ATX Supply

How to convert a standard ATX powersupply to a lab powersupply?

In need for a powersupply that can really give some power I converted a standard ATX powersupply from an old desktop PC to a Lab Power Supply of 350W.  With 40A at 5V and 15A at 12V I sure have some power to play with. Maybe I now can finally start working on a robotics project with some strong motors that need some amps to run… Well, if you are interested in a how-to-convert-an-atx-supply, you should continue reading….

After my first Wiimote project in which I controlled my curtains, I realized the endless possibilties of home automation with a Nintendo Wii and it’s Wiimote controller. On this page you can read how I set the color of my LED lighting with the Wiimote. Read on to get a detailed HowTo.

Let’s start with a video of the end-result:

The RGB Controller
The controller I used is from a Vogel’s Moodvision XLF200 set. These real nice looking, very intense LED lighting tubes are available in 2 versions. There is a button controlled version (XLF200) and a remote controlled version (XLF300). Extra LED tubes are available in the XLF100 package. I used the XLF200 controller with a nice blue button.

Hacking the controller
I wanted to be able to make any color and not only simulate button presses with my Wiimote. So I had to modify the controller a bit. It’s rather easy to open the controller. Inside is a microcontroller, some fet’s that drive the LEDs and a switch. I wanted to talk to this controller by RS232 so I soldered a SUB-D9 connector to the TDO and RDI pins of the micro. Picture below:

Bluetooth Dongle
On the PC I attached a cheap USB Bluetooth dongle that I bought in China. It comes with a free version of the Blue Soleil bluetooth stack.

I paired my Wiimote with my PC. This is done by holding down the 1 and 2 button on the Wiimote (leds will flash) and use the bluetooth software to set op a connection with a HID device.

Let’s start with a video of the end-result:

Curtain Controller
The curtain control system is an existing system from Goelst and is called “G-Rail 6200″. Normally it is controlled by infrared or wallswitches. However, it can also be controlled with a CAN bus. I used this CAN bus to interface with an old PC.

Bluetooth Dongle
On the PC I attached a cheap USB Bluetooth dongle that I bought in China. It comes with a free version of the Blue Soleil bluetooth stack.

I paired my Wiimote with my PC. This is done by holding down the 1 and 2 button on the Wiimote (leds will flash) and use the bluetooth software to set op a connection with a HID device.

GlovePIE
There are several free programs on the internet that make it possible to interface your Wiimote with PC applications. I used a program called GlovePIE. It takes some time to understand the functions of the program because the documentation seems to be written for people that already know GlovePIE. Also the copyright disclaimer is really strange. But after investing some time to learn the functions of the programm and going through many examples and forums on the internet I found it one of the best solutions currently available. Actually real good solutions do not yet exists.

GlovePIE has no function to send messages to a CAN bus. So I started up my good old visual basic and made a little program that handles the CAN messaging. In the first version I used the keypressed event. I made a GlovePIE script that sends out keyboard keys when the Wiimote has a certain orientation and voila… L is for left, R is for Right and S is for Stop.

This is the first version of my script:

ExitScript = HeldDown(Wiimote.Home, 3s) // a safety break

if window.title == “G-rail control” then
//only do this when grail control software is active

key.RepeatFakeKeys = false

// read values from Wiimote
var.x = wiimote1.gx
var.y = wiimote1.gy
var.z = wiimote1.gz

// now control the curtains
if var.x > 0.8 then

var.debug = ‘L’
key.R = false
key.S = false
key.L = true

elseif var.x < -0.8 then

var.debug = ‘R’
key.S = false
key.L = false
key.R = true

elseif var.y > 0.9 then

var.debug = ‘S’
key.R = false
key.L = false
key.S = true

else

var.debug = ”
key.R = false
key.L = false
key.S = false

endif

debug = var.x + ‘ ‘ + var.y + ‘ ‘ + var.z + ‘ ‘ + var.debug
endif

else
debug = window.title
endif

So the GlovePIE script sends keystrokes to a visual basic program that sends CAN messages to the curtain controllers.

Next version
After the basic version I demanded more. I wanted forcefeedback when curtains are already on their maximum position. I also wanted speech feedback and even speech control as a backup for Wiimote control. Most is basic GlovePIE functionality but getting feedback from the CAN to GlovePIE was real tricky. I ended up using the OSC (Open Sound Control) function to send messages to and from my Visual Basic program. Basically this is an UDP package on localhost. So with that I could tell GlovePIE that the curtains are on their end position and give force and audio feedback. I will soon add the technical details to this website.

It makes the Philips Ambilight TV system look like child play

A what?

Do you know that Philips TV system that lights up your wall with the same color as the picture on the TV screen? That’s what they call Ambilight. It’s a great system that ads another dimension to watching TV. It really ads a cozy atmosphere but…. only around the TV.

So when we decided to build a new fireplace, I decided to start a new project to make an ambilight fireplace. Read on to see how I did it.

Let’s start with the results:

This small animated gif file shows just a few colors. But… It can make ANY COLOR it can do many different EFFECTS from very smooth transitions to seizure causing blisterings. Even a fire effect is not missing. it can also be turned off…

So now you got a small impression of what an ambilight fireplace is.

Since you are still reading, I assume you want to know more and see every single detail about this project. In the next paragraphs I will try to show you all the ins and outs.