DiyLightAnimation
Store => Sale/Trade => Topic started by: sirloinofbeef001 on May 07, 2011,
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I read somewhere about the incan repair tool(gun)..where was it posted? Thanks
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http://www.amazon.com/Keeper-01201-Complete-Fixing-Miniature/dp/B000R8KBOK
Here is a light keeper pro for $19
Ron
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Thanks a lot. That's what I was looking for....
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I read somewhere about the incan repair tool(gun)..where was it posted? Thanks
I recommend this repair tool which has served me well over the years with those particularly undisciplined strings... ;D
Greg
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I have no choice but to get one because I'm about 90% incans.
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Lowes' has these... In season, of course.
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Save your money. I was really patient with mine, read up all about it, etc. and it didn't help at all. I didn't expect magic but I did expect it to work a little for $20. It didn't. Just telling you my experience.
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Read this thread before you make a final decision. It has numerous glowing reviews (including from me) for the Light Keeper.
http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=5108.0
-Mike
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I have the lightkeeper, but to be honest with you, 2 years ago I purchased a device called a buzz box off of Planetchristmas and love it for any incan work.
You plug the black box in to the wall, plug a light string in to the buzz box and press the big red button. Either the string will light, or it will buzz where the problem is!
It cost me about 150, but considering I can find an issue with a string in about 10 seconds, it was well worth it!!!
Mike.
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I have the lightkeeper, but to be honest with you, 2 years ago I purchased a device called a buzz box off of Planetchristmas and love it for any incan work.
You plug the black box in to the wall, plug a light string in to the buzz box and press the big red button. Either the string will light, or it will buzz where the problem is!
It cost me about 150, but considering I can find an issue with a string in about 10 seconds, it was well worth it!!!
Mike.
I have the same and WELL worth it - the LKP is good but the buzz box is GREAT!!!!!! I end up loaning it out to eveyone I know to fix their prelit trees.
Harrison
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Would you guys with the Buzz Boxes be willing to open them up and take pictures? I bet we can make one if we knew what was in it. I would love to try! Would you please ;D
The LKP did not work for me at all. I tried on 3-4 net lights and a few strings. I guess maybe I had multiple failures in the strings.
Ron
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Amen trekster. That's the way I wanna do it. Good idea..yes, open one up..
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Saw a post at DIYC that said the parts to build one of these could be only $10... Seems like every now and then someone tries to get a DIY version going but doesn't.
Take it off baby! (the cover of a buzz box that is)
I vote Trekster for the COOP manager!
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Lets be careful about copying peoples designs. It can get us in trouble.
RJ
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Someone posted a picture of an open one either on DIYC or PC. It had an automobile ignition transformer and a triac circuit to run it. As I recall, it sends a high voltage pulse that burns thru the insulation and spot-welds the shunt inside the bad bulb. Either that, or you can see or hear the arc between the filament supports in the bad bulb.
Interesting trivia: the use of shunts to bypass burned out bulbs was developed by Edison, and used on series-connected street lamps...
/mike
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Is there a problem copying something on our own as long as we dont sell the product? wouldn't that be the issue?
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I don't want to clone it. I think if I knew what was in the box I could come up with my own version. I in no way meant to have a coop by any means. And no I do not want to be the manager <fp.
Just want to gaze into Pandora's box! >.d9
Ron
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I am clueless when it comes to that so I hope someone can design something to beat the 150 dollar price tag...
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I think that the problem is not so much making one for yourself but opening one up and posting the design on a public web site for others to duplicate is a whole different issue. If it were my design and it were a commercial product, you can bet that I would be calling my lawyers if I saw it being stolen on a public web site.
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Let me re-word my post. If someone would take pictures and email them to me <yk..
Ron
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I don't want to clone it. I think if I knew what was in the box I could come up with my own version. I in no way meant to have a coop by any means. And no I do not want to be the manager <fp.
Just want to gaze into Pandora's box! >.d9
Ron
Just kidding with the COOP manager thing.
<la..
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I found the thread over at DIYC (http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?3689-This-was-on-another-forum-and-needs-to-be-DONE) There are pictures over on page 2.
