The HiViz WorkShop
What's New?
January 7, 2012
The problem with the Multi-Trigger 2 has been resolved and this upgrade of the Multi-Trigger with PCB and enclosure is now available. Turns out the problem was that the last batch of pots from our supplier had some defective pieces. In the future, I'll be monitoring the pots closely.
January 3, 2012
In case you were wondering what happened to the Multi-Trigger 2, I'm troubleshooting a problem with the sound trigger circuit. So that's delaying the availability date.
December 17, 2011
The new version SK3 of the sound trigger is completely redesigned for greater sensitivity than the SK2. The SK3 is available with a dedicated PCB and project box enclosure. See the SK3 Sound Trigger. You can use the SK3 to trigger a flash unit, an Opto-Switch, or a delay unit.
November 4, 2011
We've updated the Crossed-Beam Photogate with a new, improved version. The new version uses an optocoupler output on the breadboard and dispenses with the need for a separate Opto-Switch to isolate your camera from the photogate circuit. While the price is ~$1.50 more than the previous CBP, the fact that you don't need to purchase a separate Opto-Switch amounts to a $13.95 savings.
June 17, 2011
People have said they've had some trouble navigating our menus, so we did a bit of reorganization. In particular, we grouped the Multi-Trigger Kits together. These have turned into our most popular products since we started offering the first, breadboard version in April of last year. We've expanded our offerings to include a PCB version as well as a project box enclosure. In order to help you choose between the different varieties, we have a new Guide to Multi-Trigger Product Options. We've also posted new guides for trigger selection and connection methods.
We receive many question about photographing drop-on-drop collisions. While we don't have a stock kit for this, we've created this information page on the subject.
May 29, 2011
We're now offering an assembled version of the Camera Opto-Switch Box. We've also reduced prices by $2.00 on some of the camera shutter cables.
We've had many requests for assembled Multi-Trigger PCBs in enclosures. Due to the hours of manual labor required to build one of these, we can only do a limited number of such assemblies each month. The price is correspondingly higher than for the kit version. If interested, see this page.
April 26,2011
For those who purchased the Multi-Trigger Enclosure Kit to use with the breadboard version of the Multi-Trigger and want to convert their MTE for use with the PCB, we have a conversion kit and assembly instructions available for that now.
April 1, 2011
We weren't fooling. The new Multi-Trigger with PCB and Enclosure Kit is available in the HiViz Workshop.
March 27, 2011
We've simplified the Camera Opto-Switch Kit. Here's what's changed:
- The shutter cable comes pre-assembled to connect direct from your camera to the Opto-Switch box. There is no pushbutton remote to mess with.
- You order the shutter cable separate from the switch box. So you can order cables for different cameras while having just one switch box.
- You can save money by ordering the switch box without the holes drilled.
- The combined price of the switch box and a shutter cable is less than that of the previous version.
If you prefer the pushbutton style shutter release, we still have some available that we're selling at reduced prices in order to liquidate our supply.
March 22, 2011
The MT-PCB2 is now available. This version of the PCB for Multi-Trigger kit includes all the parts for building the kit on the PC board. There's no need to purchase a separate Multi-Trigger kit.
We're also working on a version of the PCB for the Multi-Trigger Enclosure. Our target date for completing that is April 1 (no fooling).
March 9, 2011
We've added a section to the bottom of the MTE assembly page for possible modifications that can be made to the MTE/breadboard. In response to a query from a user, our first entry shows how to change the ST OUT jack to a FLASH INSTANT jack.
If you're a Multi-Trigger user and you've been waiting for a PC board for the circuit to become available, you need wait no longer. The PCB for Multi-Trigger is now available in the HiViz.com WorkShop. We're pricing this initial version of the kit low to encourage those who already have Multi-Triggers with breadboards to try out the PCB version. We'll be adding two more versions later.
March 5, 2011
Our customers keep us busy implementing ideas for improvements and for new products or new ways to use existing products. Here are the most recent:
- A complete schematic for the Multi-Trigger Enclosure project to help in tracing all connections for troubleshooting purposes
- A method of actuating a relay using a delay unit
- An especially sensitive sound trigger. This is a new kit that we call the Amplified Sound Trigger. We've had information about this sensitive trigger posted for years; now we're offering all the components in kit form.
- Quick-Connect Cable Kit for a breadboard. Tiring of straining to get those multi-strand cables pushed into the holes on a breadboard? This kit makes it much easier.
