Thanks guys but looks like no go for now. any new ideas would be welcome.

 

Mate, this is an electronics forum, any new ideas are more likely than not to involve electronics, i.e. components, soldering, wiring, switches, etc. You may be better off asking on a charity/schools/PTA forum.

 

yes was thinking someone might have done something in days gone by.

 

Thanks guys but looks like no go for now. any new ideas would be welcome.

Forgive me, I don't follow. Why a no go? The decision makers don't like the code project? You're trying to avoid a projected centered around electronics for the reasons sirch2 mentioned? No budget?

I'm not trying to change minds - you gotta do what's best for you - I'm just curious.

If you're still interested in project ideas, we need to know what the constraints are, e.g., can't involve electronics, can't cost more than x pounds, must involve physical activity from participant, etc. The membership here has a pool of people with unique backgrounds and experiences, so you never know what someone may offer up. May be worth starting a new thread in Off Topic if the project can't involve electronics.

 

well due to my non existent knowledge of electronics sirch2 feels the project would be to labour intensive for him to take on.

ideas can include electronics, cost top limit is £30 pounds, small amount of physical activity.

 

thanks anyway guys

 

scrivs,

I think we're all at a bit of a loss as to what would work for your situation. We can design, build, and even write code for a simple project for the cost of parts and shipping, but it would then be up to you to fabricate a mechanical assembly to work with the electronic assembly and it seems that is outside your comfort zone. Someone might possibly consider making a finished project, but even if they offered their time for free, the cost of all the parts with shipping, even in the U.K., is going to be well outside your stated budget.

If you could give us a better idea of what you're willing and able to do in terms of fabrication, we can make suggestions more inline with your abilities.

Your original idea for a roulette wheel is certainly doable within budget as far as the electronics go, but you'd need to be able to get a 2 foot circle, drill holes, mount the LED's and buttons, and have some way of standing it up/mounting it to a wall or something similar. Is this something you can do on your own? If so, we can work toward that.

Something that may spur other ideas: I made a fitness-oriented project once where children got on a stationary Big Wheels-like bike and as they pedaled faster, a set of LED's arranged two across and nine high would light from bottom to top. I connected a fan at the top so if they went really fast, all the LED's lit and the fan spun. I cheated and used a uC programmed to read how many pulses were read across a magnetic switch with a magnet attached to the wheel. While relatively simple, I had to add a bike trainer (for lack of the proper term) which added resistance to the wheel and made a mechanical assembly to raise the bike and keep it stationary. Far more complex than I'm sure you're looking for, but an example of a really interactive project.

 

well I managed the centre piece of this random light generator thing i was able to borrow,but couldn't work out how to use.

 

That looks cool. So, do you mean to say you can use this for the fete or that you can build another one and just need help with the electronics portion?

 

this is what I borrowed it as 7 different games i think but i couldn't figure out how to change them, I just used the default one which was you pressed a button and the lights randomly came on and off (one light at a time) and then you just pressed to stop it. All I made was the purple centre bit and stuck it on using velcro. So I think I am capable of boxing up of a project.
The game I played was two people against each other had to get nearest to 36 without going over in 2 goes and they could stick after their first go if they wanted.

 

So would you be happy making something similar, but smaller, from scratch? To fit in your budget, I'm envisioning a ~35cm diameter circle with 10mm LED's in a 30cm diameter made out of something like thin plywood or plastic, about 3-6mm thick. To keep things cheap, you'd have to solder a pair of wires to all 36 LED's. Do you have access to a soldering iron or are you willing to get one?

If you can do that, we can help walk you through cutting up a stripboard and soldering parts to it. It takes a little practice, but it's not overly difficult.

 

well I am going to use that for this summer. Looking ahead for christmas, ideas so far guess how much in the money jar, a race of sorts with wind up toys.
I have just completed a plinko board just not sure on the prize strategy.
plus of course crack the code.