Early Adopter: Build This Boot-Box Boombox

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: 7/10
AGES: 10+
BUILD TIME: 2 Hours
PARTS COST: About $50

TOOLS AND MATERIALS

? 9-volt battery clip
? 12 VDC 2000mA 2A switching power supply, 2.5-mm plug (optional)
? 8 AA battery holder; 8 AA batteries
? 6 feet 3.5-mm male-to-male stereo cable
? 2 Dayton Audio DAEX25 Sound Exciters (speakers)
? 1 Dayton Audio DTA-2 Class T Audio Amplifier Module
? 2 ferrite rings, ?-inch diameter
? 2 ceramic-disc capacitors
? Soldering iron
? Solder
? Loaded glue gun
? Boot box
? Duct tape (optional)

HOW TO BUILD IT

Wire the Amplifier

1. Place the amplifier on a work surface, flat side down; position the amp so that the row of four small holes is on the top edge.

2. Strip ? inch of the ends of the two battery-clip wires; slip the tips of the wires through two of the four holes closer to the amp's right corner, with the black wire in the outermost hole. Bend and then solder the tips to the flat side of the amp.

3. Pair two sets of the red-and-black wires included with the speakers; cut into 15-inch lengths. Strip ­? inch of each wire tip, then loop each pair once around the rim of a ferrite donut.

4. Wrap a tip of one red and one black wire around the legs of a capacitor. Slip one leg through each of the holes next to those where the battery-clip wires are soldered. The wire colors must alternate: black, red, black, red. Solder the capacitor legs and wires to the amp. (This pair of wires feeds one of the speakers.)

5. Locate the two holes, about ? inch from the right side of the amp. Repeat Step 4, slipping the tip of a length of black wire through the hole marked with a minus (negative) sign, and a red wire tip through the other hole marked with a plus (positive) sign. Solder in place. (This pair of wires feeds the other speaker.)

Attach the Components Inside the Box

6. Apply glue to the flat side of the amp assembly, and stick it to the inside of one of the two larger faces of the boot box. Position the amp so that the switch-ribbon cable reaches the point on the side of the box where you will install the volume-control knob (step 9).

7. Using the self-adhesive tape on each exciter (speaker), affix them to the same face of the box as the amp. Clip the speakers to the two sets of wires attached to the capacitors.

8. Glue the battery pack near a lower corner inside the box. Attach the battery pack to the amp using the clip.

9. Remove the knob from the volume control (this is also the on/off switch). Poke a hole through a side of the box large enough to fit the stem of the volume control. Place the stem through the hole, reattach the knob, and glue the assembly to the inside of the box.

10. Plug one end of the switch ribbon into the amp and the other end into the volume-control unit. Glue down the ribbon.

11. Plug the ends of the speaker cable into the amp and the device that holds your music library.

Attach Your Device

12. Turn on your device with the volume on high, choose your favorite playlist, and press play. Close the box--and rock on!

Optional Steps

Add a handle made of duct tape; punch a hole in the box through which you can feed a switching power supply wire to the amp.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/how-to/tips/early-adopter-build-this-boot-box-boombox-9077298?src=rss

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