Comments on: Jar of fireflies http://hackaday.com/2008/10/18/jar-of-fireflies/ Fresh hacks every day Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:49:57 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: PaulBo http://hackaday.com/2008/10/18/jar-of-fireflies/comment-page-1/#comment-79204 PaulBo Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:17:10 +0000 http://hackadaycom.wordpress.com/?p=4951#comment-79204 I know I'm late to the party, but this post (as well as the Instructables post) inspired me to give this a go too. Admittedly, I used standard (large) LEDs but added some shrinkydink to make up for it ;) http://fangletronics.blogspot.com/2009/05/jar-o-fireflies.html I also 'hacked' my fireflies to run off solar power after finding some dirt cheap solar-cells (with charging circuit) on allelectronics.com (http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/SPL-07/SOLAR-CELL-W/CHARGING-CIRCUIT-1-RED-LED/-/1.html) http://fangletronics.blogspot.com/2009/06/solar-powered-fireflies.html Those solar cells should be pretty useful for a number of projects (I bought 4 to play with). I know I’m late to the party, but this post (as well as the Instructables post) inspired me to give this a go too. Admittedly, I used standard (large) LEDs but added some shrinkydink to make up for it ;)

http://fangletronics.blogspot.com/2009/05/jar-o-fireflies.html

I also ‘hacked’ my fireflies to run off solar power after finding some dirt cheap solar-cells (with charging circuit) on allelectronics.com (http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/SPL-07/SOLAR-CELL-W/CHARGING-CIRCUIT-1-RED-LED/-/1.html)

http://fangletronics.blogspot.com/2009/06/solar-powered-fireflies.html

Those solar cells should be pretty useful for a number of projects (I bought 4 to play with).

]]> By: SJT http://hackaday.com/2008/10/18/jar-of-fireflies/comment-page-1/#comment-47003 SJT Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:08:03 +0000 http://hackadaycom.wordpress.com/?p=4951#comment-47003 Take a look at FireflyMagic.com/jar for the original "Fireflies in a Jar Kit". They supply these devices to theme parks, zoos, nature centers, museums, and to stage productions, movies, and magicians. Their 'Fireflies in a Jar' were recently used in the Tennessee Williams play a Rose Tattoo at the National Theatre of London. They also have 'Fireflies in a Jar" that operate on rechargeable batteries and have a solar panel on top of the jar for solar recharge. And, they even build battery powered units for Universities for use in the field to lure in real fireflies. Firefly Magic has been acknowledged in scientific papers for their work in this area, and for their patented technology that accurately recreates firefly flash patterns. Take a look at FireflyMagic.com/jar for the original “Fireflies in a Jar Kit”.

They supply these devices to theme parks, zoos, nature centers, museums, and to stage productions, movies, and magicians.

Their ‘Fireflies in a Jar’ were recently used in the Tennessee Williams play a Rose Tattoo at the National Theatre of London.

They also have ‘Fireflies in a Jar” that operate on rechargeable batteries and have a solar panel on top of the jar for solar recharge.

And, they even build battery powered units for Universities for use in the field to lure in real fireflies. Firefly Magic has been acknowledged in scientific papers for their work in this area, and for their patented technology that accurately recreates firefly flash patterns.

]]> By: anon http://hackaday.com/2008/10/18/jar-of-fireflies/comment-page-1/#comment-46681 anon Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:07:06 +0000 http://hackadaycom.wordpress.com/?p=4951#comment-46681 you should rig up a fan in the jar so that the lights move around, simulating firefly flight. you should rig up a fan in the jar so that the lights move around, simulating firefly flight.

]]> By: AC http://hackaday.com/2008/10/18/jar-of-fireflies/comment-page-1/#comment-46639 AC Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:40:01 +0000 http://hackadaycom.wordpress.com/?p=4951#comment-46639 If I recall from my days of catching fireflies in a jar, when one would light, they'd all light up, so you'd have an entire jar lighting. Fireflies exhibit the random lighting only when they're out in the wild. Put them all together and they make a nice momentary lamp. If I recall from my days of catching fireflies in a jar, when one would light, they’d all light up, so you’d have an entire jar lighting.

Fireflies exhibit the random lighting only when they’re out in the wild. Put them all together and they make a nice momentary lamp.

]]> By: cde http://hackaday.com/2008/10/18/jar-of-fireflies/comment-page-1/#comment-46610 cde Mon, 20 Oct 2008 03:21:07 +0000 http://hackadaycom.wordpress.com/?p=4951#comment-46610 @ Diy2: No, they remove it because you belittle hackaday while telling people your crap site is better. @ Diy2: No, they remove it because you belittle hackaday while telling people your crap site is better.

