KiwiCo SSPL Kinetic Light Up Speaker Instructions
- June 9, 2024
- KiwiCo
Table of Contents
SSPL Kinetic Light Up Speaker
Instructions
Part C Add the lights
You’ll need:
- speaker with large drivers (from Part B)
- light bar
- O-ring
- sticky foam rectangles
- LEDs
Step 1
From the front, slide the light bar through the speaker’s middle slot.
Step 2
Stretch the O-ring around the back of the light bar.
Step 3
Stick 2 sticky foam rectangles on one side of the light bar.
Step 4
Press an LED into each notch on the light bar.
Step 5
Stick 2 more sticky foam rectangles to the other side of the light bar.
Light refraction
| The light bar’s funky shape helps spread out light from the LEDs — so two
lights cover as much area as ten. When light moves from one material to
another —say, from air to the clear acrylic — it bends.
That’s light refraction! Each bump and divot in the acrylic bends light in a
different direction, which sends a glow across the whole bar.| 
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Part D Connect the lights and sound
You’ll need:
- speaker with lights (from Part C)
- breadboard
- breadboard guide
- transistor
- resistor
- capacitor
From home:
- USB power source
- device with Bluetooth technology
Step 1
Peel the backing off the breadboard guide. Stick it to the breadboard.
Step 2a
Find a transistor and gently spread the pins.
Step 2b
Push the pins into the breadboard. The transistor should match up with the
symbol on the guide.
Meet the transistor
The transition’s junction is like an on/off switch. It’s usually turned off,
stopping electricity from passing through. But when an electrical signal
(a.k.a. music!) comes through the middle pin, the switch turns on for a moment
— and a bit of electricity crosses the junction.
Step 3
Find the capacitor and hold it so the white stripe is on the right. Push the
pins in by the capacitor symbol.
Meet the capacitor
The capacitor acts kind of like a sponge for electricity. Two coiled metal
sheets “soak up” the incoming power.
The power can only be released when certain kinds of signals come through the
circuit. Until then, the capacitor holds on to the electricity.
Step 4
Find a resistor. Push the pins in over the resistor symbol.
tip!
You can connect it either way!
Resistors work in both directions.
Meet the resistor
The resistor uses a long, thin spiral of electricity-resistant wire to slow
down the electrical current. Electricity has to travel along the whole length
of the wire, like it’s going along a twisty, bumpy, muddy road.
Step 5
Peel the backing off the breadboard. Stick it to the back of the driver on the
left.
Step 6
Push the loose yellow and blue wires on the left into the yellow and blue
holes.
Step 7
Push the black and red LED wires into the black and red holes.
Stop & Test
- Make sure your breadboard looks like this.
- Plug the USB cable into a USB power source. The light bar should blink.
- Pair the speaker with a device with Bluetooth technology (if it’s not already connected).
- Play some music with a strong bass line. The light bar should flash white in time with the music!
Stop!
Before you keep building, unplug the USB cable from the power source.
Breadboard
A breadboard makes it super easy to build a circuit. Each column of holes has
a metal rail under it. So if you plug wires into any two holes in a column,
they’ll be connected to each other!
Did you know?
The name breadboard comes from the early days of electronics, when people
would build circuits by hammering nails into wooden boards (like the kind
people slice bread on) and wrapping wires around the nails.
Troubleshooting
If the wireless board doesn’t light up or pair, check the troubleshooting
steps on Page 15.
If the light bar doesn’t flash white, try turning up the volume or
picking a song with a stronger bass line.
If the light bar still doesn’t light up, make sure all the wires are plugged into the right spots on the breadboard.
You connected the lights and sound!
Bass-ic circuitry
High five, engineer! You just wired up a low-pass filter, so named because
only low notes can pass through it.
If a signal plays a high note, it’s (mostly) blocked by the filter.
Signals for high notes go into the capacitor and then through the resistor —
which bogs the electric signals down so much there’s not enough power to turn
on the lights.
If a signal plays a low note, it’s allowed through the filter. The capacitor
can’t process the signals that play low notes. So instead, they go along the
easiest path: toward the transistor (which boosts their power) and onward to
the lights. Flash!
Talk about an electrifying performance.
Here’s how it all connects with your right speaker drivers . . .
Part E Add the small speaker drivers
You’ll need:
- speaker with breadboard (from Part D)
- side panels
- long screws
- small speaker drivers
- gaskets
- short screws
- washers
- square nuts
- sticky foam squares
- screwdriver
- foam balls
From home:
- USB power source
Step 1
Grab a side panel. Stick sticky foam squares over all the T slots.
Step 2
Press a square nut into each T slot.
Step 3
Slide the side panel into the front panel.
Step 4
Twist a long screw into the front hole. Secure it with the screwdriver.
Step 5
Repeat Steps 1–4 to add the other side panel.
Step 6
Grab the top panel. Line up a gasket with a set of holes.
Then place a small speaker driver on top of the gasket.
Step 7
Slide a washer onto a short screw. Then twist the screw into a corner of the
speaker driver.
Repeat to add screws and washers to the other 3 corners.
Step 8
Repeat Steps 6–8 to add the other small speaker driver.
Stop & Check
Make sure all the short screws are flush with the front of the top panel.
Step 9a
Stick two sticky foam squares over the T slots.
Step 9b
Press a square nut into each slot.
Step 10
Slide the top panel into the front panel. Twist a long screw into the front
hole.
Connect the lights and sound
Documents / Resources
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KiwiCo SSPL Kinetic Light Up
Speaker
[pdf] Instructions
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Speaker, Light Up Speaker, Speaker
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