RNLI Charity Box

Millermob · 14 June 2006, 09:57

One of my GCSE's this year was for electronics and technology, we had to design a charity box, for obvious reasons I chose the RNLI unlike most I may add but I do live a good 150 miles from the nearest bit of coast.

It is based on a lifeboat station with scenery to match. When the coin is entered blue LED's flash, a lighthouse beacon illuminates, waves and a boat rock from side to side, as well as a sound recording being played.

It is quite elaborate for a charity box and to get any decent opinions I thought this would be the best place, so if you could comment on wether you would make a donation if it showed you a display as a form of thanks. The wiring wasn't quite finished at this stage so bit messy.

Thanks Freddie

P.S. You can see some of the attempts of my fellow peers in the background.

Scrumdown · 14 June 2006, 11:20

A ribnet query / question I can help with at last!!!

Yes I would donate using your money box but maybe a sign telling the person donating to put money in and see what happens would attract more attention. Also put a command into your PIC chip that at random sets the motions off thus attracting attention.

Also think about the amount of space which a business would have to give up to display your money box etc.

Looks well made though compared to the others in the photos! Discuss in your evaluation materials that would give it a longer life etc.

Used to teach Systems and Control

Millermob · 14 June 2006, 11:27

Yeh I used a pic chip, I considered the motion sensor but it wuld drain the batteries too fast so decided against it.

Thanks for the comments

Freddie

Poly · 14 June 2006, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Millermob

I do live a good 150 miles from the nearest bit of coast.

I thought there was a statistic that in the UK you were never more than 72 miles from the sea?

Millermob · 14 June 2006, 11:53

maybe as the crow flies, but if I want to get to North Wales as theres not a lot on the East coast, Conwy is something like 125 miles so maybe 150 was a bit too much. It is so irritating.

Freddie

codprawn · 14 June 2006, 12:13

It looks great BUT the boat doesn't look very boatlike!!! Can't you replace it with a small model - there a a few RNLI RIB models around that would be perfect.

I am sure more of this sort of thing would increase donations - not that the RNLI are actually struggling though.

mdt · 14 June 2006, 12:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

not that the RNLI are actually struggling though.

thank goodness for that... you never can tell what is round the next corner… or over the next wave

Millermob · 14 June 2006, 12:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

It looks great BUT the boat doesn't look very boatlike!!! Can't you replace it with a small model - there a a few RNLI RIB models around that would be perfect.

That was my original intention as it was hard to produce a decent one but I had to manafacture it all and that would not have allowed me, but something for improvement.

Thanks

Freddie

Scrumdown · 14 June 2006, 14:29

For your evaluation:

Add in a remote access port that allows the RNLI to check remotely the number of coins put through the slot so that they will know when to come and empty the thing - our local has had a collection box on the bar for 6 months that is full! But no one has been to collect it from the fire service!!! could have been filled 3 times over in that time.

Add a solar panel for getting over the battery life issue - would look good on the roof of the lifeboat station!

If you need anymore advice on Systems & Control coursework PM me as I have loads of tips from when I was teaching that subject. PIC chips are good laugh lots of good uses on a RIB as well for controlling bilge pumps etc (would make an excellent AS project)

Millermob · 14 June 2006, 15:15

I wish I'd had you from the start of this project, would have made it a lot less painful.

Freddie