Dean wanna be
New Member
Those are way better pics then I was looking at. That will really help to get a more complete EMF built. I LOVE the arduino idea. I ordered one to play with my self (the arduino not my self).
Supernatural EMF detector
- Thread starter kysupernatural
- Start date
kysupernatural
Well-Known Member
:lol Now that was funny.....:thumbsup Really glad to hear the pics will help you in building the EMF...can't wait for future build updates.
FriedGeek
New Member
Just some small progress made this weekend. Worked out the dimensions of the circuit board used in the prop and some other interesting bits.
Here's a rotated and exposure adjusted version of the best image I've got. Trying to bring out some of the details on the components in the shadows.
Currently focusing on sources for:
Project Page
Here's a rotated and exposure adjusted version of the best image I've got. Trying to bring out some of the details on the components in the shadows.
Currently focusing on sources for:
- Protoboard
- Bottom toggle switch
- Analog meter
- Antenne
Project Page
Dean wanna be
New Member
Great research!
kysupernatural
Well-Known Member
LOVING the updates on this. :thumbsup
FriedGeek
New Member
I'v realized it would be helpful have as accurate measurements as I can for the parts used in the screen EMF. When filtering through 2347 toggle switches from just one supplier it helps to know how long the the lever is.
I again used the 5mm LEDs as my point of reference and then created a calibrated photoshop document with what I'm calling my hero image rotated so the EMF is horizontal and then scaled so that the LEDs in the image measure 5mm in photoshop. Since this image is close to straight on this gives a pretty good calibration to use in measuring the other components.
From here I've highlighted and measured each of the main components. So here's the details in image form.
I've also got some notes on the 'Red Toggle Switch' (#2 on my parts list)
These should at least help me narrow the search to items that are close to these measurements. I'm still not convinced that the protoboard isn't actually square.
I'm realizing that the biggest challenge of this is going to be deciding how close to screen accurate I can get without spending $600 buying 200 of THAT perfect switch or what-have-you. :eek I know some electronics suppliers are happy to send samples of some components, sometimes even free. I'm contemplating trying to get a dialog going with Chris Cooper the propsmaster from the show.
I again used the 5mm LEDs as my point of reference and then created a calibrated photoshop document with what I'm calling my hero image rotated so the EMF is horizontal and then scaled so that the LEDs in the image measure 5mm in photoshop. Since this image is close to straight on this gives a pretty good calibration to use in measuring the other components.
From here I've highlighted and measured each of the main components. So here's the details in image form.
I've also got some notes on the 'Red Toggle Switch' (#2 on my parts list)
These should at least help me narrow the search to items that are close to these measurements. I'm still not convinced that the protoboard isn't actually square.
I'm realizing that the biggest challenge of this is going to be deciding how close to screen accurate I can get without spending $600 buying 200 of THAT perfect switch or what-have-you. :eek I know some electronics suppliers are happy to send samples of some components, sometimes even free. I'm contemplating trying to get a dialog going with Chris Cooper the propsmaster from the show.
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FriedGeek
New Member
Aerial Antenna
From my blog:
I can just imagine Chris Cooper, prop master for Supernatural, sitting down to try and build an Electromagnetic field detector/meter that would need to look like 'something built from parts of other things'. I'm sure he'd do what first came to my mind, go to the local GoodWill store, buy some old electronics crap and start pulling stuff together.
In researching this part of the prop I realized that something that was part of my childhood technology is now pretty much gone. The shiny chrome telescoping antenna. Growing up it was, along with the ever present 9v battery, a sign of high tech communications equipment. The hand held CBs, the G.I.Joe or StarWars walkie talkie, and later the cordless telephone were all bricks of magical wires that pushed and pulled sounds out of the air via that shinny telescoping wand.
For years I remember cordless phones having that telescoping wand with a knobbed collar that if you twisted, you could unscrew the antenna and remove it completely. No one uses those phones anymore. Hell, I haven't owned a land line phone for four years! So it is little wonder why RadioShack doesn't stock replacement antennas for twenty year old cordless phones.
