Sliders Timer Electronics
- Thread starter evlares
- Start date
I would like to know how do you get one of these kits also I would like to know how to get these things to work right I have made both the original and the Egyptian timer but I can't get them to count down right I went and got the duel digit chips and I used the 4511 and the 4011 chips with the 555 timer but I can't get the chips to work right now I heard that a micro controller needs to be used but I have those but no one seems to have the code for the chips to use them can someone help me.
exoray
Master Member
It's a whole world more complicated then that... You could likely get a basic count down with some 4000 series chips, but beyond that you will almost certainly run out of room inside... The "genser" pattern alone is beyond the 4511 capabilities...
A cut and paste from me in another thread about it...
"There are 9 seven segment displays, that is 63 channels right there to control... And there is another 20+ LEDs left to control, and a few buttons...
In the end you have to design a circuit and code that has independent control of almost 100 channels to do this right..."
Notice I said "independent control" you don't get that with decoder chips like the 4511...
I'm not saying you couldn't do it with 4000 series chips but boy are you looking at a rats nest of connections and parts that I highly doubt you would even come close to ramming in the housing with a battery that will run it...
I took this Halloween off so that I could focus on new projects, I managed to get my new prop sound modules, done as well as a good jump on a few projects that will bring budget grade user configurable sounds to props... Getting that done will hopefully allow me some time to work on this one again...
Tomorrowist
New Member
The Egyptian Timer didn't have the 'Genser' start up. I read somewhere (I think D.O.C.) that it's a fairly normal countdown. After it hits zero (which you rarely actually see on screen) the timer, apparently, either started counting up or re-starts the countdown at 99.99.99 or 24.00.00.
Is it possible to use a normal LCD countdown timer (that's fairly small) and adapt it to use LED's?
I have an LCD countdown timer that goes from 99.99.99 then after it hits zero, counts up. It looks like it might fit into an Epyptian Timer base. Maybe something similar was used for the elecronics used in that timer. Apparently the Egyptian Timer was treated rather baddly by the cast and had to be remade several times
Is it possible to use a normal LCD countdown timer (that's fairly small) and adapt it to use LED's?
I have an LCD countdown timer that goes from 99.99.99 then after it hits zero, counts up. It looks like it might fit into an Epyptian Timer base. Maybe something similar was used for the elecronics used in that timer. Apparently the Egyptian Timer was treated rather baddly by the cast and had to be remade several times
PeterLC
Sr Member
The Egyptian timer would have to do things in a fairly similar way or they wouldn't have been able to use it to travel. OK the Genser startup sequence thing may be something unique to Mallory's original timer like the POST in a PC. I don't know if the timer starts the next countdown as soon as the old count reaches zero or it happens after they exit the wormhole on a new world.
It sounds easier than it actually is. You may find when you open your LCD timer that most of what you see is a big black dot which is a COB (chip on board). It is the whole timer minus the display and power supply. It is very common in mass produced simple electronic items. It's possible the display driver might be part of the LCD display but it might be inside this COB. You really can't open it up and interface with it. You'd be better off just building a simple countdown timer if that is the only functionality you want or try to find an LED one.
See above.
GS03Spyder
New Member
PeterLC
Sr Member
If all you want is a 6 digit LED clock then it would be fine. It's a really old chip and as far as I know has no other functions but a clock. There are newer chips around some of them with basic timer functions as well.
thedarkotaku
Member
in regaurds to the 4029 4511 circuits, they actually work and it was my desgin, blakbane is a friend of mine. ive posted how to make the countdown circuit and get the bargraphs working in sync with the same circuit for the egyptian and exodus timers , which the guts are pretty much the same.
http://www.therpf.com/f9/how-build-sliders-timer-electronics-104308/
thats the thread where i posted my instructions, free of charge might i add.
and heres my youtube channel with a few replicas made with that circuit i came up with
youtube.com/timerslide
http://www.therpf.com/f9/how-build-sliders-timer-electronics-104308/
thats the thread where i posted my instructions, free of charge might i add.
and heres my youtube channel with a few replicas made with that circuit i came up with
youtube.com/timerslide
Kingpin
Active Member
Thermalized Plastics produced the kit from which the plastic cover with graphics came from. His kit also includes the cover with key pad... I did enquire as to whether he supplied the individual pieces but he's only able to supply the whole Timer Kit. That being said, it is a superb kit.
As I'm looking to scratch build one as well as assemble the kit I bought from him, I purchased some clear sheet acrylic with the intent of fashioning the screen covers from it.
As for the flip portion, the keypad could be scratch made as well.
As I'm looking to scratch build one as well as assemble the kit I bought from him, I purchased some clear sheet acrylic with the intent of fashioning the screen covers from it.
As for the flip portion, the keypad could be scratch made as well.
