8 Fun Tech DIY Projects

led shoes on legs in the dark

Got some extra time on your hands? We're doubtful since you've probably got a list of projects just waiting to be finished. But if your idle hands just aren't ready to tackle that list, perhaps you need a break to recharge and replenish those creative juices. We suggest you try out a cool tech project. Lucky for you, we have a list of ideas just waiting to be explored.

1. Microbial Fuel Cell

If you’ve ever been curious about alternative renewable energy, you may have heard of this futuristic sounding process that generates electricity by harvesting electrons from bacteria. Science is sometimes like magic isn't it? Even more so when you consider this idea has been around for more than 100 years.

Take a little know-how, a bundle of patience, and a few materials, and you, too, can turn muck into power, and even house a cute beta while you’re at it. Wiring can be tricky, so you might also want to check this article before starting your project.

student working on microbial fuel cell

2. Solar Powered Bike Light

Bike lights can be expensive, and not one of the most earth friendly gadgets if you factor in the number of batteries you'll go through now that you've committed to biking as a means of transportation. We appreciate you being an earth warrior, but not if you forego your safety just to save a few bucks. Your safety is important. Don't bike in the dark and risk getting a ticket--or worse.

Try making a solar powered bike light out of materials that would otherwise end up in the trash. We’re talking about your used deodorant stick and the circuit board from a solar powered garden light. Haven't you always wondered what else you could do with empty deodorant sticks?

3. Spare Change Battery

A few pennies in your pocket or a stash jingling in the junk drawer may not be enough to get you a soda from a vending machine, but it can provide you some interesting tinker time with the kids. If they're living in the virtual world this school year, show them this cool STEM project to pique their interest in the science behind electricity. This low voltage spare change battery is perfect for the useful things in life, like running your pocket calculator or lighting an LED. Let your/their curiosity guide you.

homemade coin battery powering small chip

4. Bark-Activated Door

If you haven’t installed a doggie door or taught your fur baby how to open it on her own, take a gander at a gadget that lets your precious four-legged friend unlock the door when she barks. Go ahead--sleep in! With the help of Raspberry Pi, a budget friendly, credit card-sized computer, you can catch up on those much needed z's and still be a good pet parent. Of course, you might want to install safeguards to keep your house and family safe from potential intruders in the event the door stays open after your buddy takes care of business.

5. Digital Tap List

After teaching your fur child how to let herself out in the morning, you can put that Raspberry Pi to many other good uses. If you're a beer afficionado, try repurposing an old tv or computer monitor to display a digital tap list for your brews. It not only looks cool, but keeps those expensive electronics from polluting the environment in a landfill.

6. LED Items

Rhinestones on your dog’s collar is so 1990s. Instead, add some LEDs to his collar for some futuristic glam that'll make the dogs on your block super jelly. But don’t stop there. Add some LEDS to your shoes so your dog doesn’t outshine you during your evening walk. (Yeah. We went there.) Then at the end of the evening, fall asleep comfortably, knowing you've got a nightlight to keep you from stubbing your toe on your two a.m., half-asleep trek to the bathroom.

led shoes

7. UV Detector

Sunshine is important to our well-being, but too much can cause a number of health problems. Stay sun safe with this detector that measures UV radiation before your foray into the summer sun.

8. Touch-Lock Cabinets

Small hands have a way of finding things that shouldn’t go into their mouths. If you’ve got a No-No Cabinet you'd like to keep secure, lock it up tight with a touch sensitive lock that will prevent little exploring fingers from finding things that could hurt them.

Get into the spirit of exploring and experimentation with these cool tech projects. Who knows what innovative product you might come up with!