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As engineers we love to tinker! When we're not taking things apart to see how they work, we’re modifying them to make them better. Christmas offers plenty of opportunities to use our skills, and not just fixing the Christmas lights, but over-engineering things just for fun!

Flashing Christmas cards!

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Why not make your own Christmas cards with a splash of Bare Conductive Electric paint? Give Rudolph a flashing Red LED nose, or draw a Christmas tree, complete with working lights.

If you’re feeling really creative, add a Touch Board to add an MP3 Christmas Juke Box.

Here's 10 other things you can do with Bare Conductive Paint.

The ultimate light show?

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Ever watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? Where Clark Griswald created the most awesome display of Christmas lights on his house?

Paper schematics are so last year! They might make great wrapping paper, but design-wise, its low tech. Use our free DesignSpark Electrical CAD Software to create a sophisticated automated Christmas lights display that would be the envy of Clark Griswald and your neighbours.

How fast can Santa go?

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Last Christmas Eve here in the UK, we were lucky enough to get a glimpse of Santa on his way to deliver presents, unless you believe those conspiracy theorists claiming it to be the International Space Station....

Inspired by Mark Longstaff-Tyrrell's post where he used the Doppler Effect to create a Radar Speed Detector with a STM32L476 Discovery board. Why not try tracking Santa and measure how fast his sleigh is flying...if you can get close enough of course!


Light up Santa's sleigh

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Now available with TFT display and CAN bus connectivity. Originally developed for automotive applications, the Barth mini-plc is ideal for controlling lighting and mechanical features. A little Elf told us that it’s Santa’s preferred technology for operating the lights on his sleigh! Find out more about this awesome compact solution in Heiko's post - Barth Mini PLC 

 

 

No batteries required

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Always run out of batteries at Christmas? Everything seems to need batteries these days! Back in 2011, I wrote a blog about how batteries rule our lives, as I was unable to play with my shiny new Bigtrack toy on Christmas Day. However, with Energy Harvesting technology, no batteries are required!

With a Cherry Wireless Energy Harvesting switch, there’ll be no crawling on the floor to switch on your tree lights after your hefty Christmas dinner. Sit back, relax and turn on your lights using the power in your hands from the clicking motion. Read Stuarts Blog about his hands on experience with the Cherry Wireless Energy Harvesting Kit


A perfect Christmas meal

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It's amazing what you can do with a Thermal Imaging Camera. Earlier this year we gave one to Andrew Back, one of our Bloggers. Andrew found some practical and fun uses, which you can read about in his Blog. This got me thinking about that old Christmas problem... is the Turkey cooked properly?!

Food thermometers are pretty low tech and leave holes all over your Christmas dinner! With a Flir C2 compact thermal imaging camera your problems are solved - simply point at the roast and see if it's properly cooked! (No prizes for noticing that the Turkey is still in the oven so the reading will be less accurate :-)


Design and 3D Print your own decorations

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Looking for that ultimate Christmas decoration to hang on your tree but can't find it? All you need is a 3D printer, DesignSpark Mechanical, and a little Christmas inspiration.

DesignSpark's Rick Morgan is a huge Star Wars fan, so has decided to create his own Star Wars inspired Christmas decoration and has shared the print files, so you can print one too! Find out more in Rick's festive blog post.

Stealth present inspection

titleThere may be times when it may seem appropriate to take a sneaky peek at the wrapped presents under the tree. So, to avoid any potential ripping of the Christmas paper, why not use an RS Digital Inspection Camera to see what’s inside?... just ensure you've washed it first in case it's last job was inspecting the plug hole.. Here's where to get one.

 

 


Secure your heavy stocking

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This year at RS Components we proudly introduced a new product that was featured on UK TV's Dragon's Den, and was backed by investor and successful entrepreneur, Deborah Meaden. So, if you’re expecting lots of presents this year, GripIt Plasterboard fixings will let you hang up your enormous stocking up without fear of it falling on the floor.

Here's how to get a set of Grip-It fixings to try out.

 

 

Snow Storm Machine

titleNo snow on Christmas morning? No problem! Why not create your own snowstorm with an EBMPapst fan? Simply empty the white polystyrene balls out of a bean bag, or the packaging from an opened Christmas present, turn the fan on, and hey presto, your very own snow storm! For larger flakes, there's always toilet paper sheets. Get your hands on an EBMPapst Heavy Duty Floor Fan.

 


Santa Cam

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Every year before bedtime I read The Night before Christmas to my children, and every year, with visions of Raspberry Pi's dancing in my head, I wonder if I could catch Santa delivering our presents under the tree.

A Raspberry Pi and a Pi Noir Infra Camera with a motion trigger might just be the solution! Read more about what you can do with a Pi Noir Camera and a Raspberry Pi, in Andrew's Blog Post

 

Wearable Christmas Tech

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Here in the UK, having the cheesiest Christmas Jumper has become kind of a competition. The problem with most is that they lack electronics!

Why not create the ultimate wearable application with an Intel Edison low-cost System-on-Chip development platform and have the best Christmas Jumper in town! Connect via its on-board dual-band WiFi or Bluetooth radio, and control flashing lights and Christmas tunes via your smartphone.

Find out more about the Intel Edison in Andrew's product review

 

Happy Hacking to all and to all a goodnight!

Pete Wood
DesignSpark Community Manager.
Twitter - @petenwood

DesignSpark Team Geek Dad, Blogger, Gadget Junkie, Technology Evangelist. DesignSpark Team. twitter - @petenwood
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