Case mod for passworded entry

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Hi. I'm building a custom cube case out of acrylic (among other things), and I want one side to be a hinged door.

I want it to latch on somehow, but I was thinking it would be a totally awesome mod if I could somehow hook up like a pass code entry system so that the door could only be opened if you had the pass code (like with electronic safes)

Does anyone have any idea where you would get one of these or how you would hook it up?

Thanks :)

[LucifurFox]

http://www.nextag.com/keypad-lock/search-html

take one of those apart and do that?

this one looks pretty cool: http://www.codelocks.co.uk/cabinet-locks.htm

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http://www.nextag.com/keypad-lock/search-html

take one of those apart and do that?

this one looks pretty cool: http://www.codelocks.co.uk/cabinet-locks.htm

O_O Oh jeez those are expensive.

I guess that $50 one would be the best. Still, $50 for a keypad on your computer is probably not worth it.

Thanks for the links in any case

[gimpster123]

what about wiring up a garage door type opener to a small electric motor, which would turn some kind of a lock mechanism. This may be difficult, but I imagine you could mod it into an alarm system without much hassel.

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what about wiring up a garage door type opener to a small electric motor, which would turn some kind of a lock mechanism. This may be difficult, but I imagine you could mod it into an alarm system without much hassel.

Theoretically I guess that would work, but the main problem here is that in order to open it I'd have to use a big garage door opener button thing... aka I'd either have to carry one of these around with me (huge pain) or leave it with my computer, hence defeating the original purpose.

Cool idea, but I don't think it would work. Also now that I think of it those mechanisms are probably pretty big and ugly.

[JamesXP]

would you settle for a key?

you can buy single pole singe throw key/barrel for like 5-10$ you can wire it in the the existing switch like so


[MOBO] - [SWITCH] Positive [KEY] Negative - [MOBO]

without they key, the switch is unusalble, twist the key and the switch works,


but now i've read your thread i totally got the wrong idea ahahahah!


the digital route would be pretty damned expensive, a simple tumbler lock like so http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=3029&criteria=lock&doy=20m6 would be cool enough :)

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the digital route would be pretty damned expensive, a simple tumbler lock like so http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=3029&criteria=lock&doy=20m6 would be cool enough :)

I'm thinking of using a tumbler lock. It's probably what I'll end up using in the end.

Unfortunately they're pretty easy to pick... I learned to pick locks when I was like 12 years old -_-

Plus with all the stuff you see on youtube about bumping locks it seems like at a LAN it would take someone only seconds to bump the lock and grab my video card/sound card.

Although now that I think of it my video card is water cooled, so it would be really hard to take out quickly.... Still I'd feel more comfortable with it locked since my sound card is pretty expensive.

Oh wells. Maybe I"ll fork over the 50 bucks to get the keypad lock O_O

[JamesXP]

yeah but seriously if somone wants to steal your computer, they will steal it, a little lock isn't going to stop them :)

but really at LANs people dont steal crap, especially video cards, i mean come on hahaha!


unless you go to rough lans... But you should probably put a 12v source in the lock, so if someone tries picking it, ZAAAP


(probably not a good idea hahaah)

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yeah but seriously if somone wants to steal your computer, they will steal it, a little lock isn't going to stop them :)

but really at LANs people dont steal crap, especially video cards, i mean come on hahaha!


unless you go to rough lans... But you should probably put a 12v source in the lock, so if someone tries picking it, ZAAAP


(probably not a good idea hahaah)

Rofl! Yeah actually my brother and I were talking before we looked at how much keypad locks cost, and we were saying if we could get one that would flip a different switch if you do the wrong code, we'd have it electrify the handle hehehheehhe

[Godfather1138]

So is this mainly a cosmetic/cool factor mod that just serves a good purpose, or are you really just wanting a lock on the case and trying to find a way to add some cool factor?

If this is mainly to have a cool mod that only allows YOU access to the side might I suggest something a little more complex? I'm not sure what you would end up invested in this idea, but you could hinge the panel and use an automotive screw type actuator motor like people use in custom audio installs. If you are not familiar with them, they are basically piston rods that are extended and retracted by an electric motor with a screw drive gear. Some of them can be purchased with a remote system that lets you control them via a key fob. They can be purchased in many sizes, and run on DC power. I'm not sure how many amps they draw so a secondary PSU like the drive bay add-ons might be needed.

What I am getting at is a panel that you can open and close without touching it, and without having a bulky device visible on the outside. The only real drawback would be that you would have to open the side before powering down, or have a backup for opening the side with no power. Maybe a duez fastener, or other quick release clip on one of the actuator mounting points that is hidden/blended into the case so the average joe won't even notice it.


