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Fun with Lego 9Volt Lamp Bricks
Old-school Lego "electric brick" technology meets Lego Mindstorms NXT technology. These are simple projects (complete with programs) that demonstrate how the NXT can be used to control Lego 9Volt Lamp Bricks.

In order to do these projects, if you have the retail kit, you'll need:
-1 by 2 Lamp Brick 9V, available from the legoeducation.com website. (Product ID W970005)
-NXT Conversion Cable, also available from legoeducation.com. (Product ID W770323)
The Education NXT Base Set has the lamps and cables needed for these projects.

Software wise, you'll need to check and see if you have the Legacy Blocks from Lego in the NXT software.

SETUP FOR ALL PROJECTS
Download all the programs. Chose which setup you want to build and then construct the setup as shown in the photo. Install the program that corresponds to the setup you just constructed on your NXT.

I am not including LDD files for two reasons:
1.) As of the posting of this project, I can't get Lego Digital Designer to work on my computer.
2.) The design of the light structures doesn't really matter. You can use the photos that I've provided, or you can use your own imagination.

Photos:
1.) Two Lamp Bricks come in one package.
2.) A Lego 9V Lamp Brick plugged directly into a 9Volt Battery Box, creating a simple Lego flashlight.
3.) A simple setup, using a conversion cable, with the NXT powering a lamp brick.

Posted by:

 NXDave

Created:

 26 December 2008

Rate:

 

Tags:(?):

 fun, simple, light, lamp, sensor, sensors, nxt, dark

Lamp

Program Description: This program waits for you to press the orange NXT Enter button. When you press it, the lamp brick connected to motor port A will turn on. To turn off the lamp, press the orange Enter button again. Hardware Needed: -1 NXT Intelligent Brick -1 NXT Conversion Cable -1 1 by 2 Lamp Brick Hardware Setup: Build the structure in the photo or create your own. Plug the NXT Conversion Cable into Motor Port A on your NXT. Connect the 1 by 2 Lamp Brick to the other end of the cable.

Flasher

Program Description: This program turns the lamp on and off repeatedly. The lamp is on for one half second, and then it is off for half a second. Hardware Needed: -1 NXT Intelligent Brick -1 NXT Conversion Cable -1 1 by 2 Lamp Brick Hardware Setup: Build the structure in the photo or create your own. Plug the NXT Conversion Cable into Motor Port A on your NXT. Connect the 1 by 2 Lamp Brick to the other end of the cable.

Dual Flasher

Program Description: This program alternates both lamps on and off. Lamp A is on for one half second while Lamp B is off for one half second. Then Lamp A turns off for half a second while Lamp B turns on for half a second. The cycle repeats. Hardware Needed: -1 NXT Intelligent Brick -2 NXT Conversion Cables -2 1 by 2 Lamp Bricks Hardware Setup: Build the structure in the photo or create your own. (You don't need an Ultrasonic Sensor for this project). Plug one NXT Conversion Cable into Motor Port A on your NXT. Connect a 1 by 2 Lamp Brick to the other end of the cable. Plug the other NXT Conversion Cable into Motor Port B on your NXT. Connect the other 1 by 2 Lamp Brick to the other end of the cable.

Beacon

Program Description: A beacon is different from a flasher in that the light is usually off longer than it is on. Lamp A comes on only for 0.1 seconds and then turns off and stays off for 2 seconds. The cycle repeats. Hardware Needed: -1 NXT Intelligent Brick -1 NXT Conversion Cable -1 1 by 2 Lamp Brick Hardware Setup: Build the structure in the photo or create your own. Plug one NXT Conversion Cable into Motor Port A on your NXT. Connect a 1 by 2 Lamp Brick to the other end of the cable.

Candle

Program Description: This cool light effect mimics the flicker of a candle flame. The program comes up with a random voltage level and sends it to the lamp every 0.1 seconds. The range for the intensity of the lamp is 5 to 100. This way, the lamp will never be completely off to give a realistic candle effect. This is probably how battery operated (flameless) candles work. Hardware Needed: -1 NXT Intelligent Brick -1 NXT Conversion Cable -1 1 by 2 Lamp Brick Hardware Setup: Build the structure in the photo or create your own. Plug one NXT Conversion Cable into Motor Port A on your NXT. Connect a 1 by 2 Lamp Brick to the other end of the cable.