- A PCB version of the Multi-Trigger. We came out with the Multi-Trigger on a breadboard kit a year ago April. We'll have a PCB version available soon.
February 19, 2011
We've been saying that the Camera Opto-Switch isn't compatible with the SK2 Sound Trigger. Well, thanks to Bob Fisher, who is using sound triggers to fire cameras remotely to photograph shuttle launches, we can now tell you that the Opto-Switch is compatible with the SK2. Note that in order for this connection to work, a wire must be removed from the breadboard. Details are given in the updated Connections Chart. On a related note, it's also possible to fire two cameras simultaneously using two Opto-Switches connected to the same trigger output. This could be used for 3D high-speed photography.
By the way, Bob Fisher is part of a team of professional photographers and cinematographers with The Last Shuttle project. See the HiViz.com homepage for more information about the project. And be sure to check out the interactive panoramas on Bob's website.
This note is for our international customers, of which we have many. As anyone who has received international shipments knows, shipping rates and transit times are high compared to in-country shipping. Then there's Customs to deal with. Packages can remain in Customs for long periods of time, and you may be required to pay duty, value-added taxes, or handling fees or even all three. Most countries waive such fees if the merchandise total is under a certain amount. Some examples: For the UK the limit is £18 pounds and for Canada the limit is 20 CAD. (Don't trust these numbers, though, check for yourself.) Some countries require that invoices be attached to international shipments.
In order to keep international shipment costs relatively low, we ship in USPS Priority flat-rate envelopes or small boxes when the merchandise subtotal is less than a certain amount.These shipments aren't tracked, and they can take a long time to reach their destinations.
Now here's a point of confusion, and the US Postal Service is responsible for this. While USPS Priority flat-rate envelope and small box shipments aren't tracked, all other USPS Priority shipments are tracked. We don't understand why it should matter, but it does. We think this distinction confuses postal employees, because we sometimes find that the Priority shipments that should be tracked aren't tracked. That's the main reason we prefer to ship by Express, which is tracked much more consistently, at least while in the US. Once packages leave the US, it's up to the destination countries to continue tracking. Most countries do a good job of this.
In order to reduce the risk to both customers and us of the untracked Priority flat-rate shipping, we're now requiring that the merchandise subtotal must be under 30.00 USD to ship using this method. This limit also keeps the total below the threshold for charging duty in many countries and will hopefully help speed shipments through Customs.
You still have the choice in the PayPal checkout of USPS Priority (the tracked service) or USPS Express. We recommend Express both for the reason mentioned above about more reliable tracking and also because transit times are often less than a week. USPS estimates 3-5 days. That's actually fairly accurate for many countries, although some can take longer. When a Priority or an Express shipment is delayed, it's usually because of being held up in Customs. That's why we recommend that customers check the online tracking information regularly to see when the package reaches Customs. If the package gets stuck there for more a few days, check with your Customs office or Post Office to find out why. They may be expecting you to contact them rather vice versa.
We've revised our rate structure for shipping and handling and posted the information on the HiViz WorkShop home page as well as in the menu to the left.
By the way, you may be wondering why we don't use UPS or DHL. These services act as brokers to expedite shipments through Customs; hence, they charge much more than the USPS. At your request, though, we can ship through a brokered service. We use USPS Global Express Guaranteed. The USPS contracts with FedEx to provide this service, which offers date-certain delivery of 1-3 business days. Typical rates for shipping and handling are $50 - $70 for the UK and $40 - $50 for Canada.
January 16, 2011
The operating manual for the Multi-Trigger Enclosure is complete.
January 11, 2011
The online assembly instructions for the Multi-Trigger Enclosure Kit are now complete, and we've added this product to the products menu.
December 20, 2010
People have been asking about getting the parts for the Multi-Trigger enclosure the we mentioned in the last post so we've prepared this early adopter's kit. This makes it easy to get all the parts for the enclosure project with one click of the mouse instead of selecting parts individually from the store. Keep in mind that we haven't completed the online assembly instructions yet, so this kit is for those who want to dive into the project early and have some experience in circuit construction and enclosure assembly.
December 18, 2010
The project box design posted December 7 didn't satisfy us, because there were some additional features that we wanted to include such as an LED to indicate that the power was on, a switch to divide the delay by 10 for very fine tuning of short delays, a test button, and an output jack for the sound trigger to bypass the delay unit. Our design for a larger project box is shown here. We're still working on instructions for wiring.
