Rachel De Barros @[email protected]
87K subscribers - no pronouns :c
Welcoem to posts!!
in the future - u will be able to do some more stuff here,,,!! like pat catgirl- i mean um yeah... for now u can only see others's posts :c
🔴 TONIGHT 7 PM EST! Laser Tripwire Arduino Project Challenge
Ever wanted to feel like you're in a spy movie, setting up a laser trip wire to catch intruders—or better yet, trigger a spooky scare in a haunted house?
Join me for a live, hands-on workshop where we’ll be building a laser trip wire using an Arduino! This isn't just for security enthusiasts; I’ll show you how to use it to trigger LED light effects, play eerie sounds, and activate motors, making it perfect for Halloween setups, escape room puzzles, or interactive exhibits.
I’ll walk you through the basics of how laser trip wires work, break down the wiring process, and show you step-by-step how to code and test it with Arduino. And don’t worry; no technical experience is required. Just bring your curiosity, and you'll be a laser-triggering pro by the end of the session!
Head over to Discord, click the #live-room channel to join the live video chat!
Not a member, join today: racheldebarros.com/members
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💡 LED Wiring Made Easy: Series, Parallel, and Series-Parallel Explained! 💡
Got an idea for an LED project? Here’s a quick guide to wiring your LEDs like a pro:
✨ Series Circuit
▶︎ What it is: LEDs in a single line—like a conga line for electricity!
▶︎ How to wire: Connect the + of one LED to the - of the previous one. Repeat.
▶︎ Resistor math: Add up the forward voltages of all LEDs. Subtract from your power supply voltage. Divide by desired current (.02A). Voilà!
▶︎ Pro Tip: If one LED goes out, the whole circuit stops dancing. Choose wisely!
✨ Parallel Circuit
▶︎ What it is: Each LED gets its own path—like VIP lanes for electricity!
▶︎ How to wire: Connect all + leads together and all - leads together.
▶︎ Resistor math: Each LED gets its own resistor: Use (Power Supply Voltage - Forward Voltage) ÷ Desired Current (.02A).
▶︎ Pro Tip: Great for consistent brightness. Just watch out for extra wires!
✨ Series-Parallel Circuit
▶︎ What it is: A mash-up of the above—teams of LEDs in series, connected in parallel.
▶︎ How to wire: Create small series groups, then connect those groups in parallel.
▶︎ Resistor math: Each series group gets its own resistor. Follow the series math for each group.
▶︎ Pro Tip: Perfect for large projects. A little more math, but totally worth it!
Watch the Full Tutorial: https://youtu.be/KMFYCu2otrk
Got questions? Drop them below! 👇
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🔴 WED, NOV 13, 7 PM EST: OFFICE HOURS
Have questions about wiring or code you've seen in a past live event? Or, are you feeling stuck with your project? Stop by any time from 7 - 9 PM EDT and let's chat about it!
Even if you can't attend the live event, I regularly comb through your posts to see where you are with your projects and try to tackle as many as I can with participating members. Then I'll post whatever wiring diagrams and code we come up with to your project thread.
To get the most out of the Office Hours event, tell us about your project and where you're getting stuck beforehand by starting a thread in the appropriate channel under the PROJECT HELP section.
So far on deck we have a model railway project where a steamroller has to make random stops at 4 different points using IR sensors and a motorized track. Let's code this together!
Then, we have a motorized gate project that needs some tweaks for smoother operation.
If you need help with your project let me know!
Head over to Discord, click the #live-room channel to join the live video chat!
Not a member, join today: racheldebarros.com/members
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🔴 TONIGHT! WED, NOV 6, 7 PM EST: LIVE WORKSHOP
Limit Switches for DC Motors & Steppers with Arduino
Get ready to bring precision and control to your motorized projects with limit switches—the little bouncers that make sure your motors stop exactly where you want.
In this live workshop, I'll show you how limit switches work and why they’re necessary for smooth, reliable operation in projects like garage doors, CNC machines, and DIY robots. I'll cover how to wire a limit switch to an Arduino and go over simple, hands-on code examples for both DC and stepper motors that you can apply right away. By the end, you’ll have the skills to make your motors start, stop, and repeat—exactly as planned.
This is a LIVE VIDEO CHAT event, so feel free to ask questions in real-time as we wire the circuit to an Arduino Uno and then write the code together!