Dimmer

Program Description: This program works similar to the dimmer switches that control household light fixtures. The intensity of the lamp can be varied from off to full brightness. Press the Right NXT arrow button to make the lamp brighter. Press the Left NXT arrow button to reduce the lamp’s brightness. Hardware Needed: -1 NXT Intelligent Brick -1 NXT Conversion Cable -1 1 by 2 Lamp Brick Hardware Setup: Build the structure in the photo or create your own. Plug one NXT Conversion Cable into Motor Port A on your NXT. Connect a 1 by 2 Lamp Brick to the other end of the cable. For a challenge, see if you can use an NXT motor with a knob attached to control the lamp's brightness. Also, you could try to use the old, 9-volt rotation sensor. Unfortunately, I keep getting a Server Error every time I try to upload the program for this project, as if the program is too big. Keep looking back as I'll see what I can do.

Night Light

Program Description: This simple program works just like a real night light. Turn of the lights in the room and the Light Sensor will trigger the lamp to come on. Turn the lights in the room back on and the Light Sensor will trigger the lamp to turn off. Hardware Needed: -1 NXT Intelligent Brick -1 NXT Conversion Cable -1 NXT Cable (The shortest one) -1 1 by 2 Lamp Brick -1 Light Sensor Hardware Setup: Build the structure in the photo or create your own. Plug one NXT Conversion Cable into Motor Port A on your NXT. Connect a 1 by 2 Lamp Brick to the other end of the cable. Connect the Light Sensor to sensor port 3 on your NXT.

Motion Activated Light

Program Description: This program works like a motion detector light. If something passes in front of the Ultrasonic Sensor, it will trigger both lamps to come on. The lamps will stay on for half a minute (30 seconds) and then go off. The lamps will come on again if something passes the Ultrasonic Sensor. Hardware Needed: -1 NXT Intelligent Brick -1 NXT Cable (Doesn't matter what length, but the shortest one will not work with the structure in the photo.) -2 NXT Conversion Cables -2 1 by 2 Lamp Bricks -1 Ultrasonic Sensor Hardware Setup: Build the structure in the photo or create your own. Plug one NXT Conversion Cable into Motor Port A on your NXT. Connect a 1 by 2 Lamp Brick to the other end of the cable. Connect the Ultrasonic Sensor to sensor port 4 on your NXT.

Comments

10 most recent comments out of 16  [VIEW ALL]
  • b0kY

  • NXDave, when is your next project coming out and can you tell me what it will be?
    I'm a big fan of your projects and I especially like your Flattraxx,Clunker: The NXT Generation,Stryker III and The Shoebox project!
    Really can you tell me from where do you get your ideas? (And how do you get them)

  • Posted 1536 days and 20 hours ago


  • robodude2000

  • Hey NxDave, I heard you've been having problems uploading files to NXTLOG. Try going to Lego Universe [Mods, it's on lego.com,] at http://universe.lego.com/en-us/creationlab/Default.aspx . See if you can upload anything there.
    Glad to help! ------ robodude2000

  • Posted 1488 days and 12 hours ago


  • jobob635





  • robodude2000 said:Hey NxDave, I heard you've been having problems uploading files to NXTLOG. Try going to Lego Universe [Mods, it's on lego.com,] at http://universe.lego.com/en-us/creationlab/Default.aspx . See if you can upload anything there.
    Glad to help! ------ robodude2000 this is wrong lego universe is not
    the same as nxt log nxtlog may have probs and universe may not have a prob.

  • Posted 1466 days and 0 hours ago


  • robodude2000

  • jobob635 said: robodude2000 said:Hey NxDave, I heard you've been having problems uploading files to NXTLOG. Try going to Lego Universe [Mods, it's on lego.com,] at http://universe.lego.com/en-us/creationlab/Default.aspx . See if you can upload anything there.
    Glad to help! ------ robodude2000 this is wrong lego universe is not
    the same as nxt log nxtlog ----TO BE CONT.

  • Posted 1461 days and 11 hours ago


  • robodude2000

  • PART II
    may have probs and universe may not have a prob.

    Um, thats kinda the point. (No offense)

  • Posted 1461 days and 11 hours ago


  • saggy47

  • I have the education base set and you've given me some thing to do with the lamps. Thanks! 5*s

  • Posted 1420 days and 21 hours ago


  • jobob635

  • robodude are you saying im wrong?

  • Posted 1388 days and 22 hours ago


  • qazwsx866

  • That so cool!! You should make a "Fun with Lego Power Functions lights" project. I have a Power Functions project that shows you how to connect Power Functions things to the mindstorms so take a look.

  • Posted 1369 days and 16 hours ago


  • TwinTech10

  • Great ideas....... Have you done anything using legacy sensors? Legacy Light or rotational sensor for Motor RPM?

  • Posted 463 days and 17 hours ago


  • AJ_Archer

  • what are legacy blocks?!?!

  • Posted 427 days and 8 hours ago


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