The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls

Main => Everything Else => Topic started by: crashwg on August 08, 2005, 05:41:29 pm

Title: Pump up the volume!
Post by: crashwg on August 08, 2005, 05:41:29 pm

Wondering if there's an easy way to amplify the volume on a childs toy.  You see, my daughter has a Little Touch Leap Pad and it's extremly quiet, to the point that you can't have a fan on low and hear the thing at the same time.  It has digital controls for the volume which I would assume would make the endevor that much harder but it's worth asking anyways right?  :P

If anyone has an idea that may or may not work, let me know.  I'll crack that puppy open and take some pics if you think it will help.

Title: Re: Pump up the volume!
Post by: whammoed on August 08, 2005, 05:49:51 pm

Well it *may* be possible.  There could be a resistor somewhere that pertains to volume.  If there is you could replace it with a lower value one or put a jumber across it with a volume pot.  I have seen this done with a kit for certain pinball games.  Of course you would have to know if there is such a resistor in the toy...
You could take a wire and jumper across resistors randomly to see it the volume changes, of course this may also destroy the toy.
Pics?? sure lets see em! ;D

Title: Re: Pump up the volume!
Post by: missioncontrol on August 08, 2005, 06:03:15 pm

you've run out of your own toys to hack so now you want to hack you daughter's toys.

you need a 12 step program..........

 ;)

Title: Re: Pump up the volume!
Post by: USSEnterprise on August 08, 2005, 06:05:02 pm

I'd think something like that would have a headphone out.

Title: Re: Pump up the volume!
Post by: SirPoonga on August 08, 2005, 06:13:10 pm

Is it a mono system? It wouldn't be hard to add a 1/2watt amp using the LM386 chip.  You can get one from Radioshack.  Follow National Semiconductor's example usage with a 9V battery.  Actually, that chip can take a wide range of voltage, up to 12V DC.  Might be able to hack into the leapfrog's power supply...


I used this schematic
http://runoffgroove.com/ruby.html
To make this
http://photobucket.com/albums/v472/SirPoonga/Ruby/
for my bass guitar
Which should work for you, just use a 2k2 resistor instead of the gain control and it will be fine.

Then just take the speaker wires from the leapfrog as input and set output back to the speaker.

Title: Re: Pump up the volume!
Post by: mr.Curmudgeon on August 09, 2005, 01:14:38 am

I would think that a quiet child's toy would be a blessing. I've never heard of anyone actually wanting to make one louder!   ;)

mrC

Title: Re: Pump up the volume!
Post by: whammoed on August 09, 2005, 09:49:49 am

Quote from: mr.Curmudgeon on August 09, 2005, 01:14:38 am

I would think that a quiet child's toy would be a blessing. I've never heard of anyone actually wanting to make one louder!

Title: Re: Pump up the volume!
Post by: missioncontrol on August 09, 2005, 09:51:15 am

Quote from: whammoed on August 09, 2005, 09:49:49 am

Ha! Yes, I've been known to steel the batteries from my kids toys. ;D

I'm guilty of that  ;D

Title: Re: Pump up the volume!
Post by: Stingray on August 09, 2005, 10:53:33 am

I don't have kids. All of the toys are mine, MINE, MINE !!!

-S