Already a Youtube channel member? Head over to Discord at the start of the event.
Not a member yet? Sign up at racheldebarros.com/members
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🔴 TOMORROW NIGHT: Jack-O-Duino Pumpkengineering Challenge
WED, OCT 23 7 PM EST
This year, we're celebrating my favorite spooky holiday by upgrading regular Jack-O-Lanterns with Arduino and popular Halloween prop components like LEDs, an mp3 player module and a servo - all triggered by motion using a PIR motion sensor!
Join me in my Engineering Artists mentorship community on Discord as I add flickering LEDs, trigger sound effects and stabbing motion when victims ... I mean, trick-or-treaters approach.
This is a LIVE VIDEO CHAT event, so feel free to ask questions in real-time as we wire the circuit to an Arduino Uno and then write the code together!
Already a Youtube channel member? Head over to Discord at the start of the event.
Not a member yet? Sign up at racheldebarros.com/members
Happy Halloween!
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Motorized Props: Motors & Mechanisms Masterclass Today 2 PM EDT on Discord!
Kick off the best month of the year by converting those lifeless static props into spook-tastic characters!
You'll learn how to wire up the most popular motors used by hobbyists and pros: deer motors, synchronous motors and the prop builder's workhorse - the wiper motor.
We'll also build easy linkage mechanisms to produce common movements like:
- Spin 360 degrees (caldron and platforms)
- Turn 1/4 or 1/2 way (heads and torsos)
- Move up and down (graveyard poppers and opening coffins)
- Sway side-to-side (tombstone peepers)
- Rock back and forth (tombstones and rocking chairs)
- Ground breakers (perfect for zombies and skeletons)
YOUTUBE MEMBERS! Head over to Discord and join me in the #live-room
Not a member yet? Join my Engineering Artists mentorship community for weekly live events: racheldebarros.com/members
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Arduino Project Challenge Build & Code-Along: SECRET KNOCK LOCK - INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED VERSION
🗓 TODAY 7 PM EDT on Discord
Last month, we created a lock device that only opened when the right number and intensity of knocks was detected. It's perfect for entertainment purposes like interactive exhibits and attractions because it's relatively easy for the participant to figure out.
This month, we're taking it up a notch! If you need a secret knock lock that will protect your bat cave or secret workshop from intruders, then this more advanced version will do a better job!
Not only does the would-be trespasser have to get the correct number of knocks, he or she also has to knock in the correct rhythm and cadence of intensities! We're also going to be incorporating a programming button so you don't have to go back to the code every time you want to program a new knock pattern.
YOUTUBE MEMBERS! Head over to Discord and join me in the #live-room
Not a member yet? Join my Engineering Artists mentorship community for weekly live events: racheldebarros.com/members
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Community Build Session Tomorrow Night (9/18) 7 - 9 PM EDT
Join me from your workbench and let's dedicate some time to working on our projects together! Update us on what you've been working on, build your project along with me and the community or jump in with your questions and tips for other members. Stay for as little or as long as you want!
I'll be working on creating natural random movements and eye lighting effects for my gargoyle animatronics and going over my plans for integrating ChatGPT with my ESP32 to turn my animatronic in to an AI shop helper!
Members! Head over to Discord and join me in the #live-room
Not a member yet? Join my Engineering Artists mentorship community for weekly live events: racheldebarros.com/members
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OFFICE HOURS LIVE VIDEO CHAT: WED, 9/11, 7-9 PM EDT
Engineering Artists members!
Have questions about wiring or code you've seen in a past live event? Or, are you feeling stuck with your project? Stop on by any time from 7 - 9 PM EDT and let's get to the bottom of it!
Even if you can't attend, post your dilemma in the appropriate channel under PROJECT HELP and I'll post any wiring diagrams and code we came up with in your thread!
Head over to Discord, click the #live-room channel to join the live video chat!
Not a member, join today: racheldebarros.com/members
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Master Arduino Programming For Any Project!
Go from absolute beginner to building and coding your own Arduino projects from scratch using the most popular electronics components, even if you’ve never coded or built a circuit before.
Ditch those boring tutorials! I’m Rachel De Barros, and I’m here to help you master Arduino, electronics and robotics to bring your tech ideas to life!
No fluff, no filler – just hands-on, project-based learning with live video chat support and accountability that will have you building home automation, weather, motorized prop, robotics, wireless IoT-enabled projects and more in no time!