i finished it. Amazing. i burned out the first laser i got somehow (only used 4.5 volts) but i got a new one. This was a very cool project and pretty cheap. thanks Starcross42!
@kranic3 Ah, I'm not sure. The 'amp' must be amplified. Computer speakers might work but I've never used one. If you plug it into a power supply then I suspect it is amplified. Good luck.
@Starcross42 i just found it at radio shack online, but i live in Canada and they only ship to the states. i tried circuit city and they don't have one. i might try the thing with the nail. really love this video. im just starting a course in photonics
A simple 1 to 1 transformer (no longer carried by Radio Shack) can be easily made. Take two pieces of magnet wire about 2 meters long. Mark the ends of each. Wrap this around a nail. One wire becomes the primary and the other is the secondary. Electromagnetism is fun.
@Starcross42 I bought a relative cheap laser for this project and the intensity of the light decreased a lot. do you think it has to do with the audio transformer?
I got the idea from Herb Gottlieb back in 1979 using HeNe lasers. I applied it to diode lasers in the early '80s. It was part of my 'laser show' lectures that I did around the country during the late '80s and through the '90s. It has been included in my book that has been for sale for a decade. Anything I've shown has been an original idea. Others might have the SAME idea, but I did this on my own.
A few questions. First would this work the same if not better with a green laser? Or does the green laser require too much power to be run by the output from an iPod?
Second, if you were to take a stereo headphone jack and split it twice, two sets of two wires, and set up each as shown in the video theoretically could you then have "stereo" sound?
The cadmium sulfide cell changes it's resistance as a function of the light hitting it. Your LED garden lights have both a silicon solar cell (to create energy and recharge batteries) and a CS cell (to turn on the light when it is dark). In my application we are generating electricity and amplifying it. I don't think the CS cell would work. It would take a different circuit with a power supply to have a CS cell work.
Actually, it does work as-is. All you need to do is soldier wires from stripped headphones on it and plug the jack into an amp. I just don't know the side-by-side comparison of the two.
By plugging it into a headphone and an amp you change the current to the headphones. That was the additional ciruit. I don't think you get the same result if you plug the CS cell into the amp, but I haven't tried it. Because it is smaller typically it would leave less room for movement of the beam, and that would cause the static.
nonononono You just cut off the earphones out completely so you are able to use the jack to go directly into the amp. You don't need extra anything because power is already following out of the amp into the CdS cell which changes the resistance and back into the amp. I think it is what you did except you are actually generating power with the solar cell.
Could you explain the last sentence to me? I don't quite understand why that would create more static. Unless you just can't hold it steady?
The static comes from two sources. The room lights are flickering at 60Hz and any relative motion between the beam and the cell. Lock the laser down and turn off the lights. I think I have a couple of CdS cell and will try it. How is it powered? You plug it into the input of the amp? I can't see how that changes anything into the amp. The CdS just changes the resistance as a function of light. ... I'll have to try it.
Well I'd assume you'd have a tripod to keep it still and I'd think that the solar cell would get more interference from the lights due to a larger surface area maybe.
I am not an expert but I think it's just powered by the amp itself the when you plug it in to the input jack. The jack should have a constant current flow out of it and since the resistance of the photocell changes to light it should vary the current going back into the amp which is then amplified.
Notice that when he puts his hand in front of the laser, the noise you hear is from the lighting in the room. It sounded an awful lot like 50/60 Hz to me. If you wanted to use this for your audio system, all lights would need to be turned off to minimize this contribution to the audio. Another way to minimize this interference would be to fit a long hollow tube with a pinhole at one end to the solar cell. This would make the cell dark when there is no laser present.
Fiber optic cable is how the real guys solve this problem. However, this is not the best way to run speakers... There is line lost each time the energy is changed from one form to another... electricity to light... light to electricity... electricity to sound.
That's really cool, I'm going to have to try that - many thanks. We don't have radioshack in the UK we have Maplin Electronics, I think they are pretty much the same kind of shops.
But then you take away the cool factor. If you want to go the fiber optic route then you want a different laser. When you use fiber optics with this laser you lose a lot of signal strenght. However, the theory is good and this is 'optical links' in computers and such.
Very cool. How good is the sound quality? And how much interference do you get from other light sources like a lamp? If the sound quality and interference aren't too bad, I might try this with my surround-sound system! No wires!
Thanks. No, this system will not replace your speakers... Well, it is the basis of the fiber optic systems, but the beam in the air is the 'security system' where every little interuption to the beam can be detected. Dust or smoke in the air can be 'heard'. It is a very cool trick though.
Amazing stuff. Reminded me of those laser microphone bugging devices the intelligence services use to snoop on conversations. Apparently they detect vibration changes on the window, or object in the room.
Yes, actually the solar cell and laser are all you need to do the window trick. We had an ambassador to Russia during the cold war that was complaining that they were 'shining lasers at him'. They now have triple pane windows with noise/music playing inside the window! Or so I've heard.
is this device had capability transmit video just like fiber optic? if so, i will need two lasers video and audio right?
payperview9pmet 1 year ago
@payperview9pmet The laser modulates brightness, which is easy for audio, but I don't think video would work... But give it a try and let me know!
