A major part of advanced prop construction consists of electrical and/or pneumatic controls. I use both of these items extensively. I really enjoy the Sitenation KitsRUs Kit 74 controller.
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This relay, when attached to a computer running a very basic program, can be used to trigger multiple actions for any haunt. A computer program sends signals to the board triggering the eight (8) relays. The signal will either open or close each relay. A red LED tells you if the relay is energized. Each relay can be equipped to send out any voltage you wish. You route a power input voltage wire to the inlet screw on a relay and you control the output by firing the relay. |
| http://www.thebells.net/Halloween/PLCC/PLCC.html |
The kit is easily assembled and the soldering is moderate to easy. What I found to be lacking in the instructions is how you attach/connect items to the three screws at the outlet of each relay. Here's the trick...a solenoid valve, light, or sound device will generally have two wires running to it. One is positive (+) and one is negative (-). Connect the negative wire from your power supply directly up to your device. Route the positive wire from your power supply to the middle screw by the relay you are going to use on the relay board. The middle screw is the power inlet screw. Now, while the relay is not energized, power will flow out through either the left or right screw beside the middle screw which you attached the power inlet. You can locate which one with a volt meter. When the solenoid becomes energized from the serial port it will switch the power output to the opposite screw on the other side of the middle inlet screw. That's it.
This relay board is well worth the $40 that it costs.