EverybodyelsE
New Member
thedarkotaku
Member
why thank you for the compliment ^_^
KurtBergeron
Well-Known Member
First of all, I'm thankful for ANY working timer, as I'm electronically retarded. So I think anything that any of you has done is pretty great. It's more than I could do. THAT SAID, I would LOVE to see someone attempt the side switch, which I've never seen on any replica. The pictures of it have been posted on here before. It's on the right side of the timer, under neath the rubber grip as seen in the episode In Dino Veritas.
I do not believe that the original timer prop had this switch to begin with! As Quinn is clearly seen through season 1 hitting a button on the keypad to activate the vortex. In later episodes, the timer is held up (door closed) and that side button is pressed in to activate the vortex. One great example of it's use is Gillian of the Spirits. The professor is seen at the beginning and end of the episode, switching it on in the rain and after Gillian informs him to reverse the polarities on the spectrometer. You can actually hear the clicks of him pulling the switch down to turn on the timer.
So here's my theory as to how this switch works (on the prop), and what it actually is...
I believe that the switch has three positions.
Position 1 (or the "top") position. The timer is off. That's it.
Position 2 (middle) The countdown is off and the LED bars are not scrolling to save battery. HOWEVER! The countdown colons are still flashing (keeping the count) I also assume that the upper and bottom LED bars are lit, it's just not scrolling as well as the upper and lower side lights. But I would have to go back and look at this to be sure. An example of this can be seen in the episode "The Young and the Relentless." Quinn picks the timer up, which was upside down on a glass table. He looks at it with fear/disgust for how much time is left....but he can't read it, only the colons are flashing, there's no countdown on the display (Nice acting Jerry). Additionally, (also in In Dino Veritas) in that same shot that shows the switch...it ALSO has just blinking colons.
Position 3 (Bottom position) The timer is go. All on. If it's being turned on for the first time, it could be designed to run through the genser start up. I'm not sure if the actual prop did this or not. I KNOW IT DID THE START UP (before I get yelled at)
but I DON'T KNOW that the prop did it on it's own, at start up, or if it's something that the show makers were able to make it do when they needed it. That might make some people mad lol I don't know, but let's be honest, it's a show, and a prop. The fact that Don Colie's timer does this start up when turned on is amazing!
NEXT!! That same switch that slides up and down, can also be pressed in. In the bottom position, while pressed in, the switch activates the lights at the top of the timer to turn on the vortex.
FIN
Now what is it? WELL....I think it's part of the Motorola family I've never owned one, but while cleaning out an attic at an apartment complex, I found an old Motorola Pager...and there it was. A switch on the top that had 3 positions and could be pressed in to select pager options/functions.
@thedarkotaku you're definitely on the right track with yours. It's fun to watch your progress. If I can add ONE THING, which isn't to be mean and it MIGHT be something you already know! WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE to speed up those colons? Right now your colons flash with each second. Which is still great. In the show however, the colons flash twice per second. They flash as the number change (in sync like you have it) then they flash again. When they flash AGAIN it's a number change. Then they flash again (without the number changing) then they flash again with a number change (if that makes sense). In the pilot episode, when Quinn activates the timer early because of the tornado, you can see how the colons interact with the side lights as well. A long time ago, when I was first contemplating this project I drew it all out on a map, but like I said <- electronically retarded.
I do not believe that the original timer prop had this switch to begin with! As Quinn is clearly seen through season 1 hitting a button on the keypad to activate the vortex. In later episodes, the timer is held up (door closed) and that side button is pressed in to activate the vortex. One great example of it's use is Gillian of the Spirits. The professor is seen at the beginning and end of the episode, switching it on in the rain and after Gillian informs him to reverse the polarities on the spectrometer. You can actually hear the clicks of him pulling the switch down to turn on the timer.
So here's my theory as to how this switch works (on the prop), and what it actually is...
I believe that the switch has three positions.
Position 1 (or the "top") position. The timer is off. That's it.
Position 2 (middle) The countdown is off and the LED bars are not scrolling to save battery. HOWEVER! The countdown colons are still flashing (keeping the count) I also assume that the upper and bottom LED bars are lit, it's just not scrolling as well as the upper and lower side lights. But I would have to go back and look at this to be sure. An example of this can be seen in the episode "The Young and the Relentless." Quinn picks the timer up, which was upside down on a glass table. He looks at it with fear/disgust for how much time is left....but he can't read it, only the colons are flashing, there's no countdown on the display (Nice acting Jerry). Additionally, (also in In Dino Veritas) in that same shot that shows the switch...it ALSO has just blinking colons.