It does however look like Amazon has a lead on someone with a box of old AT&T cordless phone antennas.
I think I'm going to have to start making more hunting trips to my local thrift shops looking for old cordless phones.
From my blog:
I can just imagine Chris Cooper, prop master for Supernatural, sitting down to try and build an Electromagnetic field detector/meter that would need to look like 'something built from parts of other things'. I'm sure he'd do what first came to my mind, go to the local GoodWill store, buy some old electronics crap and start pulling stuff together.
In researching this part of the prop I realized that something that was part of my childhood technology is now pretty much gone. The shiny chrome telescoping antenna. Growing up it was, along with the ever present 9v battery, a sign of high tech communications equipment. The hand held CBs, the G.I.Joe or StarWars walkie talkie, and later the cordless telephone were all bricks of magical wires that pushed and pulled sounds out of the air via that shinny telescoping wand.
For years I remember cordless phones having that telescoping wand with a knobbed collar that if you twisted, you could unscrew the antenna and remove it completely. No one uses those phones anymore. Hell, I haven't owned a land line phone for four years! So it is little wonder why RadioShack doesn't stock replacement antennas for twenty year old cordless phones.
It does however look like Amazon has a lead on someone with a box of old AT&T cordless phone antennas.
I think I'm going to have to start making more hunting trips to my local thrift shops looking for old cordless phones.
kysupernatural
Well-Known Member
Hey guys just checking in on the progree on this. Hey Jason, LOVE your blog...amazing detail you have on picking this thing apart...I did however notice something. On your red toggle switch is the minim really 200? Looks like the price break is at 200...but on the description below it says standard package was 25....doe that mean you can get 1 package with 25 of them? Was hoping so. Hope to hear and see some updates from you 2 soon. Take care.
Dean wanna be
New Member
It's going slow here. I'm working with a print shop to get the screen right. also picked up newer components to use. And have a programer friend to help build in circuitry to make every thing work like it should based off the arduino. It then is a mater of getting it all spaced together and looking good. I am only for getting "as close as" There were so many diff ones used on the show and looking at pics there is always something diff from one to the other.. So this will be an EMF by design it will look like one from SUPERNATURAL.. will it be 100% screen accurate?... Nope! But I dont think anyone really can get 100% so Im just going to use the "as close as" I can get materials and still have fun with it. I hoping in Nov I'll have more time to put into it. Also my print shop is going to do a run of POWER CLEAN w/ BORAX sticker labels to put over containers.
kysupernatural
Well-Known Member
SOUNDS GOOD TO ME :thumbsup :love
BULLITTS
Active Member
Geek... count me in if you start selling these!
I'v realized it would be helpful have as accurate measurements as I can for the parts used in the screen EMF. When filtering through 2347 toggle switches from just one supplier it helps to know how long the the lever is.
I again used the 5mm LEDs as my point of reference and then created a calibrated photoshop document with what I'm calling my hero image rotated so the EMF is horizontal and then scaled so that the LEDs in the image measure 5mm in photoshop. Since this image is close to straight on this gives a pretty good calibration to use in measuring the other components.
From here I've highlighted and measured each of the main components. So here's the details in image form.
I've also got some notes on the 'Red Toggle Switch' (#2 on my parts list)
These should at least help me narrow the search to items that are close to these measurements. I'm still not convinced that the protoboard isn't actually square.
I'm realizing that the biggest challenge of this is going to be deciding how close to screen accurate I can get without spending $600 buying 200 of THAT perfect switch or what-have-you. :eek I know some electronics suppliers are happy to send samples of some components, sometimes even free. I'm contemplating trying to get a dialog going with Chris Cooper the propsmaster from the show.
FriedGeek
New Member
Re: Supernatural EMF detector - Clue to the prototype board maker
Finding a prototyping board like that used in the screen prop has been driving me nuts. However I have found a clue that I hope to get some help with. I found a partial name or logo on the board itself. This can only be seen in a few frames from two episodes, Long Distance Call(3.14) and Hollywood Babylon(2.18). It is in the lower right corner, just under the red toggle switch. A few of the letters are obscured by the switch but it appears to be block lettering of “?S??TAX”.
