Hi Gang, new member here. I found this forum whilst searching for a product to meet my needs, and am now wondering if I can make what I need myself. I would like to find a random on/off switch to control 110v plug-in items, such as a lamp, or a turn-table, or a fan, or a vibrating platform.

Ideally, I would like to build a self-contained "extension cord" type of unit that would have, say, a six foot power cord, leading to a box that would have a couple controllers of some sort and a regular 15-amp electrical outlet.

I would like to be able to adjust the unit so that the power to the outlet would come on and go off in a random pattern, but I would like to be able to control the minimum and maximum time parameters that the 'random-ness' would be selected from.

In other words, I'd like to be able to adjust the unit to turn the power off for, say, a minimum of 5-seconds to a maximum of 5-minutes -- and the same for the ON cycle... be able to choose the minimum and maximum ON time and the minimum and maximum OFF time.

Ideally, the final result would be that I could plug a small turntable into the outlet and set it to swirl a solution at random intervals for random lengths of time, with a minimum and maximum on/off time based on the parameters of the controls. Also, ideally, the minimum and maximum adjustment ranges (for both ON time and OFF time) would be from a few seconds to several minutes... maybe as many as 15 minutes.

It would be nice to be able to adjust the OFF time length parameters separately from the ON time length parameters so the OFF times could vary from 10 seconds to 15 minutes while the ON times varied from 2 seconds to 1 minute, but if that makes the project ridiculously difficult or expensive, then I'd be happy with having them both be on the same controls. (Separate control of both the ON and the OFF minimums and maximums would probably mean four controls instead of two, wouldn't it??)

I've found a couple products on scientific supply website, but they appear to all be computer controlled and VERY expensive. I just want something for tinkering with crystals in my garage, and also for occasionally using random lighting to mess with the minds of the young thieves who occasionally roam through the neighborhood late at night

As for my experience; I've built three recording studios, so I know enough electronics to be dangerous to myself, but I'm certainly not a technician. Just because I know how to wire a patch bay and repair switches and LEDs on my console doesn't mean that I understand how a logic circuit is designed. In other words, I can probably build this thing if someone can give me moderately clear instructions, but I'll probably need more than anachronisms and "just wire it normally" instructions. I'll probably also need some suggestions as to where the proposed parts can be acquired if it's anything more than Radio Shack.

If anyone is willing to throw some tidbits of wisdom and experience my way, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,

Tom Bernett

Swing Street Band
www.SwingStreetBand.com
Southern Pines, NC

 

Hi Gang, new member here. I found this forum whilst searching for a product to meet my needs, and am now wondering if I can make what I need myself. I would like to find a random on/off switch to control 110v plug-in items, such as a lamp, or a turn-table, or a fan, or a vibrating platform.

Ideally, I would like to build a self-contained "extension cord" type of unit that would have, say, a six foot power cord, leading to a box that would have a couple controllers of some sort and a regular 15-amp electrical outlet.

I would like to be able to adjust the unit so that the power to the outlet would come on and go off in a random pattern, but I would like to be able to control the minimum and maximum time parameters that the 'random-ness' would be selected from.

In other words, I'd like to be able to adjust the unit to turn the power off for, say, a minimum of 5-seconds to a maximum of 5-minutes -- and the same for the ON cycle... be able to choose the minimum and maximum ON time and the minimum and maximum OFF time.

Ideally, the final result would be that I could plug a small turntable into the outlet and set it to swirl a solution at random intervals for random lengths of time, with a minimum and maximum on/off time based on the parameters of the controls. Also, ideally, the minimum and maximum adjustment ranges (for both ON time and OFF time) would be from a few seconds to several minutes... maybe as many as 15 minutes.

It would be nice to be able to adjust the OFF time length parameters separately from the ON time length parameters so the OFF times could vary from 10 seconds to 15 minutes while the ON times varied from 2 seconds to 1 minute, but if that makes the project ridiculously difficult or expensive, then I'd be happy with having them both be on the same controls. (Separate control of both the ON and the OFF minimums and maximums would probably mean four controls instead of two, wouldn't it??)

I've found a couple products on scientific supply website, but they appear to all be computer controlled and VERY expensive. I just want something for tinkering with crystals in my garage, and also for occasionally using random lighting to mess with the minds of the young thieves who occasionally roam through the neighborhood late at night

As for my experience; I've built three recording studios, so I know enough electronics to be dangerous to myself, but I'm certainly not a technician. Just because I know how to wire a patch bay and repair switches and LEDs on my console doesn't mean that I understand how a logic circuit is designed. In other words, I can probably build this thing if someone can give me moderately clear instructions, but I'll probably need more than anachronisms and "just wire it normally" instructions. I'll probably also need some suggestions as to where the proposed parts can be acquired if it's anything more than Radio Shack.

If anyone is willing to throw some tidbits of wisdom and experience my way, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,

Tom Bernett

Swing Street Band
www.SwingStreetBand.com
Southern Pines, NC

Hi Tom
I can see that you wrote this article along time ago, but I’m looking for the same thing.
Could you share your solution if you discovered one.

thank you
Lee Esmond

 

Do a search for random security timers.

 

Welcome LeeEsmond to AAC.

It would be best if you could describe what you're looking for. Chances are that ttbernett has not visited the forum in quite a while. Not since June 2008. Since there's only one post it's apparent he hasn't been here in quite a while.

Tell us what voltages you wish to work with and tell us what you want to control.
Tell us HOW you want to control what it is you want to control.
Tell us how much money you want to spend, as a solution, depending on your parameters, could be anywhere from very inexpensive to very expensive.

 

It wasn’t dead, it was more like a seed in the desert waiting for the periodic rainstorm to bring it to life.

source and story
​

 

Well I hope Crystal made it out ok. That post from 2008 was definitely a sleep deprivation device for Tom's garage torture chamber.