The Trip-Cam

User-Contributed Project

User-Contributed Project

This project guide is not managed by MAKE staff.

The Trip-Cam is a trip-wire triggered spy- and security camera. Sweet!

  • Author: Jack Brunning
  • Time required: 30 minutes to 1 hour
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Add Note x

In this project we are going to take an ordinary camera and turn it into a trip-wire or magnetic reed-switch triggered spy and security camera!

Sections
Tools
Relevant parts
Relevant parts (continued)
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Add Note Edit Step 1 — The Trip-Cam  ¶ 

  • Lay out your components on your workbench.

  • I couldn't use a camera because I have only got one.

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Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • Put your components into the breadboard according to this schematic.

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Add Note Edit Step 3  ¶ 

  • Open your camera.

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Add Note Edit Step 4  ¶ 

  • Locate the trigger button terminals and solder two wires to them.

  • Feed the wires through the trigger button hole.

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Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • Make all necessary jumpers and final connections on the breadboard.

  • Note: The LED and red jumpers represent the camera wires.

  • The blue wire represents the switch or trip wire.

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Add Note Edit Step 6  ¶ 

  • Test the breadboard circuit.

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Add Note Edit Step 7  ¶ 

  • Solder all the connections together either barebone or on perfboard.

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Add Note Edit Step 8  ¶ 

  • Now just wait for someone to come.

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Add Note Edit Step 9 — Enhancments  ¶ 

  • LED strobe light by adding a lot of LEDs across the transistor's collector and emitter.

  • Make two: one for power, one for trigger.

  • Add lasers instead of a trip wire or switches. Use a photocell to pick up the laser light.

This project is an easy and fun project to make whether you need to guard your room or just spy on people! So let's get into it!

For more information, check out the Circuits category page.

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