money required computer

[Spawn-Inc]

so i was out watching a movie, 1408, and when the movie finished i was walking to the bus stop with my friend and we noticed those shopping carts that require a quarter to use. well one was beat up bad and the mechanism where a quarter goes was on the ground so me being me i wanted to see how it worked so i took it. yes i took it but they didn't want, i think. anyway i found out how it worked and thought this could go into a computer so the user has to put in a quarter to use it. so after 15 minutes of modification here are the results!

so here is the before shot with a quarter.
http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/5377/2358596950100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

taken apart.
http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/3286/2126215690100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

taken apart with a quarter inside.
http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/4204/2116489210100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

the sheet (piece actually) of metal and spring.
http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/3780/2824481820100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

bent and cut so it will attach to the curved part of the plastic you will see later on.
http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/3892/2309628150100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

wire soldered onto the metal, i added some "micro-welding" by pushing the solder iron point along the solder.
http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/3296/2522139130100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

i've mounted the metal piece and melted the spring into the plastic. i forgot to take a picture with the quarter.
http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/6352/2696564890100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

another shot of the same thing.
http://inlinethumb36.webshots.com/6627/2686582630100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

my cheapo multimeter when there is a complete circuit.
http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/5491/2775284170100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

my cheapo multimeter when there is a open circuit.
http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/2954/2915143950100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

my cheapo multimeter when there is a open circuit attached to the finished coin operated switch.
http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/4194/2877416240100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

my cheapo multimeter when there is a completed circuit attached to the finished coin operated switch.
http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/4449/2914082750100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

a closer shot of the picture above.
http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/4961/2868600440100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

now that the wiring is done and working i am going to work on a release arm i can push to release the coin. i want to have it like a floppy disk so when you put the coin a butteon/tab pops out for you to push back in. i would place it in a 5 1/4" bay since i have a metal bracket that fits.

wadda ya think!?! and all this madness is because of this site.

[Drum Thumper]

Hi, my name is Joe, and I'm addicted to modding computers.

Seriously, this looks like it could lead to something very interesting. For some reason I'm thinking something horror related, like the 'guided tour' in House of a Thousand Corpses--dunno, could very well be contributed to the two beers and my general state of being pissed off about work that's got me in the frame of mind, but whatever.

Very cool and interesting. +Rep

[jdbnsn]

Hi Joe! Agreed, I think this could be a cool idea. What pops in my mind is the coin-op fortune teller from futurama.

[Spawn-Inc]

my borther has a bunch of candy machines and as a result lots of spare parts. so i was also thinking i could turn one into a switch for the computer so you have to pay 25C to turn it on.

that style,
http://www.franchiseonline.com/cgi-bin/folpages/uturn2.jpg

[Bopher]

You could do something like that for a kids 'piggy bank' computer. If they want to use it they need to put something into the bank.

[Spawn-Inc]

^ ha thats a good idea, make them save money kind of thing. my only problem is i ain't got any, though right now thats not a problem.

[Eclecticos]

The first thing I though of when I saw this was a Arcade.
Screen Pops up insert 50cents to see the next website. LoL

From what I gather your using it as a power button. .eh?
Great Idea! +Rep

[Bopher]

^That's what i got too out of description. Here's even worse for you... Put a coin in to turn on and one in to shut down. Man I'd go broke in a week.

[Spawn-Inc]

well if i am to actually use this i would have it cut the power switch line. so when you put the quarter in you can turn the computer on. here is a mock up of it in my case.

http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/5853/2242926410100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

i just need to make an arm to attach it to the coin release and mount the black face plate. then its done and ready to work. if i had the money i would look into some gauges to mount on the blank spaces next to it if i am to keep it.

[Omega]

^That's what i got too out of description. Here's even worse for you... Put a coin in to turn on and one in to shut down. Man I'd go broke in a week.

I wouldn't, lol.

I have keyboard power-on, OS power-off, and that's only when I actually shut my PC down.


Anywho, Spawn, it's looking nifty! Perhaps set it to a timer for like an hour or something for lights in the PC. If you want to turn on a cathode for an hour, you gotta pay 25 cents! =D

[Olen]

Does the power switch not have to be instantanious? That would be easy enough to overcome though.

And your multimeter dial is in an interesting position. Is that 138 ohms? Perhaps a little refinement would be needed there too (I don't know how much current needs to get though.

Nice idea!

[Spawn-Inc]

yes it does but this is a "lock" so to speak that will let the power switch work.

as for the ohms all i use that symbol for is testing is a circuit is open or closed.

here is how i would install it in the event that i do. the "coin deposit", not sure what else to call it, it break one of the wires so the switch won't work unless a coin is in place.

http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/4524/2216746480100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

i have finished it so it works properly (well i haven't tested in a mobo since i don't have one in my own computer.)

i will post some pics soon of the finished product.