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This article is about one prop in particular — the one
that the first year I put it out, the kids didn’t need to ring
the doorbell because we could hear the screams before
they even reached the door! A few kids would not even
walk past it to come to the door, so I had
to deliver the candy to them! The prop
I’m talking about is my Monster in a Box
(MIAB from here on out).
The idea behind it is there’s a fire-breathing monster trapped inside a box
trying to get out. Now, this is not my
original idea. There are several MIAB
props out there, although my take on it is
a little different than others, and my
implementation certainly is. If I can make
something more complicated than it has
to be, then I’m happy.
Part of my reasoning for making this
more complicated is that I am always
dying for a microcontroller project. The
question for me is not “How can I make
this happen?” It is “How can I use a
microcontroller to make this happen?”
I’m getting a little ahead of myself.
Let’s back up to what I wanted the box
to do. First, it had to be triggered by
someone walking past it which would
activate a whole slew of effects designed
to strike fear in the heart of the victim,
umm, I mean trick-or-treater.
Those effects would be: the box lid
bouncing up and down, a red strobe
light and fog machine (the fire breathing
part), and a loud screaming animal
sound.
A nice side effect of the fog machine
is a loud hissing sound which really
added to the audio effects of the box.
Add some chains to the top to make it
look like a dangerous monster is being
contained and paint the words “Danger”
and “Unknown Species” on the box and
we’re a go.
The Brains and
Electronics
For the first version of the MIAB, I
Features labeled.
62 September 2014
Parallax Propeller Activity Board
1. www.parallax.com/product/32910
2. www.mouser.com/new/parallax/
Parallax Motion Sensor
1. www.parallax.com/product/555-28027
2. www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/
RepRap "StepStick A4988 Board
or Compatible
1. www.sparkfun.com/products/11876
2. www.pololu.com/product/1182
YWRobot Quad Relay Board or Compatible
1. www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/
servlet/Product_10001_10001_239476_-1
2. www.mpja.com/Quad-Relay-Board-Fully-Isolated-Raspberry-Pi-Arduino-Compatible-
Sensor/productinfo/31305%20MP/
3. www.allelectronics.com/make-a-
store/item/mk-2633/relay-output-card-
kit/ 1.html
12V Stepper Motor
1. www.mpja.com/Stepper-Motor-NEMA-
17-12V/productinfo/18734%20MS
2. www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/
servlet/Product_10001_10001_238538_-1
110 VAC Strobe Light Xenon or LED
1. Ramsey Electronics
http://tinyurl.com/omg74gh
2. www.canakit.com/variable-speed-
xenon-tube-strobe-light-kit-ck483-
uk483.html
3. www.parts-express.com/velleman-
vdll24stu-24-led-white-mini-strobe-light-
-243-002
Smoke Machine
1. www.parts-express.com/talent-lm-1-
little-misty-dj-fogger-400w-with-wired-
remote--244-508
Audio Amplifier
1. www.allelectronics.com/make-a-
store/item/amp-15/stereo-amplifier-
20w/channel/ 1.html
2. www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-
dta-2-class-t-digital-audio-amplifier-
module--300-385
5" Speaker or Equivalent
1. www.parts-express.com/boss-brs52-5-
1-4-dual-cone-replacement-speaker--
265-382
