HiViz - Guide to the Multi-Trigger

Assembly and Operating Instructions for HiViz Kits

The Multi-Trigger -- A Guide to Product Options

The Multi-Trigger is our most popular product. It comes in several varieties depending on your budget and how much assembly you want to do. All versions of the Multi-Trigger provide the same basic functions. They can trigger on sound or movement, and they include an electronic delay for timing synchronization. They can actuate flash units, cameras with electronic shutters, and wireless controllers.We provide this page to help guide you through the options. The Multi-Trigger is built on a breadboard or PCB and can be enclosed in a project box. Click on the images for larger versions.


Multi-Trigger on open breadboard	Multi-Trigger on PC board	Multi-Trigger enclosure

Parts for two types of photogates are included with the Multi-Trigger. The associated cables are shown below. One type has an individual infrared emitter and detector for flexibility in positioning and for providing a gap of up to 12 inches (30 cm). The other type uses an interrupter, which is particularly convenient for triggering on the passage of liquid drops. Assembly is required except for the MT-A and MT2-A.


Type I. Variable-width photogate cable	Type II. Interrupter photogate cable

What you need besides the Multi-Trigger kit: In addition to the Multi-Trigger, you will need the following items.

a power source, either a 9-V battery or an AC/DC plug-in adapter
flash and camera
a cable or cables to connect to the devices that you want to trigger. Information about connecting to flash units and cameras is provided here.

If you're building your own circuit, you'll also need tools for that purpose. Lists of the tools needed are provided with the assembly instructions. (See links in the tables below.)

Multi-Trigger Features and Functions: All of the Multi-Trigger varieties have the following features and functions.

Power provided either by a 9-V battery or AC/DC plug-in adapter (power source is additional)
Piezoelectric sound trigger for detection of loud and sharp sounds
Schmitt-trigger style photogate with the two types of cables shown above
Red LED to show when the photogate is aligned
Sensitivity adjustments for both the sound and photogate triggers
Delay unit with both coarse and fine adjustment of the delay interval. The maximum delay can be changed with the appropriate choice of the timing capacitor.
Red LED to show when the delay unit triggers
Ability to use the delay unit with other types of triggers such as the crossed-beam photogate, the amplified sound trigger, and a simple contact trigger. (These triggers are not provided with the Multi-Trigger.)
Ability to change the timeout, that is, the length of time after a triggering event when the unit is inactive
When using the delay unit, flash units can be triggered from either or both of two outputs, instant and delayed. These outputs are protected from the high voltages found in some older flash models. For some varieties of the Multi-Trigger, a flash unit can also be triggered directly from either the sound trigger or the photogate, bypassing the delay unit.
When using the delay unit, cameras can be triggered from instant or delayed outputs. This requires one of the camera connection options described here.

The tables below compare the Multi-Trigger kit varieties. Table I provides information to help you select a Multi-Trigger option based on price and assembly that you're willing to do. Table II breaks down specific information about features that may be different among the various options. For convenience in navigation, the tables are divided into sections for Complete Kits requiring assembly and Assembled or Partially-Assembled circuits.

¹Click on the Product link to go to the product purchase page.

²Click on the ID link to view the complete list of parts provided in unassembled kits.

³Click on the Assembly link to view the assembly instructions for kits requiring assembly or the operating instructions for assembled circuits.

