Can you help a clueless art student?

Hello, I'm the art student mentioned above, and when it comes to all things electrical I'm fairly clueless. I'm currently building a shed type thing which will house a sound installation, the only problem is I only want the sound to start playing when you enter the shed, and ideally stop when you leave. I'd probably be using a cd player, but I could use something else...and if possible it'd be good I could connect a surround sound system to it. Any Ideas? Will it be expensive?
Cheers,
Alice, Edinburgh

stupidartstudent said:

Hello, I'm the art student mentioned above, and when it comes to all things electrical I'm fairly clueless. I'm currently building a shed type thing which will house a sound installation, the only problem is I only want the sound to start playing when you enter the shed, and ideally stop when you leave. I'd probably be using a cd player, but I could use something else...and if possible it'd be good I could connect a surround sound system to it. Any Ideas? Will it be expensive?
Cheers,
Alice, Edinburgh

Click to expand...

hi,
A PIR would do that, use the relay output that is normally used to switch on an external light to switch on the CD player instead.
Set the daylight setting to always enabled and the timeout to say 15seconds.

Do you follow that OK.?

Google for: PIR Sensors

Look here:
**broken link removed**

What Eric said.

Hears a possible:Amazon.com: Leviton PR150-1LW Decora 150-Degree Passive Infrared Motion Activated Light Control with Switch, White: Home Improvement

Ken

don't quite follow.....Imagine you're explaining it to an alien

This is essentially a light switch that detects people...except, instead of wiring it between power and a light socket, you wire it between power and your CD player. But, at the apparent level of your electrical knowledge, I would strongly suggest you find someone local who can connect it up for you. Power wiring can be lethal...you shouldn't have to die for your art.

This is assuming that the CD player will play as soon as you plug it into a wall outlet. Otherwise we are talking something a little more complicated...something to turn the speaker (external) on and off, with the CD player continuous running.

Ken

There is always the clapper

stupidartstudent said:

don't quite follow.....Imagine you're explaining it to an alien

Click to expand...

hi Alice,
Feed these links thru your intergalatic speech translator, they will tell you the way that we earthlings use these devices..

PIR Sensors - Electronics
**broken link removed**

Source:
**broken link removed**

What planet are you from.?

Alice,

Do you have a CD player in mind? Will it run (play a selection) as soon as it's plugged in...without pushing buttons? This will determine whether you will need anything beyond the motion detector switches that Eric and I have pointed to.

Ken