Here, we discuss the construction of a simple scream box. All you do is close a switch, and you get a scream ... a loud scream. We also have a page outlining a generic recordable sound box that can make any noise you want.

• Gallery of Hackable Equipment
• Assembly
• Fixing Hair Trigger

This is an assortment of toys, each of which makes a distinctive sound when pressed. I got these for $1 each at Pic-N-Save.

Here are the electronic innards of a box that makes a cricket-like chirping sound when you open the box.

This assembly came from inside a small plastic ball that screams when you hold it in you hands.

• Open up the gadget.
• Find out where the "play" switch is attached.
• Solder wires across the "play" switch and run them out to your triggering device.
• Find out where the sound comes out (the "loudspeaker").
• Solder wires across the "speaker" and run them out to whatever device uses the sounds. This can be a set of amplified speakers, a stereo, or mixer for more complex sound system.

First, find the button that you have to press to make the thing play. It probably won't look like this. The original pair of red wires run off to the lower left. All you have to do to make the board play is to connect these two wires together - that's what pressing the switch does.

The red and blue wires come from the relay that triggers this prop. These new wires go in parallel with the original wires. Now, triggering the relay does the same thing as pressing the switch: it plays the sound.

I like leaving the original switch in place for testing.

[This photo is from a recordable sound box, but the theory is the same.]

This is the speaker that provides the output sound. The original pair of red wires run off to the upper left. All you have to do to get the sound from the board is to tap into these two wires.

I like leaving the original speaker in place for testing.

The red and blue wires go off to the amplified speakers that will make the prop sound loud. These new wires go in parallel with the original wires. Now, triggering the unit sends the same sound to two places: soft sounds from the original little speaker, and loud sounds from the amplified speaker.

[This photo is from a recordable sound box, but the theory is the same.]

Here is the setup we used for the sound of our popup skeleton and pumpkin popup:

The canned scream is the big white box. The trigger relay is upper right. It is usually plugged into an X-10 module. The blue and red wires on the left from the sound box terminates in a 1/8" socket that connects to the amplified speakers.

If you are lazy, you can leave the connector sticking out of the box.

The scream box itself isn't much to look at.

I suggest going one step further: drill a hole in the case and mount the socket. In operation, the amplified speakers plug in here.

Thank you for visiting. Your comments are welcome.
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