/mike
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I found the thread over at DIYC (http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?3689-This-was-on-another-forum-and-needs-to-be-DONE) There are pictures over on page 2.
/mike
For those of us who aren't members, We cant see what it shows..... <md..
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http://www.amazon.com/Keeper-01201-Complete-Fixing-Miniature/dp/B000R8KBOK
Here is a light keeper pro for $19
Ron
Ive read alot of the reviews on this product and I think this will work although I would like to see something made from our site..
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It shows an automobile ignition coil with the primary driven by a triac circuit similar to a light dimmer, and with the secondary (high voltage) connected to the output socket.
/mike
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Please correct me if I'm wrong but I watched a video of the Light Keeper Pro (not the old version) and he fixed a tree by clicking the trigger multiple times. I think this would fuse the bulb wires as described above.
Also it has an electricity detector in it so you plug the light string in and run it near the bulbs in order. As soon as you no longer hear a tone you've found your bulb. It might not be as obvious as the buzz box but for the price difference I will definitely be getting a Light Keeper pro for this year.
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I can not tell much about the circuit in the picture of the buzz box. I did google "circuit to fire an ignition coil" and found this http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Projects/Car-Coil/Car-Coil-1.png
It is a circuit we all can build. I don't know the circuit to fire the coil using 120vac like in his version. Is it a basic on/off using a triac like in the express only making a RC circuit to make it pulse on/off about 100 hertz?
Can someone come up with a triac 120 vac oscillator to fire an ignition coil? Then we can build our own with our own design.
Ron
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And a lot cheaper than the buzz box..
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Please correct me if I'm wrong but I watched a video of the Light Keeper Pro (not the old version) and he fixed a tree by clicking the trigger multiple times. I think this would fuse the bulb wires as described above.
Also it has an electricity detector in it so you plug the light string in and run it near the bulbs in order. As soon as you no longer hear a tone you've found your bulb. It might not be as obvious as the buzz box but for the price difference I will definitely be getting a Light Keeper pro for this year.
What you see on the video is not what alwys happens. I have a LKP and while it saved my butt many times, it doesn't always work. I has little effect with a loose bulb or a broken wire and the detector doesn't always find it either, especially if the string is a multi-channel or it is wrapped round metal such as a pre-lit tree or a wire frame. I don't know how much better the buzz box works but I would guess that the constant high voltage pulse would make a sound arcking to at the failure point that will not happen with the LKP.
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what's keeping the high voltage arc from zapping your working lights?
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It's not the voltage that lights are concerned with, it's the current and the time that current is applied. It takes time relative to the current flowing for the filament of a bulb to heat up to the point of illumination and from there to the point of failure. The LKP and the Buzz Box send out high voltage low current pulses as it is the high voltage that works the magic, not the current. An LED OTOH, would be fried by something like the Buzz box.
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With over 22k incans, ima need something to keep it lit whether we make one or I buy one. I would rather make one. I'm just unable to do it on my own. There is enough ppl here with the smarts to do it.
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Well, the thing is that a LKP is only about $15 and will fix about 80% of your issues. The Buxx Box can resolve some issues that the LKP doesn't but even it can't fix or find everything. Since I doubt that you could even build your own Buzz Box for what the LKP cost at full retail, I would just buy the LKP and be done with it.
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This discussion has come up many times on other forums and nothing every happens for a variety of reasons. I do not expect this quest to come to anything either. I will say that the one friend I know who has a buzz box swears by it and I have read quite a few messages of other folks who also swear by them. Hoping someone will come up with a plan to build one IMHO is not going to make anything happen this time either. But I've been wrong before.
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I hope you are wrong.( nothing personal) I would like to see it even if it cost a lil more than the $19 product. Its all about diy-ing things.
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The problem is that there is a fine line between "DIY-ING" and stealing. If you come up with your own method of doing it like RJ did with his Lynks controllers then you are DIY-ing. If you crack open an existing device and just duplicate it, then any way you want to look at it, you are just stealing it. And doing so on a public forum can lead to legal issues.
