Electric-Tree
From The Munich Maker Lab's Wiki
| Electric-Tree Release status: experimental [box doku] | |
|---|---|
| |
| Description | Fun "art" and museums project for old electronic stuff |
| Author(s) | Milian, |
Description
Electric Tree – PCBs on Wood – 2026
This project was born during a reorganization and sorting session in our electronics corner and has become a visual metaphor for the rapid pace of consumption in our modern society.
While sorting through old components and donations, we kept running into the same dilemma: It still works. It used to cost a lot of money. Someone might need it for a special case someday – but if we put it back in the box, no one will ever find it.
That tension sparked the first idea: hang the old but functional breadboards and experiment kits on the wall. It looks interesting, sparks memories and if someone spots something still useful, they can simply take it down.
The project quickly grew to include fascinating old devices and components, opened up to reveal their inner workings. While working with circuit boards is second nature to us makers, many people have never seen this hidden world up close.
No other industry is defined by obsolescence as relentlessly as electronics. Devices purchased just a few years ago for significant sums are now essentially worthless – completely outdated, unsupported, with no spare parts and no security updates. And yet each one of these devices was assembled from hundreds of individual components, designed, tested and manufactured through painstaking engineering work. A fascinating world – and from a consumer perspective, a troubling one.
So keep in mind: Buy less. Repair more. Recycle the rest.
TODO
| What | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Collect wood | done | |
| Get plenum approval | done | 20250629 Plenum |
| Mount wood | done | |
| Mount first draft and platines | done | |
| Ask for more platines on social media and in slack | done | |
| Request money for LEDs (80€) and housing | done | 20250814 Plenum |
| Order LED stuff | done | |
| Request money for other needed parcs 40€. | done | 20250830 Plenum |
| Request last funding | done | 20251227 Plenum |
| Mount platines | done | |
| Build and mount power converter
https://www.printables.com/model/1100219-mount-sonoff-zbmini-extreme Adapt to 16x8cm: https://www.printables.com/model/666255-heizungs-luftungsgitter-heatingventilation-grille |
done | |
| Mount LED stuff
Next step: Fix all lights with screw and zip tie |
done | |
| Create Housing for Buttons and Electronic | done | |
| Collect more stuff | done | |
| Bring project to life | done | |
| Update pictures | in progress | |
| Print description and close housing for evnts | in progress | |
| Fill up remaining spots with PCBs | in progress | |
| Animate and add action parts | ||
| Document result |
Interactive Part
- General LED Light
- Ultrasonic sensor to enable or change light, when people come close
- Button 1: "Don't press" => Start an "Freibier" Alarm
- Button 2: "Change the ligtht"
- Button 3: Sound Module plays short fairy tale or poem (with Speaker volume knob)
- Button 4: For future
- 2 LCDs for eyes?
Photos
Material
| What | LInk | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | leftover | done | |
| Platines | leftover | done | |
| LEDs WS2812 12V | https://de.aliexpress.com/item/32481513388.html? | 6 x 16€ = 96€ | round1: done
round2: done |
| Housing Power converter (needs adjustment for ventilation | Housing for chips and Power converter (needs adjustment for ventilation | 26€ | done |
| ACDC 12V | leftover | done | |
| PETG transparent for difussor | Existing space filament | done | |
| ESP32 | from MumaExpress | 4€ | done |
| Sound Module | https://www.reichelt.de/de/de/shop/produkt/arduino_-_dfplayer_mini_mp3_wav_microsd-karte-289897 x2 | open | |
| SD Cards | https://www.reichelt.de/de/de/shop/produkt/microsdhc-speicherkarte_4gb_mediarange_class_10_mit_adapter-305473 x2 | open | |
| ESP8622 | from MumaExpress | 3€ | done |
| Buttons | Leftover | done | |
| Bell | Leftover | done | |
| Ultrasonic sensor | Leftover | done | |
| Wago 5er | Leftover | done | |
| Blaulicht | https://www.amazon.de/Relaxdays-Rundumleuchte-Partybeleuchtung-Hinstellen-batteriebetrieben/dp/B07WSP3RMN/262-4891655-1936820
=> use DIY one from Severin |
open | |
| Relais Platinen | Leftover | done | |
| Lautsprecher | https://www.amazon.de/-/en/DFplayer-JST-PH2-0-Interface-Motherboard-Electronic/dp/B0F32MQNXH/ | done | |
| 12V to 5V converter | Leftover | done | |
| Klemmblöcke | https://www.amazon.de/KICHOUSE-Zweireihige-Schraubklemmenleistenbl%C3%B6cke-Klemmenbl%C3%B6cke-Verkabelung/dp/B0DJRX16K8 | done |