Games and toys
Dice, buzzers, sirens and other circuits built for fun.
7 builds
VideoA game show buzzer that knows who pressed first
Two players, two buttons: whoever presses first lights their LED and locks the other out. One flip-flop chip, no code.
13 parts · 25 wires
Games and toysTimers and logic
VideoA laser tripwire alarm, like in the movies
Break the laser beam and a red LED and buzzer latch on until you press reset. A photoresistor and one 555 timer.
14 parts · 22 wires
SensorsGames and toys
VideoA roulette wheel that spins and slows to a stop
Press the button and a ring of ten LEDs spins, slows down and stops on one. A 555 timer, a decade counter and one capacitor.
20 parts · 40 wires
Games and toysLights
VideoThe two-knob synth from 1980 still sounds like a broken robot
A two knob noise box from a pair of 555 timers. It makes the stepped, gritty square wave tone people have built since 1980.
11 parts · 17 wires
Guitar and audioGames and toys
VideoI built the siren for my police light
A wailing police siren from two 555 timers: a slow one sweeps the pitch of a fast one up and down into a small speaker.
12 parts · 24 wires
Guitar and audioGames and toys
Premieres Oct 8A lie detector from two transistors
A skin resistance meter: a green LED fades and a red one comes up as your fingers sweat. It reads sweat, not lies.
12 parts · 15 wires
SensorsGames and toys
Premieres Nov 15Dice that roll themselves, from two chips
Hold the button and a seven LED die face flickers through faces. Let go and it stops on one. A 555, a counter and six diodes.
25 parts · 36 wires
Games and toysTimers and logic
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