Underwater ROV

"Bob" a simple Home Built ROV.

"Bob" is a Remotely Operated Vehicle or ROV that can explorer your local lake or bay down to 60 feet below the surface.  Bob can be built in just a few evenings from parts that are easy to find at the hardware store and on-line. The total cost is less than $300. You only need a few simple tools to complete the work as most of the parts are glued.  The wiring is soldered, but it is simple to do and there is a detailed wiring diagram to follow. Read more...

Using a Joystick with Propeller Thrusters

This circuit connects to the Joystick and to relay switches down on the ROV that turn the thrusters on and off.  When you move the joystick the circuit determines which motor is turned on and if it runs in forward or reverse. TTL circuits are a great way to get started building simple electric circuits.  TTL or Transistor/Transistor Logic chips are simple to understand.  For example if pin #1 and pin #2 both have power coming in, then pin #3 will have power going out.   The circuit is completely built using TTL chips and a few resistors. No diodes, no capacitors, no voltage regulators. Read more...

Waterproofing

Before you decide to waterproof something, make sure that it really needs to be waterproofed. It was sure a surprised me, but most DC motors will run just fine completely flooded with water, even salt water. All sorts of DC electronics will work without any protection, including solenoids, linier actuators, reed switches, and toggle switches. Now if you can protect these things from water then they will certainly last longer, but it good to know that water does fine its way end the it is not going necessarily cause an immediate failure.  Read more...
 

Resources: Deep Sea Power and Light has free pressure calculation software:  http://www.deepsea.com/tools.html
 

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