has links to somewhere I can read up on the info I will need to know and places to begin, that would be super helpful! 

Hellow, its my vacation for a couple of weeks before i go to engineering school...i want to make some cool tech projects to kill time...can u please suggest some...considering me a total noob or newbie..i'm not looking for dead easy ones, but just looking for something possible to make for a newbie.. p.s. i knw basic C programming.

I'm new to DIY, and I was hoping for some suggested projects for newbies. I have some basic woodworking experience and knowledge of tools, but I'm more interested in electronics and that sort of thing, I just don't know where to start. I would like to make something useful. Can anyone suggest some good projects for newbies?

Hi! Newbie here needs help1)Which emitter npn transistor should I be looking for? (at 6min55sec of the video)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evZM2_RTvTUIs it this? https://www.ebay.com/itm/100Pcs-NPN-Transistor-TO...2)Which wattage should i choose for the 2 resistors(2200 ohm & 47ohm)?There's 1W,0.5W.0.25W.3)What is the beige connector used to connect the pir & led bulbs called?So the list also includes:https://www.lazada.sg/products/areyourshop-1pcs-hc...https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Pcs-Dual-Layers-Black-P...did I miss out anything?Going to use the 4.8v output to power the mobius or 808 camera instead of the string led bulbs.Thank you v much

I'm 19, and have no credit history. I was considering getting a Wells Fargo Secured Credit card, and securing it with the $300 minimum collateral. What would be the best way to build credit with it? I was going to treat it like my debit card, only paying for things like gas, coffee here and there, and maybe a night out or two a month; then paying back the full amount I owe every month. Would that be a wise choice?  And how quickly could I improve my score?

Hi, I just published my first Instructable.  I should be very pleased if anyone would like to take a look and critique it as an Instructable.  I don't mean what do you think of the idea itself, I mean what do you think of the layout, have I explained the steps carefully enough etc. etc.  Have I done anything well?  What aspects could I improve on? It's here: https://www.instructables.com/id/A-Waterproof-Fairy-for-an-Outdoor-Christmas-Tree/ Thanks

Hi, My name is Tom, i am new to instructables and to advanced electronics in general. I want to make a LED Scoreboard which can display two scores (each on a different display) i also had an idea how to make the display. The idea is placing red LED's under plastic cutouts of a classic 7 segment digit board (ilustrated on the picture), the problem is that other than that i have no idea where to start and nor what to look for so any help is appreciated. P.S. I can solder, but that's about it that i can think will be useful to this project. Thanks in Advance  

I run a non profit teaching kids computer science concepts. As a fund raiser idea I was considering hosting an adult class at our local makerspace. I am looking for a kind of nerdy, somewhat inexpensive projects that adults will enjoy making as well as displaying in their home or office. With kids we do coding, make games, light LEDs with arduinos, make Raspeberry Pi cameras, and play around with paper circuits and homemade hex bugs. Does anyone have any adult ideas that may be fun? (Also, we are considering having a local brewery bring beer) I am open for more kids projects too, if you have any.

Hello Instructablers! I have a problem. I am a 17 years old dude, that loves making movies and photos. Recently I bought an arduino to expand my knowledge a bit, but it turns out its pretty hard to make anything with it as I am a mechanic. My idea was to build a quadcopter or anything that can fly, with these must-have features: 1.IT HAS TO BE CAPABLE OF STEADY FLYING. 2.IT HAS TO HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO CARRY A GO PRO AROUND WHILE FLYING. So, as I am a beginner in adruino and programming, I would need some tips, maybe from someone that built their own arduino flying..thing. I would like you to help me a bit. If someone could lend me the whole script, and tell me exactly what I need to get, it would be awesome!! thanks!

Ive had a bright idea that in short requires me to mount an inkject on a 3d printer of sorts for printing on a complex shape. Ive only done some cursory searching, but not found a "here is how to drive the inkjet" or "We recommend this model" for my purposes. Im toying with the idea of just ripping up a standard printer and seeing how well I can reconfigure that to my purposes, but I don't think it will do quite what I am looking for (in addition to the X and Y axis, there will need to be a Z, and in the eventual build probably a sensing mechanism to detect the shape it is printing on (im imagining a projected grid, but that is a ways down the line)). I'm going to have to learn a good bit of methodology to write the needed code, which is going to be a blast. But the starting point will be just the x & y coordinates and a DIY mounting of the print head.Any advice out there?I may build it out eventually on a raspberry pi but I haven't gotten that far as getting the mechanics working by feeding input to an Arduino for an almost etch a sketch mode will be my starting point.

Hello, I have basic knowledge of mechanical drawing.  Is there a simple cad software, where I can create my top view/side views etc. on a 2d plane and the software will render the image on a 3d plane? Thanks so much in advance.

Hello all, thank you in advance I would like to make a device that has an lcd readout, and to which informtion can be sent regarding temperature and fan speeds. This would go into my computer. I have a decent amount of experience working with computers, but have no experience with programming or microcontrollers. i am, however, very eager to learn!! Any help is appreciated!