Anyone have some electronics friends who would recognize the name?
Finding a prototyping board like that used in the screen prop has been driving me nuts. However I have found a clue that I hope to get some help with. I found a partial name or logo on the board itself. This can only be seen in a few frames from two episodes, Long Distance Call(3.14) and Hollywood Babylon(2.18). It is in the lower right corner, just under the red toggle switch. A few of the letters are obscured by the switch but it appears to be block lettering of “?S??TAX”.
Anyone have some electronics friends who would recognize the name?
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kysupernatural
Well-Known Member
Re: Supernatural EMF detector - Clue to the prototype board maker
Dont have a clue, but will start looking. How sure are you that the last 3 letters are TAX? That will give me a base to go off from.
Finding a prototyping board like that used in the screen prop has been driving me nuts. However I have found a clue that I hope to get some help with. I found a partial name or logo on the board itself. This can only be seen in a few frames from two episodes, Long Distance Call(3.14) and Hollywood Babylon(2.18). It is in the lower right corner, just under the red toggle switch. A few of the letters are obscured by the switch but it appears to be block lettering of “?S??TAX”.
Anyone have some electronics friends who would recognize the name?
Dont have a clue, but will start looking. How sure are you that the last 3 letters are TAX? That will give me a base to go off from.
FriedGeek
New Member
Re: Supernatural EMF detector - Clue to the prototype board maker
I'd say 90% sure. In the left image you can clearly see the A who's apex points almost to the corner of the toggle switch housing and what appears to be an X. The shadow of the single wire coming over that corner crosses the middle of the X.
In the right image you can again clearly see the A, the curving wire and what looks to be half of the X. On the other side of the A another letter form can be seen. To me it looks like a T.
The collar of the toggle sits over what looks to be two letters and then what looks like a S can be seen to the left of the toggle's collar. There is no indication if the S is the start of the name/word or if there are any letters that come before the S.
_ S _ _ TAX or S _ _ TAX
I've pulled the source images I've been able to find into Photoshop and run several adjustments and filters to try and bring out anymore details but due to the angles, shadows, and limited pixel data in the shadows of the screen shots nothing more valuable appeared.
In the right image, you can see part of a letter shape beside the S, just under the collar. To me it looks almost like a Y.
_ SY_TAX or SY_TAX???
I'd say 90% sure. In the left image you can clearly see the A who's apex points almost to the corner of the toggle switch housing and what appears to be an X. The shadow of the single wire coming over that corner crosses the middle of the X.
In the right image you can again clearly see the A, the curving wire and what looks to be half of the X. On the other side of the A another letter form can be seen. To me it looks like a T.
The collar of the toggle sits over what looks to be two letters and then what looks like a S can be seen to the left of the toggle's collar. There is no indication if the S is the start of the name/word or if there are any letters that come before the S.
_ S _ _ TAX or S _ _ TAX
I've pulled the source images I've been able to find into Photoshop and run several adjustments and filters to try and bring out anymore details but due to the angles, shadows, and limited pixel data in the shadows of the screen shots nothing more valuable appeared.
In the right image, you can see part of a letter shape beside the S, just under the collar. To me it looks almost like a Y.
_ SY_TAX or SY_TAX???
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kysupernatural
Well-Known Member
HITEX is at least one that has a X on the end..lol
I'm going to keep looking...:love
I'm going to keep looking...:love
kysupernatural
Well-Known Member
still looking but havent seen anything that matches to those letters...but not giving up.
kysupernatural
Well-Known Member
Happy Thanksgiving everyone and bumping to see if there's any new updates?
An Astronaut
New Member
In which case the PCB is almost certainly made by SYNTAX (who make pcbs).
zodiac
Well-Known Member
I'd be cool with buying an "as close as" version, they've come out great so far!
Any chance of getting a list of the parts you used that worked so far?
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