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Help Needed: Countdown Circuit

  • 12-12-2011 06:36PM
    #1
    Stephen-mx3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 885 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,

    I'm venturing over from the Airsoft forum (please don't hold it against me, I'm different!), and have a question that maybe you people can help me out with.

    I basically want a circuit that has a predetermined value on an LCD screen ie. 99, and when an IR beam is broken, it drops down one number. Think of the bullet counter on the Pulse Rifle from Aliens:

    http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/images/products/aux1/large/HCO10061.jpg

    The reasons I am looking for this are:
    1. Can tell if I am 'Dry Firing' (gun is actioning but no BBs are coming out)
    2. Can tell how many rounds are left in each mag
    3. Why not?!
    So can anyone help me with this? Cheers guys :D


Comments

  • #2
    DublinDilbert
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,401 ✭✭✭DublinDilbert


    What electronic experience have you got?

    The display you shown is an led 7 segment display.

    The easiest way to do this is using a small microcontroller to control the 14 segments required.

    If you've no electronics experience it's not going to be straight forward.


  • #3
    Stephen-mx3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 885 ✭✭✭Stephen-mx3


    Apologies for late reply on this!

    I wouldn't have a huge electronics knowledge, I probably should have asked if there was a unit/kit/piece that would be suitable as opposed to building a piece from scratch.

    If you Youtube Electronic BB Counter, you can see exactly what I would be looking for

    Again, this is more out of boredom than neccessity. Thanks for the reply though, really appreciate it. And if you had the time and experience to make up a circuit such as this, you could easily make some extra cash from the Airsoft community!


  • #4
    DublinDilbert
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,401 ✭✭✭DublinDilbert


    Stephen-mx3 wrote: »
    Apologies for late reply on this!

    I wouldn't have a huge electronics knowledge, I probably should have asked if there was a unit/kit/piece that would be suitable as opposed to building a piece from scratch.

    If you Youtube Electronic BB Counter, you can see exactly what I would be looking for

    Again, this is more out of boredom than neccessity. Thanks for the reply though, really appreciate it. And if you had the time and experience to make up a circuit such as this, you could easily make some extra cash from the Airsoft community!

    There seems to be no shortage of stuff on the internet. Velleman do kits for counters but would probably be a bit big for what you need.

    The simplest thing you could do is just use one of these
    http://www.dealextreme.com/p/0-8-lcd-electronic-digital-5-digit-ring-tally-counter-1-x-ag10-66056

    Its a count up counter, so wire the count up button to some sort of photo sensor that is broken every time you fire a shot. It would be a very cheap solution to your problem.


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