Starcross42 1 year ago
Damn, i want that whiteboard!!
djteac 1 year ago
i finished it. Amazing. i burned out the first laser i got somehow (only used 4.5 volts) but i got a new one. This was a very cool project and pretty cheap. thanks Starcross42!
kranic3 1 year ago
also what can i use for the amp? i don't suppose regular computer speakers would work.
kranic3 1 year ago
@kranic3 Ah, I'm not sure. The 'amp' must be amplified. Computer speakers might work but I've never used one. If you plug it into a power supply then I suspect it is amplified. Good luck.
Starcross42 1 year ago
@Starcross42 i ended us using a set of amplified speakers from the dollar store. only 2 bucks.
kranic3 1 year ago
Radio Shack online still sells the transformer. About $4
Starcross42 1 year ago
@Starcross42 i just found it at radio shack online, but i live in Canada and they only ship to the states. i tried circuit city and they don't have one. i might try the thing with the nail. really love this video. im just starting a course in photonics
kranic3 1 year ago
A simple 1 to 1 transformer (no longer carried by Radio Shack) can be easily made. Take two pieces of magnet wire about 2 meters long. Mark the ends of each. Wrap this around a nail. One wire becomes the primary and the other is the secondary. Electromagnetism is fun.
Starcross42 1 year ago
can not find the audio isolation transformer. any ideas? radio shack doesn't carry them anymore
kranic3 1 year ago
Why does the cheaper lasers burn out?
ujetli 1 year ago
@ujetli It has to do with the way it regulates the power. I haven't tried every laser but people have told me about their adventures.
Starcross42 1 year ago
@Starcross42 I bought a relative cheap laser for this project and the intensity of the light decreased a lot. do you think it has to do with the audio transformer?
ujetli 1 year ago
@ujetli Depending on the transformer it could cut your voltage quite a bit. The laser might still transfer the signal. Try another battery.
Starcross42 1 year ago
@Starcross42 thanks very much.
ujetli 1 year ago
@Starcross42 thank you very much!!
ujetli 1 year ago
@Starcross42 Thank you very much for your help.
ujetli 1 year ago
I did not like the sound quality... :(
tempranight 2 years ago
That is only through that little amp. I made one of these and I run it through my Fender Frontman 25R amp and it sounds great!!!
igotacupprod 2 years ago
you got the idea from kipkay and makemagasin
sirgod11 2 years ago
I got the idea from Herb Gottlieb back in 1979 using HeNe lasers. I applied it to diode lasers in the early '80s. It was part of my 'laser show' lectures that I did around the country during the late '80s and through the '90s. It has been included in my book that has been for sale for a decade. Anything I've shown has been an original idea. Others might have the SAME idea, but I did this on my own.
Starcross42 2 years ago
This time kipkay actually copied off of this guy. I knew of this way before kipkay came out with his video.
igotacupprod 2 years ago
@sirgod11 I went to his site and noticed that his post, almost exactly like my set up, was posted a year AFTER I posted this video.
Starcross42 1 year ago
And can you also tell me what's the utility of the isolating amplifer ? Is it preventing the Ipod to receive the 4.5 V ?
landkiter 2 years ago
What's the name of the song =) ?
landkiter 2 years ago
how did you hook it up to the solar cell
Localboy1o1 2 years ago
where did you get a smart board?
007ghg7 2 years ago
that is really cool but didnt u just re-invent the speaker?
ritnerritner1 2 years ago
Yeah, with out wires
IceNinjaX 2 years ago
No, no one created a speaker in this video.
zach118 2 years ago
WOW...
this is AWSOME!..
I'm going to try this, thank you so much for sharing.
Donninator1 2 years ago
cant you use a photodiode in place of the sloar cell?
jhafanador69 2 years ago
I haven't, but other people have. The circuit may need a bit more.
Starcross42 2 years ago
Oh my God... You're awesome. Could you send me a list of supplies if possible? If you don't have the time, that's fine.
sgtbakers 2 years ago
I like to hear the sound change as the beam hits smoke glass & water
Darkfoster22 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
A few questions. First would this work the same if not better with a green laser? Or does the green laser require too much power to be run by the output from an iPod?
Second, if you were to take a stereo headphone jack and split it twice, two sets of two wires, and set up each as shown in the video theoretically could you then have "stereo" sound?
isobane 2 years ago
Comment removed
isobane 2 years ago
is that how optical audio works?
Frylock148 3 years ago
. . .No
BewareOfDoor 2 years ago
oh alright...i just noticed a red laser through the cable shinning inside of it. thanks i guess...
Frylock148 2 years ago
WOW Dr. THIS IS THE GREATEST VIDEO I EVER SEEN !!!!! Thank you so much for your teachings, you are a great teacher!!! Thanks again!.
jorgerojo73 3 years ago
blody hell that is amazing u are a realy clever dude!..... any chance of a shopping list?
godinahat 3 years ago
Really Awesome!