Product¹	ID²	Assembly required³	Notes	Price
Complete Kits These kits include all the parts needed for a working Multi-Trigger.
Multi-Trigger Kit with breadboard	MT-BB	yes	Building a Multi-Trigger on a breadboard allows you to make changes to the circuit quickly. This kit is also available without a breadboard in case you already have a breadboard or are designing your own PC board.	$25.50
PCB for Multi-Trigger	MT-PCB3	yes	This kit comes with a PC board rather than a breadboard. With a PC board, connections are soldered for durability, but changes are difficult to make.	$39.95
Multi-Trigger 2	MT2	yes	This kit comes with the Multi-Trigger PC board, enclosure, and all parts. The enclosure provides the convenience of switches, dials, and quick-connect jacks.	$72.95
Assembled or Partially-Assembled
Multi-Trigger, assembled on breadboard	MT-A	no	We assemble the cables and breadboard circuit for you. You'll need to plug input and output cables into the breadboard and make adjustments on the breadboard. This isn't as convenient as using switches and dials and quick-connect jacks, but it's the fastest way to get a working Multi-Trigger into your hands in case you're up against a deadline.	$75.50
Multi-Trigger 2, assembled	MT2-A	no	This custom assembly of the Multi-Trigger PCB in an enclosure includes the photogate cables and microphone and external input cables. Cables for flash and camera are additional. Contact us for the lead time for assembly.	$275.00

Items in green cells indicate convenience features. Enclosures with knobs, switches, and jacks typically offer the greatest ease of use.
Items in pink cells indicate the greatest flexibility and choice. This is typical of breadboarded circuits, which can be modified quickly.

For example, consider the Connections for outputs column. Being able to plug a cable quickly into a jack is, of course, convenient. Four such output jacks are available on the Multi-Trigger enclosures. If using a breadboard, you have to plug bare wires into the breadboard by hand. That's much less convenient. The tradeoff is that you have a choice of eight possible outputs, four for flash and four for camera. With the bare PCB (no enclosure), you also have access to all eight outputs. Four of them are output jacks and the other four are accessible by soldering wires to holes in the PCB.

¹Click on the Product link to go to the product purchase page.

²Click on the ID link to view the complete list of parts provided in unassembled kits.

³Click on the Assembly link to view the assembly instructions for kits requiring assembly or the operating instructions for assembled circuits.

Product¹

ID²

Assembly

required³

Breadboard or PC board

Enclosure included

On-off switch and LED indicator

Input switch

(sound trigger or photogate)

Sensitivity adjustments

Delay unit test

Delay adjustments

Timeout adjustments

Maximum delay selection

Connections for microphone and photogate cables

Connections for flash and camera outputs

Connection of external trigger to delay unit

Complete Kits

These kits include all the parts needed for a working Multi-Trigger.

Multi-Trigger Kit with breadboard

MT-BB

yes

breadboard

must disconnect one wire and connect another wire

use jeweler's screwdriver to rotate knobs on breadboard

short the input to ground with a wire

use jeweler's screwdriver to rotate knobs on breadboard

manually replace a resistor

manually replace a capacitor

insert bare wires into breadboard

PCB for Multi-Trigger

MT-PCB3

yes

PCB

yes

uses two-position switch

use jeweler's screwdriver to rotate knobs on PCB

momentary pushbutton

use jeweler's screwdriver to rotate knobs on PCB

use jeweler's screwdriver to rotate knob on PCB for timeouts up to 1s

uses two-position switch for maximum delays of 0.05 and 0.5 s

uses quick-connect plugs and jacks

uses quick-connect plug and jack

Multi-Trigger 2

MT2

yes

PCB

yes

uses two-position switch

rotate large knobs by hand on panel

momentary pushbutton

rotate large knobs by hand on panel

rotate large knob by hand on panel for timeouts up to 1s

uses two-position switch for maximum delays of 0.05 and 0.5 s

uses quick-connect plugs and jacks

uses quick-connect plug and jack

Assembled or Partially-Assembled

Multi-Trigger, assembled on breadboard

MT-A

breadboard

must disconnect one wire and connect another wire

use jeweler's screwdriver to rotate knobs on breadboard

short the input to ground with a wire

use jeweler's screwdriver to rotate knobs on breadboard

manually replace a resistor

manually replace a capacitor

insert bare wires into breadboard

Multi-Trigger 2, assembled

MT2-A

PCB

yes

uses two-position switch

rotate large knobs by hand on panel

momentary pushbutton

rotate large knobs by hand on panel

rotate large knob by hand on panel for timeouts up to 1s

uses two-position switch for maximum delays of 0.05 and 0.5 s

uses quick-connect plugs and jacks

uses quick-connect plug and jack