This is probably way more than you wanted to get into, but would make for a very nice mod. Really, I just want you to do it so I can see it in action b/c I don't currently have anything that would be worth doing that to. :D

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Haha I think I know what you're talking about... like hotel safes where the rod extends in or out to lock it or unlock it.

That would be so badass but I'm not familiar with it at all and I have no idea where you'd get those parts or how you'd hook it up o.O

[Godfather1138]

quick search brought up this site: http://www.firgelliauto.com/ There were others I just grabbed that one as an example.

Evilbay also had a few of the wireless control systems.

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Lol everything on that site is so expensive o.O

I mean laying down $100 for something I really feel I need in my case is one thing, but laying down that much for an actuator just for a case mod that I don't really need is excessive :\

I've got some money from my job, but I'd like to keep SOME of it for food money heh hehh

[JamesXP]

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Linear-Actuators-24v-4-inch-stroke-robotics_W0QQitemZ280238747832QQihZ018QQcategoryZ5 5826QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Not bad

[LucifurFox]

Lol everything on that site is so expensive o.O

I mean laying down $100 for something I really feel I need in my case is one thing, but laying down that much for an actuator just for a case mod that I don't really need is excessive :\

I've got some money from my job, but I'd like to keep SOME of it for food money heh hehh


50.00 to protect a 400 + video card dosent seem THAT bad :P

[Jolly-Swagman]

A 12volt solenoid connected via relay to a key pad control would be fairly simple way to make a lock

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A 12volt solenoid connected via relay to a key pad control would be fairly simple way to make a lock

Not only do I not know how solenoids work (though my bro knows, I could get him to help), but where would I get said key pad control?

It'd be great if I could get a keypad control that's cheap due to it being not sold with the lock mechanism as well.

[kayson]

If you really want to go the cheap/DIY way, you could make your own keypad using a bunch of buttons/switches, wire it to a microcontroller that has a program to compare the entered code to a given one, then wire the microcontroller to a solenoid or even servo. Use that as a lock. It might seem a little complicated, but its not that bad, and it would be pretty cheap.

[Diddyu]

I suggest checking out http://mondo-technology.com/ and scrolling down to 'touch keypad' for a decent and stylish keypad setup for under $5.

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Diddyu, that looks like an awesome solution.

However, I don't have the means to make my own circuitboards.

Do you know if I just like sent the source files on that project to some internet circuitboard manufacturer, would they make it?

Like, I'd try just wiring something like that up manually but I have no idea how any of that works, or what those chips do, or where I'd get them, etc.

[kayson]

Diddyu, that looks like an awesome solution.

However, I don't have the means to make my own circuitboards.

Do you know if I just like sent the source files on that project to some internet circuitboard manufacturer, would they make it?

Like, I'd try just wiring something like that up manually but I have no idea how any of that works, or what those chips do, or where I'd get them, etc.
You can send files to a pcb manufacturer, but that'll probably be a bit too expensive especially if its such a simple design. You can buy a pcb etching kit from radioshack:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102870&cp=

You'll have to print out the board layout and color it onto the board, so it might not be pretty, but it would work. Then you'd need to buy the parts and solder everything onto the board. That's not before you'd have to program the microcontroller. To do that, you'd either have to wire it to your computer using a serial port, or buy the companies programming devices.

It might be easier to buy something like a simple calculator:
http://www.germes-online.com/direct/dbimage/50255715/Calculator.jpg

It has all of the buttons already connected to a pcb. Then you could desolder everything else, and use existing connections to wire up your board. This would save you the pcb step, but you'd still have to program a microcontroller.

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I really like the idea of that pcb etching kit.

Now if I'm to do that, my only problem is where I get the other parts/what they are.

Unfortunately on that project site the guy isn't very specific. I have no idea where he got those touch sensors nor how they transmit a signal with only one connection coming out of them.

The hardest part for me would be programming the microcontroller. I have no idea what kind of microcontroller I'd need nor how to program it. Is this stuff pretty self-explanatory once you get the software to program it?

I mean, the most knowledge I have of wiring chips/etc is from the wiremod of Garrys Mod... which isn't much ;)

[Diddyu]

Programming an IC isnt that hard, It involves some minor circutry (5 resistors IIRC) and a transistor (otherwise the IC will be onetime, and you cant rewrite it). Then all you do is dump the hex code to the serial port using ICprog. It also looks like you make a circut with the touchpad button and the trace around the edge of the pad, making a circuit through your body.

Awesome-o multi use programmer.
http://feng3.cool.ne.jp/en/pg5v2.html

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Edit: computer crashed and somehow reposted

[MARCI]

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-La-Gard-Dial-3-Wheel-Lock-Safe-ATM-Locksmith_W0QQitemZ120285854789QQcmdZViewItem?hash =item120285854789&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318

When you absolutely, positively have to keep someone outta your box