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Noise Tests

Using the conductive fabric demonstrated in the previous post, I have now hooked them up to a number of square wave generators I made last summer, using them in the place of the 470Kohm potentiometers I was originally using to
vary the frequency of the wave.

They have a relatively low resistance, being made partially, as they are, of steel. In the range of 2-7Kohms, which is a great deal less than the POT's I was originally using. This means that I am somewhat stuck with the squeaky/screechy end of the waveform and can't get any of those deep rumbles or farting sounds I love so much.

It's fun anyway. Like I say, I'm not sure for what, but it gives me a much more tangible way of measuring the variable resistance of various fabrics and so on

Tomorrow if I get time I'll be in the Print Room at college trying out some conductive dyes and foils to see what I can potentially achieve by printing traces onto fabric.

Comments

Valerie said…
I've thought about using that conductive yarn to make RFID protective purses and wallets.
16 January 2012 at 14:08
Andrew Kieran said…
hmm. i wonder how you'd test it? do you think you could use it to make phone pouches that cut off wi-fi and suchlike

there's anti-static fabrics you can buy that are specifically designed to filter out radio waves, I think they use them in certain places to block mobile phone signals, could this be an option too?
16 January 2012 at 14:12
Anonymous said…
Wowee, sounds like a chanter! interesting Andrew!
16 January 2012 at 21:16
Valerie said…
Hi Andrew...
I suppose you could test it with one of those rfid tags that show up in consumer goods against the rfid tag reader in the store.

Essentially what you would be making is a faraday cage. I don't know if the silk or merino + stainless steel yarns have a continuous filament of stainless steel in them. The whole thing has to be a complete circuit for it to work.
18 January 2012 at 13:04
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