Description:
My remote detonator/recording box is fairly straight forward in describing itself. It is a Lexan box with a remote control receiver inside. This controls the camera and the fuse ignition system (Nichrome). The ignitor itself is the extremely simple nichrome based electronic ignitor.

Cost:
Camera: $9 +S/H (www.2fidelity.com)
Remote Control: $15 + S/H (search for "RF Wireless Remote Control" on Ebay to find similar ones with different amounts of channels)
Nichrome wire (40 gauge) - $3 (search for "Nichrome Wire" on Ebay)
Batteries (12 volt N type) - 5 for $5 (search for "12 volt battery" on Ebay)
Lexan - $30 (4 pieces of 4ft x 1ft x 1/16in Lexan) (Search for "Lexan" on Ebay)
Wires - Free (speaker wire or something similar works perfectly for this)

Total Approximate Cost: ~ $78 (All this could be done for cheaper if you go with different options or don't need the multiple channels on the remote control)

Time: A few hours of soldering/assemblying once you get all the materials.

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate (only becase slight electrical/soldering know-how required)


My Equipment List:
- Lexan sheets (polycarbonate)
- Aiptek Mini PenCam 1.3
- 4 channel RF Wireless Momentary Remote Control
- Nichrome Wire (40 guage)
- Batteries

Procedure/Setup (Annotated pictures are available to download below because I WILL confuse someone):

- Prepare the Aiptek camera for remote control operation (this requires soldering and should only be done by someone who is fairly proficient with soldering). This site explains it all: http://www.rc-cam.com/camman.htm

- Note: I didn't use a PIC controller. Instead, I simply wired my wires straight to the shutter and mode buttons (channel 1 is mode and channel 2 is shutter...both of your ground wires go to the ground point as shown on that site. The mode is used so I can remotely switch the camera from picture to movie mode and back if needed without getting near the detonation site).

- Hook the 4 wires (two black/ground and two red/lead) from the camera into your remote control receiver (where you plug them depends on the board you use).

- To channel 3, connect your ignition system. To do this, connect one of your wires from your remote receiver to a terminal of your battery. Then run a wire from the other battery terminal out to the fuse. The third wire plugs straight back into the remote receiver.

- Put the battery source into to your receiver where specified.

- Build your box/protective case however you wish (I used a simple squared design but this was my first test, so it's pretty crappy quality).

- Fixtures/Foam can be added to your box to hold your components (batteries, receiver, wire, camera, etc) in place if you choose.

- Power it all up with batteries, thread the nichrome through the fuse, start recording.


Annotated Pictures:
http://rapidshare.de/files/29416883/Annotated_Pictures.pdf (.35MB .pdf file)

Example Videos:
This was just a test for our new project. It was a 20 ounce plastic bottle with 1 inch of blackpowder covering the bottom. Here's the videos for download (The inside camera is cheap, so it only has 10 frames per second. Better cameras may be used for superior quality if you have them).


Example movie from inside the box:
http://rapidshare.de/files/27373332/Remote_Explosion_1.wmv (.99MB .wmv video)

Movie from outside the box:
http://rapidshare.de/files/29419898/Movie.wmv (.51MB .wmv video)


I hope someone gets some enjoyment or atleast some ideas from my project. If you see any mistakes, would like to make suggestions, or would like me to reword or change something, please let me know.

Thanks,
Pandoz

Right before I left to come back to the university, I added a LED unit (30 "super white" LEDS on a parabolic dish). This will hopefully help illuminate the explosive/pyrotechnic device I am setting off since I can usually only do this at night. Once I have a break, I will post more videos and pictures. Again any comments or suggestions are appreciated.

Wow, I did pretty much the same thing a couple years ago, using an RF Remote Transmitter from eBay as well. I didn't use a camera with it though as I wanted it as small as possible and it's not needed, but hey, It's cool to know that others came up with the same idea. Mine is based off of a 6CH Remote/Reciever that transmits 1500ft, awesome for long distances without long wires! It uses 2 9v batteries for det power and reliably ignites within 1/2 sec using my bridgeless e-matches. I also use RCA jacks and wires for easy and quick hook up to the box and a keyswitch with red "Armed" LED. I'm also in the process of making a new 1/4" clear acrylic case for it. If anyone wants pictures or anything I can do that, just a warning - the case is just pieced together and is made of scrap acrylic, it's not the final form, just for dimensions only which will be changed on the final version.

One comment, can not view pic's or movies, rapidshare says you deleted them

Thought it sounds like an interesting project

Yea, my account got screwed up, sorry. I will rehost the videos, but the pictures were lost. If there is any interest in these, I can retake/comment them.