Motorized System for Raising and Lowering Hanging Plants

Hanging plants are a great way to add some green around your house. But there are a lot of great locations for hanging plants that are just too inconvenient to utilize. For instance if you have really high ceilings, you don't want to have to get up on a ladder every day to water them.

So I designed a simple system for raising and lowering hanging plants with an electric motor. That way you can raise them up to the desired height. Then whenever you want to water them, just press the button to lower them down to a convenient working height.

For step by step instructions on how to build this project, check out the Instrutable:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Motorized-System-for-Raising-and-Lowering-Hanging-/

31 Unusual Uses For Coconuts

When I was in college, I got a job as a student researcher in my Engineering department. My job was to research coconuts. My professor was trying to find ways to turn coconuts into value-added products. The goal was help promote economic development in countries like Papua New Guinea where coconuts are plentiful but are not fully utilized. We researched all aspects of coconuts and how they can be used. As a result, I gained a lot of random knowledge about coconuts. So I thought that I would share some of the more interesting things that I learned in a project on Instructables. You can check it out here: http://www.instructables.com/id/31-Unusual-Uses-For-Coconuts/

Add Light Up Effects to Backyard Games Like Cornhole

Backyard games like Cornhole are a lot of fun. But you can make them even better by adding lights and sounds. By hooking up some simple electronics, you can make the board light up and play a victory fanfare whenever someone scores. Here is how to make it.

For step by step instructions on how to make this project, check out the Instructable:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Add-Light-Up-Effects-to-Backyard-Games-Like-Cornho/

Collapsible Cornhole Boards

I wanted to make a set of cornhole boards that I could take with me to picnics and cookouts. Unfortunately, my car is too small to easily transport a set of standard cornhole boards. So I designed a set of board that will fold in half. That made them a lot easier to transport and store. Here is how I made them.

For step by step instructions on how to build this project, check out the Instructable:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Collapsible-Cornhole-Boards-1/

Electronic Water Tag Game

Everyone loves water gun fights in the summer. But you can always make something better by adding electronics to it. So I designed a set of water sensors and buzzers that will beep when they are hit with the spray of a water gun. This lets you play a game similar to laser tag but with water.

And if you want wondering, no it won't shock you or electrocute you. The circuit is well sealed in its housing and the amount of electricity that we are working with is so small that it couldn't shock you anyway.

For step by step instructions on how to build this project, check out the Instructable:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Electronic-Water-Tag-Game/

Resistance Controlled Alarm

There are all kinds of locks and alarms that you can make. You can make alarms that are controlled with keys, keypads, remote controls, scanners, or anything else that you can think of. Just for fun, I designed an alarm that is controlled by resistors.

This is a basic motion sensing alarm that detects when someone enters the area. When an intruder is detected, it activates a siren. But what makes this system unique is that it is activated and deactivated by touching a resistor to a pair of metal contacts on the housing. This makes for an interesting kind of security system.

For step by step instructions on how to build this project, check out the Instructable:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Resistance-Controlled-Alarm/

Make Your Own Box Set

Box sets are a great way to organize and display your collections of books, movies and magazines. But you can only get the box if you purchase the whole set together (usually as a special collector's edition). But what if you want to have a box set of items that you purchased separately. Well, why not make your own custom box set.

In this project, I am going to show you a simple method for creating custom box sets of whatever kind of media you are collecting.

For step by step instructions on how to build this project, check out the Instructable:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Your-Own-Box-Set/