Position 3 (Bottom position) The timer is go. All on. If it's being turned on for the first time, it could be designed to run through the genser start up. I'm not sure if the actual prop did this or not. I KNOW IT DID THE START UP (before I get yelled at)
but I DON'T KNOW that the prop did it on it's own, at start up, or if it's something that the show makers were able to make it do when they needed it. That might make some people mad lol I don't know, but let's be honest, it's a show, and a prop. The fact that Don Colie's timer does this start up when turned on is amazing!NEXT!! That same switch that slides up and down, can also be pressed in. In the bottom position, while pressed in, the switch activates the lights at the top of the timer to turn on the vortex.
FIN
Now what is it? WELL....I think it's part of the Motorola family
I've never owned one, but while cleaning out an attic at an apartment complex, I found an old Motorola Pager...and there it was. A switch on the top that had 3 positions and could be pressed in to select pager options/functions. @thedarkotaku you're definitely on the right track with yours. It's fun to watch your progress. If I can add ONE THING, which isn't to be mean and it MIGHT be something you already know! WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE to speed up those colons? Right now your colons flash with each second. Which is still great. In the show however, the colons flash twice per second. They flash as the number change (in sync like you have it) then they flash again. When they flash AGAIN it's a number change. Then they flash again (without the number changing) then they flash again with a number change (if that makes sense). In the pilot episode, when Quinn activates the timer early because of the tornado, you can see how the colons interact with the side lights as well. A long time ago, when I was first contemplating this project I drew it all out on a map, but like I said <- electronically retarded.
Last edited:
Great Post.
But most of all , what I don't understand is why is it so hard to replicate something from 17 years ago.....
Like many before me I have searched for an Original timer , in the late 1990's I contacted Thermalized Plastics , only to be told they stopped making them .
I also Contacted Don Collie only to be told that he was currently busy and to contact him later , which i did with no reply.
Over the last 10 years there have been glimmers of hope only for them to dissapear.
I have a static Egyptian Timer and Thermal's Original Timer Case ( which is fantasic )
But I can't get my head around the fact that there is nowwhere to purchase an Original Sliders Timer.
There is obviously a market for it .
Not only me but also people that look and don't post and people who don't know where to look .
I would'nt expect that the only people interested are members of this forum.
And "thedarkotaku" has come close...
But also I'm electronically disadvantaged.
But most of all , what I don't understand is why is it so hard to replicate something from 17 years ago.....
Like many before me I have searched for an Original timer , in the late 1990's I contacted Thermalized Plastics , only to be told they stopped making them .
I also Contacted Don Collie only to be told that he was currently busy and to contact him later , which i did with no reply.
Over the last 10 years there have been glimmers of hope only for them to dissapear.
I have a static Egyptian Timer and Thermal's Original Timer Case ( which is fantasic )
But I can't get my head around the fact that there is nowwhere to purchase an Original Sliders Timer.
There is obviously a market for it .
Not only me but also people that look and don't post and people who don't know where to look .
I would'nt expect that the only people interested are members of this forum.
And "thedarkotaku" has come close...
But also I'm electronically disadvantaged.
KurtBergeron
Well-Known Member
Two additional thoughts for timer replicas.
Somewhere on one of these timer forums (maybe this one) ...someone pointed out the "black bar" that exists between the phone and the battery. I think it barreled down to "your guess is as good as mine" I've only seen evidence of this on one replica, which was actually an extended Motorola battery that was available at the time.
It's possible that this particular extended battery ran on regular batteries OR was molded and used to give the electronics guys more space to work with. Anyone who's seen the inside of this phone is aware that although it may look large, there's about zero working room.
In many instances the back of the phone is removed from the timer on the show and it's definitely hollow,
so it had to of run on batteries or an external power source. I wish I remember the episode, but I do recall one shot which LOOKS like there's AA batteries in there that were painting or coated green to look like electronics,...and obviously, cover "Energizer"
Finally, the dial. This thing is SMALL and I've searched for it FOREVER. It's small enough that Quinn is only able to get the very tips of his fingers/fingernails in there. So I don't know that it's actually a voltmeter dial as those all seem to be fairly large. It's not impossible, but I've looked a lot and I've never seen it, but I wanted to share my idea. A lot of people don't include the "swoosh"
Over the years the timer had (at least) 2 different version of this. Later versions had the yellow at the end, while the original only had the red.
Rather than using red led bulbs to "build up this light" which actually looks like, well,...what it is,..a series of led lights in a row....I'm wondering how difficult it would be to cut the shape for this swoosh out of the black box and install colored plastic (red and yellow, or just red, or whatever your preference)
Have a single light (or two) behind that "installation" to softly light the whole thing
Attached to the dial, glue on a thin (curved) plastic flap that blocks any light from from being seen through the swoosh. (Make the flap high enough that there's no light bleed, but small enough that it can still turn easily and not hit the inside walls of the black box.
However...the plastic flap does NOT go all the way around the dial so when the dial is turned, the light for the swoosh will be exposed, thus appearing to "grow" with the dial as you turn it, until you fully expose the light.
anywho...that's always been my idea.
