Introduction: Screaming Trash Bin Prank
Here's an easy and cheap prank for April fools day, or any day!
Almost any bin can be hacked to scream when opened using just some easily modifyable electronics and a limit switch.
This prank had to happen to have a use for the noise maker from a flying/screaming ThinkGeek monkey bought by Mikeasaurus. After flying around the Instructables office, spilling coffee and making far too much noise, threats were made on its life and so it had to be silenced.
Almost any bin can be hacked to scream when opened using just some easily modifyable electronics and a limit switch.
This prank had to happen to have a use for the noise maker from a flying/screaming ThinkGeek monkey bought by Mikeasaurus. After flying around the Instructables office, spilling coffee and making far too much noise, threats were made on its life and so it had to be silenced.
Step 1: Tools & Materials
Tools:
Materials:
- a drill/braddle
- soldering iron
- a glue gun
Materials:
- a screaming/yelling toy
- solder
- a limit switch (Normally Closed)
- small length of wire
Step 2: Operate
The motion activated noise makers from lots of novelty toys are PERFECT for this project. Items like ThinkGeek's screaming monkey and other slingshot screaming toys off Amazon have small circuit boards, loud speakers and easy to get into electronics.
Mikeasaurus bought this one, it got annoying fast in an office environment so it's electronics had to go.
Carefully slit along one of the seams, remove the noise maker and then sew it back up. You now have a super stealth monkey AND a noise maker.
Mikeasaurus bought this one, it got annoying fast in an office environment so it's electronics had to go.
Carefully slit along one of the seams, remove the noise maker and then sew it back up. You now have a super stealth monkey AND a noise maker.
Step 3: Modify the Electronics
Now, for the toy I'm modifying at least, the electronics comes in a rather handy enclosure.
I decided to keep the enclosure and just remove the component that triggers it when the monkey hits something. It's simply a spring in a metal shield. When the monkey hits something, the spring carries on moving and completes the circuit by touching the metal shield around it.
Remove these components and replace each with a wire.
Drill a hole in the enclosure, thread these wires out and then close it back up again. When the two wires are touched together, the screaming will be triggered.
I decided to keep the enclosure and just remove the component that triggers it when the monkey hits something. It's simply a spring in a metal shield. When the monkey hits something, the spring carries on moving and completes the circuit by touching the metal shield around it.
Remove these components and replace each with a wire.
Drill a hole in the enclosure, thread these wires out and then close it back up again. When the two wires are touched together, the screaming will be triggered.
Step 4: Modify the Bin
This step depends heavily upon the design of your bin. You could be more careful than I and hide the limit switch better, but I decided that by the time they see the switch, the prank will be complete anyway.
I glued my limit switch just inside the lid with hot glue. When the lid opens, the limit switch lever springs up, closing the circuit and making the monkey scream.
I glued my limit switch just inside the lid with hot glue. When the lid opens, the limit switch lever springs up, closing the circuit and making the monkey scream.
Step 5: Lay in Wait...
Now's time to lay in wait!