December 7, 2010
Due to many requests from customers for a project box type of enclosure for the Multi-Trigger, we've come up with a prototype and design that you can see here. Note that templates and a parts list are given at the bottom of that page. We're currently working on preparing assembly instructions. Once those are done, we'll offer a kit with all the parts. If you're doing your own design and just need particular parts, see the newly updated Project Parts page.
November 28, 2010
See the video of Destin Sandlin building and demonstrating a Multi-Trigger. Click on the photo of Destin to the right. While you're at it, check out his YouTube channel, PennyWhistle Productions for videos of lighting matches with a bullet, breaking bottles, and much more science fun.
November 27, 2010
We've added DIY instructions for triggering a camera with any HiViz trigger circuit or a delay unit. This is the simplest way of triggering a camera and the only method that can be used with an SK2 sound trigger; however, it doesn't provide the electrical isolation of the Camera Opto-Switch.
November 26, 2010
We've updated the Camera Opto-Switch Kit to include a pushbutton for manual operation of the shutter. Updated assembly instructions here.
November 14, 2010
After many requests from customers for a cable that connects from our trigger circuits to cameras, we're making available our newest kit, the Camera Opto-Switch Kit. This is used to actuate a camera from a HiViz trigger circuit while keeping the camera electrically isolated from the trigger circuit.
November 8, 2010
We've added text instructions with diagrams for building the crossed-beam photogate. These instructions supplement the video tutorials that were already available. The text instructions are here.
October 6, 2010
Our newly redesigned crossed-beam photogate is now available. This kit now includes all the parts for a crossed-beam photogate. We also redesigned the detection circuit particularly for this application. We've been testing the system for about a month to make sure it works well. We've also posted video tutorials for building and using the system.
We expanded (and did some reorganization) of the instructions page to include operating manuals for assembled kits and cables (in case you misplace yours).
October 4, 2010
We posted our first video tutorial. This one shows how to build and use the SK2.
The crossed-beam photogate is temporarily unavailable. We're preparing a new, improved version that includes a redesigned photogate circuit and a framework for mounting the emitter-detector pairs. This will be available in mid-October.
September 24, 2010
We've added illustrated instructions for using a HiViz trigger circuit to actuate a camera shutter. See this link.
September 6, 2010
Who would want half of a PC cord? Well, a DIY high-speed photographer might want to use one to connect the output of a trigger circuit to a flash unit. If you don't have a PC cord or don't want to cut yours in two, we'll sell you half of a PC cord at a third of the price you'd pay for a complete cord at a camera store. We've also added instructions for splicing the cord to your trigger circuit.
August 26, 2010
We get many inquiries about what would be the best kit to buy for particular applications. So we added a Product Guide to help you decide.
We also addressed requests for a way to provide complete electrical isolation between the output of a delay unit and a camera. Our new Optoisolator Output Kit does that.
April 10th, 2010
We added a kit version (unassembled) of the Multi-Trigger. This trigger kit incorporates sound, photogate, and delay unit all on a single breadboard. We also added step-by-step assembly instructions for the kit.
April 1, 2010
We gave HiViz.com a new look but, more importantly, we upgraded some of our products. All of the delay units now include both coarse and fine control of the delay interval as well as an indicator LED to show whether the delay unit is working without having to attach a flash unit. The Schmitt-trigger photogate kits also include an indicator LED so that you can tell if the photogate is aligned and working correctly without having to attach a flash unit. We've also revised our online circuit-building instructions. When you open the instructions page, you'll now see columns for our newest kits (called v10) and our previous kits (<v10). Along with the upgrades come some price increases. We kept our prices on kits the same for the past 5 years, but now we need to make an adjustment for the increases in what we have to pay for parts.
Some earlier changes
We added instructions for connecting linear taper potentiometers to the breadboarded circuits.
We expanded the Components page to include all of the components in our kits.
We added an upgrade kit for the SPG1-DU-BB and SPG2-DU-BB circuits. This kit provides for indicator lights and fine control of the delay. If you have your own components, make your own upgrades using these instructions.
We added two photogate cable kits that provide a way to convert an existing Schmitt-trigger photogate circuit for use with a different style of photogate.
We added illustrated instructions for the Flash-to-PC cable assembly and the photogate cables.
We added a page with Parts for Projects. If you're putting your HiViz circuit in a project box, some of the components on this page will be helpful. Also, we've added an AC adapter so that you can replace your 9-V battery with a continuous power source.
We are also now offering Assembled Kits.
