BLEEP BUG TUTORIAL
Do you like annoying people? If yes, then we have the kit for you! This is the Bleep Bug Soldering Kit. This kit will beep every so often, just like those annoying smoke detectors when the battery gets low. You can hide these around the house, the office, where ever you like! Once hidden, sit back and laugh when people are trying to find it. It only beeps for a split second, so they are very hard to locate by ear!
This kit was designed by @SignalSkew as part of our Maker outreach. Our hats off to him for designing such a fun circuit! Check out what other projects he has in the works by visiting him on Twitter.
WARNING: SOLDERING IRONS ARE HOT. SOLDERING IRONS ARE NOT TOYS. ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION WHILE USING A SOLDERING IRON.
556 Timer → This kit uses a dual 555 timer IC, called the 556. Using one 555 to trigger a second 555 for the interval of beeping.
CR2032 Battery → These batteries are for low powered devices and have an internal resistance so they will only provide so much current at any given time. They are 3V cells, so if you measure the voltage, you will see 3V, and they are able to discharge almost completely before the voltage drops and becomes unusable.
PREPARATION
Count all of your parts and verify everything is in your kit.
| 10uF Capacitor | 2 | Polarized Black Cylinders |
| Diode | 1 | Black w/ Line |
| 20k Resistor | 3 | Red Black Orange |
| 10M Resistor | 3 | Brown Black Blue |
| 556 Timer | 1 | 14 Pin IC |
| Socket | 1 | 14 Pin Socket |
| Switches | 2 | Slide Switches |
| Speaker | 1 | Large Black Cylinder with Holes |
| Battery Holder | 1 | Black Holder |
| CR2032 Battery | 1 | Battery |
| PCB | 1 | Printed Circuit Board |
STEP 1
Locate the 20k ohm resistors. Bend the leads and install into the locations marked R1, R2, R3.
STEP 2
Bend the leads on the three 10M ohm resistors and install them into locations R4, R5, R6.
STEP 3
The diode will install into location D1. Be sure you install with the correct orientation and the line on the diode matches that on the PCB!
STEP 4
The two switches will install along the right edge of the board labeled SW1 and SW2.
STEP 5
Install the IC socket at location U1. Be sure to match the notch on the socket with the notch on the PCB.
STEP 6
Install the battery holder, again following the markings on the PCB to match the layout of the battery holder.
STEP 7
The speaker goes into BZ1. This is another component that must be installed in the correct orientation. The (+) should match with the (+) marking on the PCB.
STEP 8
The two capacitors will install into locations C1 and C2. These are electrolytic capacitors, so polarity matters! Match the white stripe on the capacitor with the white marking on the PCB. This white stripe is the negative side of the capacitor.
STEP 9
Bend the leads slightly on the IC, and install it into the socket. Be sure to match the notch on the IC with the notch in the socket AND on the PCB. Installing backwards will cause this kit not to function correctly.
STEP 10
Install the CR2032 Battery with (+) up. Flip switch SW1 to ARMED! Sit back, and wait for the beep. It takes a few minutes to charge the capacitors enough to trigger the 556 to beep the speaker. By adjusting SW2, you can get a short pulse or a longer pulse beep. Enjoy the laughs when people try to find this annoying beep!