It Works! Thanksman!
igotacupprod 3 years ago
hi there i was wondering if u could give out the list of supplies needed for this project cause i might just try it.
noechang805 3 years ago
nice one man
dadillo 3 years ago
Truly AMAZING!
JapanMan2 3 years ago
clever
tim56398 3 years ago
how do i put the wires on my solar panel
magic101magic 3 years ago
solder it very carefully. Should be instructions with the panel. It is fragile so be careful.
Starcross42 3 years ago
Nicely done.
sillyplug 3 years ago
Nice. Would a cadmium sulfide cell have less interference than that solar cell?
niceboar 3 years ago
The cadmium sulfide cell changes it's resistance as a function of the light hitting it. Your LED garden lights have both a silicon solar cell (to create energy and recharge batteries) and a CS cell (to turn on the light when it is dark). In my application we are generating electricity and amplifying it. I don't think the CS cell would work. It would take a different circuit with a power supply to have a CS cell work.
Starcross42 3 years ago
Actually, it does work as-is. All you need to do is soldier wires from stripped headphones on it and plug the jack into an amp. I just don't know the side-by-side comparison of the two.
niceboar 3 years ago
By plugging it into a headphone and an amp you change the current to the headphones. That was the additional ciruit. I don't think you get the same result if you plug the CS cell into the amp, but I haven't tried it. Because it is smaller typically it would leave less room for movement of the beam, and that would cause the static.
Starcross42 3 years ago
nonononono You just cut off the earphones out completely so you are able to use the jack to go directly into the amp. You don't need extra anything because power is already following out of the amp into the CdS cell which changes the resistance and back into the amp. I think it is what you did except you are actually generating power with the solar cell.
Could you explain the last sentence to me? I don't quite understand why that would create more static. Unless you just can't hold it steady?
niceboar 3 years ago
The static comes from two sources. The room lights are flickering at 60Hz and any relative motion between the beam and the cell. Lock the laser down and turn off the lights. I think I have a couple of CdS cell and will try it. How is it powered? You plug it into the input of the amp? I can't see how that changes anything into the amp. The CdS just changes the resistance as a function of light. ... I'll have to try it.
Starcross42 3 years ago
Well I'd assume you'd have a tripod to keep it still and I'd think that the solar cell would get more interference from the lights due to a larger surface area maybe.
I am not an expert but I think it's just powered by the amp itself the when you plug it in to the input jack. The jack should have a constant current flow out of it and since the resistance of the photocell changes to light it should vary the current going back into the amp which is then amplified.
niceboar 3 years ago
Notice that when he puts his hand in front of the laser, the noise you hear is from the lighting in the room. It sounded an awful lot like 50/60 Hz to me. If you wanted to use this for your audio system, all lights would need to be turned off to minimize this contribution to the audio. Another way to minimize this interference would be to fit a long hollow tube with a pinhole at one end to the solar cell. This would make the cell dark when there is no laser present.
jtslay 3 years ago
Fiber optic cable is how the real guys solve this problem. However, this is not the best way to run speakers... There is line lost each time the energy is changed from one form to another... electricity to light... light to electricity... electricity to sound.
Starcross42 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
ANOTHER COOL VID
aidyanimal 3 years ago
great video sir!
emirss 3 years ago
This is so completely amazing. Why are you so smart?
tinanancollas 4 years ago
That's really cool, I'm going to have to try that - many thanks. We don't have radioshack in the UK we have Maplin Electronics, I think they are pretty much the same kind of shops.
zaster79 4 years ago
if you use fiber-optic cable you can have it going for few hundred yards.
bombay2008 4 years ago
But then you take away the cool factor. If you want to go the fiber optic route then you want a different laser. When you use fiber optics with this laser you lose a lot of signal strenght. However, the theory is good and this is 'optical links' in computers and such.
Starcross42 4 years ago
Awesome!. It reminds me the AM radio principle but with light. Very interesting.
JPortfolio 4 years ago
Yes. I teach about amplitude and use this as an example.
Starcross42 4 years ago
Very cool. How good is the sound quality? And how much interference do you get from other light sources like a lamp? If the sound quality and interference aren't too bad, I might try this with my surround-sound system! No wires!
LineMasterJorbob 4 years ago
Thanks. No, this system will not replace your speakers... Well, it is the basis of the fiber optic systems, but the beam in the air is the 'security system' where every little interuption to the beam can be detected. Dust or smoke in the air can be 'heard'. It is a very cool trick though.
Starcross42 4 years ago
Amazing stuff. Reminded me of those laser microphone bugging devices the intelligence services use to snoop on conversations. Apparently they detect vibration changes on the window, or object in the room.
itsabomberscope 4 years ago
Yes, actually the solar cell and laser are all you need to do the window trick. We had an ambassador to Russia during the cold war that was complaining that they were 'shining lasers at him'. They now have triple pane windows with noise/music playing inside the window! Or so I've heard.
Starcross42 4 years ago
Yes, some soldering skill is required.
Starcross42 4 years ago
How about "Laser Linked Ipod"? Well explained, but seems to call for a little electrical background.
tinanancollas 4 years ago