Somewhere on one of these timer forums (maybe this one) ...someone pointed out the "black bar" that exists between the phone and the battery. I think it barreled down to "your guess is as good as mine"
I've only seen evidence of this on one replica, which was actually an extended Motorola battery that was available at the time.
It's possible that this particular extended battery ran on regular batteries OR was molded and used to give the electronics guys more space to work with. Anyone who's seen the inside of this phone is aware that although it may look large, there's about zero working room.
In many instances the back of the phone is removed from the timer on the show and it's definitely hollow,
so it had to of run on batteries or an external power source. I wish I remember the episode, but I do recall one shot which LOOKS like there's AA batteries in there that were painting or coated green to look like electronics,...and obviously, cover "Energizer"
Finally, the dial. This thing is SMALL and I've searched for it FOREVER. It's small enough that Quinn is only able to get the very tips of his fingers/fingernails in there. So I don't know that it's actually a voltmeter dial as those all seem to be fairly large. It's not impossible, but I've looked a lot and I've never seen it, but I wanted to share my idea. A lot of people don't include the "swoosh"
Over the years the timer had (at least) 2 different version of this. Later versions had the yellow at the end, while the original only had the red.
Rather than using red led bulbs to "build up this light" which actually looks like, well,...what it is,..a series of led lights in a row....I'm wondering how difficult it would be to cut the shape for this swoosh out of the black box and install colored plastic (red and yellow, or just red, or whatever your preference)
Have a single light (or two) behind that "installation" to softly light the whole thing
Attached to the dial, glue on a thin (curved) plastic flap that blocks any light from from being seen through the swoosh. (Make the flap high enough that there's no light bleed, but small enough that it can still turn easily and not hit the inside walls of the black box.
However...the plastic flap does NOT go all the way around the dial so when the dial is turned, the light for the swoosh will be exposed, thus appearing to "grow" with the dial as you turn it, until you fully expose the light.
anywho...that's always been my idea.
SD Studios
Well-Known Member
Well...I bought the correct phone for this a few years ago and I have been waiting for an upgrade set...
And waiting...
SOMEBODY better pony up some electronics and conversion parts or I am gonna get ANGRY.
And when I get ANGRY...
PEOPLE DIIIIE !!!!
:lol
But seriously...
There are obviously a number of people who want this (like me). Some SMART entrepreneur would see this as a fabulous opportunity and do a run.
sigh.
Oh well, I guess there is nobody like that here...
I guess I am talking to the wrong people...
I guess I was expecting more...
:lol
And waiting...
SOMEBODY better pony up some electronics and conversion parts or I am gonna get ANGRY.
And when I get ANGRY...
PEOPLE DIIIIE !!!!
:lol
But seriously...
There are obviously a number of people who want this (like me). Some SMART entrepreneur would see this as a fabulous opportunity and do a run.
sigh.
Oh well, I guess there is nobody like that here...
I guess I am talking to the wrong people...
I guess I was expecting more...
:lol
I've wanted a Timer ever since the pilot :-(. thank god for Hulu, every sunday is Sliders day at my house, try to watch 4 to 6 hours of it on sunday lol.
Hopefully there will be some sort of replica available for everyone in the future. I agree with everyone here, It would be mind blowing if replicas were made. The show has a cult following. Could you imagine what the Timer would look like if it were designed with today's technology? Man I love this show so much.
Hopefully there will be some sort of replica available for everyone in the future. I agree with everyone here, It would be mind blowing if replicas were made. The show has a cult following. Could you imagine what the Timer would look like if it were designed with today's technology? Man I love this show so much.
Two additional thoughts for timer replicas.
Somewhere on one of these timer forums (maybe this one) ...someone pointed out the "black bar" that exists between the phone and the battery. I think it barreled down to "your guess is as good as mine"
It's possible that this particular extended battery ran on regular batteries OR was molded and used to give the electronics guys more space to work with. Anyone who's seen the inside of this phone is aware that although it may look large, there's about zero working room.
Thats a replica I made a LONG time ago, LOL. Yeah I noticed that sometimes the Timer had a black bar around it, and upon closer inspection I noticed it was thicker. This was not a special phone or battery, the phone comes apart in 2 pieces, I just used another back stacked on top
Last edited:
exoray
Master Member
External battery, the original prop builder posted this in another thread here...
It's certainly not spacious but there is plenty of room with current electronics...
It ran on external power...
I wish I remember the episode, but I do recall one shot which LOOKS like there's AA batteries in there that were painting or coated green to look like electronics,...and obviously, cover "Energizer"
When you push the math, based on the original builders description of how it worked, you soon realize it's HUGE power hog... There are ways around that when you are not building a device that will be filmed, and with LiPo cells you can get a lot of bang for volume now with batteries...
That is the logical approach, and how many of these types of dial meters work...
Similar threads
