Alexa controlling statues and figures lights

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achillesmf

Freaked Out
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Hi,

I would like to share a quick configuration I made using Alexa in order to control lights on my statues. Wouldn't it be cool in the comfort of your couch to ask Alexa to turn on all your statues at the same time?

++++++Do it at your own risk. If you give the leds more voltage you will increase the electrical current and burn the leds, then game over.+++++++

So, I find crazy that nowadays these companies still develop statues and figures to use batteries. Once the thing is in a shelf chances are you will never light it up again. And some prefer not to store it with batteries because those leak!

Here a small demo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW2cHj3C9cc

Behind the scenes:
https://www.amazon.com/photos/share/Urf0ZBwBgcYPUKfkKpdui5nkB70oLEF5g1JJmjWTfB2
Urf0ZBwBgcYPUKfkKpdui5nkB70oLEF5g1JJmjWTfB2


Make sure you check the voltage of the batteries, in the example of the video C3PO face uses 2x1,5V so 3V but Ironman and R2D2 use 3x1,5V so 4,5V. Multiple possibilities, for example I could use 2 different power adapters the first with 3V and the second with 4,5V but I tested and by giving 3V and I was satisfied with the brightness. Therefore I used 3V power adapter to light up all the statues in the vid. The power adapter is connected to a smart switch that is connected to alexa. If you connect the power adapter negative to the positive of the statue and vice versa do not worry, its just like installing batteries upside-down, leds are made to handle reverse voltage and do not light-up.

Ensure you adjust the power adapter voltage to the corresponding voltage from the batteries or less.

I have another smart switch turning on statues on the other side of the room. The same voice command controls both smart switches because I grouped them. Being wifi I have no hassle with cables all over.

There are so many possibilities these days, the equipment I used is just a reference:

Amazon Alexa echo dot
https://www.amazon.com/All-New-Amazon-Echo-Dot-Add-Alexa-To-Any-Room/dp/B01DFKC2SO

Wifi Smart plugs
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0713SKWQ1/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Multivoltage power adapter, i picked this because it comes with a quick connector to the wires and it has the 3V which is the minimum I needed
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XN5KP8G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Colored and thin wiring, love them!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KQ2JNLI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
If you want more colors to hide cables even more buy the second box:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KQ2JPY8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Quick connectors, you may want to pick more discrete ones
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GB7J8C6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Tons of tiny zip ties
https://www.amazon.com/Outus-Nylon-...8&qid=1503757735&sr=1-5&keywords=4+in+zip+tie

Statues lights are to be ON short periods for your enjoyment, they wont last forever so I leave mine ON for few minutes per week, while we are looking. Ideally the shelves would be pre-wired with quick connectors for the best result.

The shelves themselves should have their own lights and circuits, controlled by a different voice command. And be aware of kids harassing Alexa :)

Again, be extra careful about the voltage of everything, train with something you love less. Have fun and keep pushing vendors to leave this long battery-age.
 

I have the soap reactor and i think it's fantastic. You can easily order it directly from soapstudio.com. Sometimes they have trouble with the ordering page on the website so you can just email them or message them on their facebook page and they will help you order and send you a paypal invoice. I've ordered from them multiple times with no problems.
I have it all set up connected to a smart plug that i can control with the amazon alexa. So i just say alexa turn on collectible lights and all my figures and display case lights all come on. If you want to have the light up features of statues and figures work and not have to worry about batteries it's a fantastic product. The only downside is they don't make an adaptor for every size battery. The Yoda figure that was mentioned earlier in this thread has a lantern that has a light up feature but the soap reactor does not make an adaptor that fits that. But that is one of the few figures i have found that it doesn't work with. All the other star wars figures i have it works with. All the Hot toys iron man figures it works with and i also have it working in the Sideshow Armored batman premium format figure.
 
while this is a great thread.. can you show a tutorial how you did the actual wiring on the statutes itself?
Are you using dummy batteries that you wire and insert?
 
The Yoda figure that was mentioned earlier in this thread has a lantern that has a light up feature but the soap reactor does not make an adaptor that fits that. But that is one of the few figures i have found that it doesn't work with. All the other star wars figures i have it works with. All the Hot toys iron man figures it works with and i also have it working in the Sideshow Armored batman premium format figure.

Thanks Zuko ... does the soap reactor support the Hot Toys Jawas too?
 
Hello, if you cut out the connectors of a network cable you can also use it. It's rated 125V and we use 3V or 4,5V. The plus is that the wires are colored but less flexible than the option with silicone I mentioned before. Being less flexible may be interesting because they an take the figure format more easily.
 
A couple of weeks ago I have installed with a friend a Detolf full of Hot Toys. I will ask him to post here. Yoda is simple, its a lantern only. Vader is more complicated with multiple places with batteries.

Any further word from your friend? It's been a couple of weeks almost now.
 
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