Electronics

As far as I'm concerned, I was born an electronics hobbiest. I have been tinkering around since I was probably 5 years old or younger. I'm just now starting to be able to build stuff. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Anyway, below is just a list of my current projects, which I may or may not get to in the next 5 years (I don't think I'll ever have the time or money to build some of these, but I expect to gain the know-how).

Project List

• Summer 2000 projects and plans . These are mostly audio related prototypes which I will be building more of in the future to sell.
  
  
• Plasma Tweeters Check these out yourself!
  
  
• Build multiple amplifiers for friends. I have had no less than 5 requests from my friends to build them various amplifiers, ranging from car audio, to band audio, to home theater subwoofer amps, to DJ systems. I know I can build better amps with the features they want for about half of what the big companies charge, but I don't have the time or resources (yet).
  
  
• Build a large Tesla coil. I found some insane 6-foot Telsa coils that hobbiests build in their old barns. You must check out Bill Beaty's pages and Don Klipstein's pages. These killer coils can create 12-foot lightning bolts! I'm thinking of experimenting with a modest 4-foot arc to use as a full range plasma speaker. Might work, might not.
  
  
• Rebuild Tail-lights. I once saw an awesome newly-washed white sports car with mirror chrome mags zipping down the highway. It looked so cool- all white and shiney-- until I saw the red tail lights. "Wouldn't it be cool if those were white too?", I thought. I began to get the bad idea of modifying my tail lights using clear LEDs that light up red when on (brakes/head lights). I would have to rebuild my tail light covers with plexiglass, which would be a pain, but to have white tail lights would be a really unique mod. It might catch on too, like those smoke covers that are supposed to look "cool". LEDs are perfect for cars: they don't heat up; they don't burn out; they don't draw much current; they're insensitive to shock; they come in a variety of colors; they're cheap (I got 200 clear reds for $8 at the Electronic Goldmine); and if one happens to burn out, you still have 99 more to rely on. You'll never have a cop pull you over for a burned out brake light again. Pagani is using LEDs on their new $300,000 Zonda as head lights. Good idea. Ferarri is thinking about using lasers in their tail lights, but that's another story.
  
  
• Build electrostatic fan. This is a really good idea. It uses a high voltage power supply and feeds it into a board with a zillion nails in it (like a bed of nails used by magicians). This creates a zillion little sources for electrons to be emitted. As the electrons ionize the air, the air actually flows like a fan, but with no audible sound. It also cleans the air of dust and bacteria by ionizing it. Hello Jetsons!