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If the buzz box cost $49.95 we wouldn't be having this thread.
Now if you really want to get serious about this I don't see any indications that this device is patented. This is probably due the fact this device is somewhat dangerous to use and therefor production for the masses would never occur. Also from what I've seen posted about it, folks that are familiar with electronics say it is not designed well or safe. There is a good possibility that someone here can actually design a safer more cost effective device.
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I agree with zwiller..zwiller for president...
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I have an idea a while back there was a tread about switching inductive loads and some posted a shocker with a 9v battery. The same idea can apply using 120v ac as the power source the bars replaced with an outlet. I Know enough to be highly dangerous and this is only an idea there would hvae to be more protection added to it.
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You know enough to be dangerous...lol
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If the buzz box cost $49.95 we wouldn't be having this thread.
Since it probably costs at least that much to make it, I doubt that they could sell it for that price. I don't know and didn't bother to see if it is UL listed but if so, that testing and certification doesn't come cheap either and will add to the cost.
Now if you really want to get serious about this I don't see any indications that this device is patented. This is probably due the fact this device is somewhat dangerous to use and therefor production for the masses would never occur.
It only took me a few minutes of looking to see that it in fact appears to be a patended device.
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6710602.html is just one of MANY patent links referring to the SF-102 "buzzbox"
I also found it available on a few sites with prices from $150 to $250 and that was only with a brief look. I guess that my question would be if it is so dangerous to use, who would want to use it and who would want to take the responsibility of designing it or releasing such a design?
Also from what I've seen posted about it, folks that are familiar with electronics say it is not designed well or safe.
While that may or may not be true, many have also posted that RJ's stuff is dangerous and doesn't work. Do you take those claims for fact as well?
There is a good possibility that someone here can actually design a safer more cost effective device.
If someone designs a whole new unit that does it a different way that creates as you put it "a safer more cost effective device", then that is a new DIY device but if someone just opens up an existing unit and duplicates it, then they are just stealing an existing design. This is starting to sound and get negative so I'm going to end it here for me now but I would suggest that if any of you wish to persue this endevor, that you do it thru PM's and email. I would really hate to have RJ start getting phone calls from some legal team claiming that DLA appears to be allowing and / or supporting the attempted theft of their clients design.
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I don't understand how this has become so negative, but its not supposed to be that way. If someone can come up with a way to do this (without copying the others)then just do it.
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...also (if my understanding of patents is correct) if there is a patent that should show exactly how it is constructed. so no pictures needed and it is public knowledge. as long as no one attempts to sell it as is without the patent holders permission there is no problem.
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That's my point.. Ima look into it and see if trekster is still gonna try it.
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That's my point.. Ima look into it and see if trekster is still gonna try it.
me?
Yesterday at lunch, I went through 55 pages (of 10 each) of ignition coils at autozone.com and did not see a coil like he used. I can make it I just need help on a circuit to "buzz" the coil. I can do it with a relay or the circuit I posted several messages back. I do want to try it.
Ron
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Somewhere I saw something mentioned about neon transformers with this device. My grandfather and dad had a neon sign shop ages ago. The old man still gets calls to fix the occasional sign and the usual fix is a tranny swap. So he has a stash of transformers. I know they are high voltage low current. After my dad is done laughing and scolding me for suggesting something like this he might offer some insight since he thinks my show is cool.
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Those transformers put out some serious spark. I have one in the shed. It is about the size of a shoe box. I made a Jacobs ladder out of it. It would spark about 3 inches at the top. I think it would be a little more then I need for a buzz box. Something like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwJn_HqH2cc
I did order an ignition coil, 555 timer, irf640 mosfet, diodes, capacitors and resistors off ebay to try and make my own buzz box. It will have to have a 12 volt power supply to run the coil and buzz circuit. I plan on using this circuit. http://technoblogin.blogspot.com/2009/02/car-ignition-coil-driver.html
Some of my parts are from China and will take 2+ weeks to arrive. I figure I will have about $25 in parts plus something for a case. I will use a 12 volt wall wart type power supply that I all already have several of.
Ron
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keep us informed. I will definitely want to build one.