I want to create a customized Settlers of Catan board. For the purposes of this question, it could also be a custom Monopoly board. I want the pieces ( cities / hotels ) to light up when they are placed on the board. I know I would put LED's in each piece, but besides that, I am not sure if or how I could power up the LED's. I am not an electrical engineer, but magnets, watch batteries or inductive charging sound good to me. Help me make an awesome electronic board game!
posted by jasondigitized on Sep 4, 2009 - 8 answers

Table Hockey in the dark? [more inside]
posted by DrAlbin on Aug 5, 2009 - 5 answers

Electronics/LED Folks: I bought a few cheap, poorly-assembled LED color-changing orb-things and I'm pretty sure they're the coolest objects I have ever owned. I cracked 'em open, and damned if I know what is going on in there, but it looks simple/cheap as all hell. Help me figure it out, I'll post a build-log/parts list somewhere, and in short-order we can all be ass-deep in home-made, disarmingly sublime mood-lighting. [more inside]
posted by jjjjjjjijjjjjjj on Nov 18, 2008 - 28 answers

Where to buy electronic scrolling LED message sign ... in person? [more inside]
posted by msacheson on Jul 22, 2008 - 4 answers

Where around socal can I meet other aspiring electronic do-it-yourselfers? [backyard imagineering] [more inside]
posted by tarthur on Jul 19, 2008 - 6 answers

I'm looking for a simple, small and cheap way of measuring acceleration. Basically, I want to make a set of LEDs light up if they are accelerated significantly, becoming brighter the faster the acceleration happens. [more inside]
posted by Zarkonnen on Nov 13, 2007 - 13 answers

Need some help designing and building LED light strips for an interactive table -- help me select 880nm IR LEDs, understand the circuitry, and figure out how to deal with power. [more inside]
posted by warhol on Mar 3, 2007 - 23 answers

Where can I find a large (> 6 ft.) segmented LED display? [more inside]
posted by ostranenie on Jul 26, 2006 - 4 answers

ElectronicsFilter: How can I drive a LED as a light-emitter *and* a photo-diode simultaneously? [more inside]
posted by stungeye on Feb 15, 2006 - 30 answers

After a trip to BestHongKong, I find myself with 1000 5mm red LEDs. What should I do with them? [more inside]
posted by Neon on Apr 20, 2005 - 10 answers

I've got an idea for a costume for Burningman, but I'm going to need a bit of electrical help to figure it out. I want to use A set of LED's like these connected to cheap hobby quality fiber optic cable ala This sort of chintzy stuff. [more inside]
posted by Freen on Mar 10, 2005 - 16 answers

My little boy wants to be a robot for Halloween, and I'd like to include a 60's style bank of randomly blinking lights on his robot chest. Cardboard and spraypaint I know and can work with; electronics, not so much. Is there a fairly easy and cheap way to do such a thing? [more inside]
posted by crumbly on Oct 26, 2004 - 8 answers

I want to learn how to make simple electronics, like LED controllers that I can hook up to a serial port. Can anyone recommend a book to get started with? [more inside] [more inside]
posted by krunk on Aug 29, 2004 - 13 answers

Electronics filter: Need to build something that'll light up different LEDs via radio frequency. Must be compact and battery powered. My electronics-fu is pretty good, but I'm not sure it's this good... [mi] [more inside]
posted by SpecialK on Aug 9, 2004 - 16 answers