]]> By: diy2345 http://hackaday.com/2008/10/18/jar-of-fireflies/comment-page-1/#comment-46575 diy2345 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 21:12:59 +0000 http://hackadaycom.wordpress.com/?p=4951#comment-46575 Hackaday keeps on removing my posts just because they have bad feedback. click on my name below to visit a website that allows comments of all kinds Hackaday keeps on removing my posts just because they have bad feedback. click on my name below to visit a website that allows comments of all kinds

]]> By: jim http://hackaday.com/2008/10/18/jar-of-fireflies/comment-page-1/#comment-46541 jim Sun, 19 Oct 2008 17:00:51 +0000 http://hackadaycom.wordpress.com/?p=4951#comment-46541 i read the instructables one first; and yeah it's a much better article and hack shame on you! i read the instructables one first; and yeah it’s a much better article and hack

shame on you!

]]> By: randomskk http://hackaday.com/2008/10/18/jar-of-fireflies/comment-page-1/#comment-46466 randomskk Sun, 19 Oct 2008 09:33:49 +0000 http://hackadaycom.wordpress.com/?p=4951#comment-46466 It could definitely do with some thinner wire, but in the dark you can't really see the wires anyway, so it does still work fairly well. A solar panel would be a nice addition too (I might pick up some small calculator ones and rig them up so they sit on top of the jar), but as it's kept indoors I doubt it'd get much light. An outdoors version with LEDs rigged to plants could really benefit from a medium sized panel hidden somewhere, though! frollard: the idea is the same, but the implementation is pretty different - the one at instructables has multiple songs and lights up a few at once, but takes ten times as much code (so needs an attiny45) and only controls six LEDs. I still think having 12 LEDs controlled by 5 pins and still having hardware PWM control of all of them is interesting, even if it is basically charlieplexing. It could definitely do with some thinner wire, but in the dark you can’t really see the wires anyway, so it does still work fairly well.

A solar panel would be a nice addition too (I might pick up some small calculator ones and rig them up so they sit on top of the jar), but as it’s kept indoors I doubt it’d get much light. An outdoors version with LEDs rigged to plants could really benefit from a medium sized panel hidden somewhere, though!

frollard: the idea is the same, but the implementation is pretty different – the one at instructables has multiple songs and lights up a few at once, but takes ten times as much code (so needs an attiny45) and only controls six LEDs. I still think having 12 LEDs controlled by 5 pins and still having hardware PWM control of all of them is interesting, even if it is basically charlieplexing.

]]> By: Frollard http://hackaday.com/2008/10/18/jar-of-fireflies/comment-page-1/#comment-46455 Frollard Sun, 19 Oct 2008 08:49:10 +0000 http://hackadaycom.wordpress.com/?p=4951#comment-46455 Thats what the original uses...check the instrucatble link. Thats what the original uses…check the instrucatble link.

]]> By: Tim http://hackaday.com/2008/10/18/jar-of-fireflies/comment-page-1/#comment-46453 Tim Sun, 19 Oct 2008 08:43:02 +0000 http://hackadaycom.wordpress.com/?p=4951#comment-46453 Would benefit from thinner wires. Like 30 gauge enameled wire Would benefit from thinner wires.

Like 30 gauge enameled wire

]]> By: Haku http://hackaday.com/2008/10/18/jar-of-fireflies/comment-page-1/#comment-46374 Haku Sun, 19 Oct 2008 02:49:33 +0000 http://hackadaycom.wordpress.com/?p=4951#comment-46374 Yes, why wasn't the first fireflies-in-a-jar projected presented instead of this? Also, this idea is begging for the addition of a solar cell & charging circuit extracted from a solar garden light - fireflies that appear every night without the need to replace batteries. Yes, why wasn’t the first fireflies-in-a-jar projected presented instead of this?

Also, this idea is begging for the addition of a solar cell & charging circuit extracted from a solar garden light – fireflies that appear every night without the need to replace batteries.

]]> By: Frollard http://hackaday.com/2008/10/18/jar-of-fireflies/comment-page-1/#comment-46362 Frollard Sun, 19 Oct 2008 02:15:14 +0000 http://hackadaycom.wordpress.com/?p=4951#comment-46362 I feel this [blog entry] is a total pile of crap. Granted you acknowledge the original idea on instructables; but why not feature the original (and far better) jar of fireflies, and say 'this other guy did it too' instead of saying 'this guy built a version of this other guys idea'. Just my humble opinion. I feel this [blog entry] is a total pile of crap. Granted you acknowledge the original idea on instructables; but why not feature the original (and far better) jar of fireflies, and say ‘this other guy did it too’ instead of saying ‘this guy built a version of this other guys idea’.

Just my humble opinion.

]]> By: YoYo-Pete http://hackaday.com/2008/10/18/jar-of-fireflies/comment-page-1/#comment-46353 YoYo-Pete Sun, 19 Oct 2008 01:35:44 +0000 http://hackadaycom.wordpress.com/?p=4951#comment-46353 Wonderful... Childhood memories. Phase two should add an actuator that moves the wires, letting the positioning also be as random as the patterns. Wonderful… Childhood memories. Phase two should add an actuator that moves the wires, letting the positioning also be as random as the patterns.

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