Flux Capacitor Interest

[Shep]

I asked this in another thread, but it seems to have gotten buried by now, so I figured I'd ask here: the flux capacitor is as integral to the DeLorean as Mr. Fusion is, however one things remains to be seen: a cheap, non-DIY alternative! Diamond Select makes one for $400, however it's not screen accurate, and the ones that are screen accurate are only $100 more. If you want additional features (keyfob, bluetooth, android apps), you gotta pay extra on top of that. It's insanity! So I thought: if I were to make a cheaper alternative, that isn't 100% screen accurate but is still instantly recognizable as a flux capacitor, would anyone else be interested?

To give some perspective, this is the original enclosure it came in:
http://www.stahlin.com/web_size_img/100-55-jw1008hpl_hrout.jpg
Straight from the manufacturer (http://store.stahlinonlinesales.com/spec-tech-stahlin-enclosures-stahlin-enclosures-c-193_188_792/jw1210hpl-p-1100757) for $185.13!

This is the windowless version:
http://www.stahlin.com/web_size_img/100-42_hrout.jpg
Straight from the manufacturer (http://store.stahlinonlinesales.com/spec-tech-stahlin-enclosures-stahlin-enclosures-c-193_188_792/j1210hpl-p-1100605) for $117.13; cheaper, but requires cutting your own window into it. It's still ridiculously expensive just for the enclosure, so I did some searching around, and came up with a couple (potential) alternatives:

Hoffman A1210CH:
http://sigma.octopart.com/13405634/image/Hoffman-A1210CH.jpg
I can get these for less than half the price, at about $50 each, however a window would still have to be cut into it (i.e. more labor cost). Same size as the original (12" tall x 10" wide), with the bonus that it sits flat on your desk and has latches and everything.

Then there's the Hoffman A865JFGQRPWR:
https://images.plattstatic.com/ProductImages/medium/hoffman-a865jfgqrpwr.jpg
Note that it's a bit smaller (8" tall x 6" wide), however I can get them for even cheaper, $37, and the window is already cut into it.

I've found a few other alternatives, however I'm thinking Hoffman A1210CH might be the best "alternative" option considering the price point.

That all being said, is anyone interested in this? The enclosure is the most expensive bit by far. All the electronics combined should be less than the price of the enclosure. The rest of the cosmetics ("Y" portions, spark plugs, etc.) are yet to be determined, but I will make this guarantee: $200 (probably a lot less) for the final product. It'll accept any power supply from 4V all the way up to 16V (i.e. USB will work, and so will wiring it straight into your DeLorean! Door plunger mod anyone???).

So, is anyone interested? :)

[Shep]

For some reason I thought this would get a few responses, but apparently no one's interested. Consider this project dead then :thumbdown:

[Alan]

I'm not interested in an 80% accurate version. I'd be interested in a quite accurate, budget version. By accurate, I mean anyone except die-hard fans and prop builders would be satisfied (correct dimensions, colors, functions). By budget, I mean $200.00-$300.00.

No, I can't really describe what that would be or how it could be done. I'm not a scratch builder. I can't make parts. I can assemble parts. Maybe a kit? If someone can make good parts but save the assembly cost? I'm not sure if that could offset enough to cost to hit my budget.

Also, I'm not sure how to prevent them from showing up on eBay. I'd hope that "the community," us, that we wouldn't do that. But it can't necessarily be prevented, either.

Anyone have any interest and/or input about how to do that?

[Shep]

I'm not interested in an 80% accurate version. I'd be interested in a quite accurate, budget version. By accurate, I mean anyone except die-hard fans and prop builders would be satisfied (correct dimensions, colors, functions). By budget, I mean $200.00-$300.00.I don't think I understand. Without the underlined part, what's left? If we go with the original enclosure, that leaves less than $15 for the internal components to meet the low end of your budget ($200), which would put the overall cost within your price range and leave zero room for labor costs, hence me going for alternative enclosures. I don't have the manufacturing capability to create my own enclosures, so I'll have to use something relatively easily sourced and cheaper than what was used in the movie (which is damn expensive).

Either way, unless I get more interest in this, I'm going to do this as a one-off "proof of concept" for myself and leave it at that.

[Alan]

That's why I went to my high end... and said I wasn't sure how to get there.

[bxtech]

Shep: I think what you have laid out and what you are building for the price is great! I think most people that would see the completed product wouldn't know or have any idea that it's not 100% accurate. I see after your cost of parts and all of your labor to assemble, you are offering a great price on the completed unit!

However, at this point I have to ask this question........Do you think maybe there is just not a big market for these anymore? Flux capacitors in general whether it be the custom built ones or the Diamond Select ones have been out for quite awhile now. I'm thinking that diehard people that have really always wanted a flux capacitor have already bought one or built one by now. If these people are trying to "upgrade" from the ones that they have now, they would only want to step up to a very accurate one?? They would have no interest in buying another non accurate one? I don't know, but that was just my thought on maybe why there aren't a whole lot of responses here??

I'm in that same "boat". If this was a number of years ago, I would've said.....Heck yeah! Build me one of those! Where to I send the money?! I myself ended up purchasing a Diamond Select unit and I have no intention of buying another unless it's more accurate.

Those are my thoughts! :)

[bxtech]

Or, I was thinking.........Do you think there would be a bigger market for a less accurate one that was cheaper? Let's say someone was making fiberglass boxes that were cast from the original Stahlin enclosures? Paint em grey, put some cheap latches and hinges, plexiglass for the window, make a flat metal panel inside with LED's, yellow spark plug wires, silver painted PVC elbow on top, etc? Gives you the idea of a Flux Capacitor, but nowhere near accurate and is less accurate than a Diamond Select. But lets say that these were available for $100 or less? I think there might be a market?

I think I'd buy one just to have another one at that price, and I'm thinking that other current FC owners would too? Plus, you would tap into the market of the people that always wanted one, but never wanted to spend $400. All of those people would be customers? The accurate and expensive FC market may be already satisfied. Maybe the other end with the cheaper/inaccurate FC is where the "pay dirt" is at?? I have no idea since I'm no marketing expert, but those are just more of my thoughts! :)

[Nicholas R]

A while back (maybe 5 years ago) someone was selling subwoofer boxes that had a flux capacitors on the front, and a subwoofer in the side. I always loved the idea but was never able to get one. I'd be interested in something like that. Otherwise, I think a DST flux capacitor fills the budget-but-accurate flux capacitor category.

[Shep]

Do you think maybe there is just not a big market for these anymore?That's what I'm thinking actually. I just ordered an enclosure for myself, but since there's zero interest outside of this, I'm only building the one. It seems there's always interest for things that include flux capacitors (car chargers, watches, cubby doors), but not for the flux capacitor itself, which is odd, but whatever.

[Beachdrifter]

323743237532376323773237832379I actually made my own flux capacitor a few yrs ago and was in the Celebration Exotic Car Festival near Orlando; it was a hit with my Delorean . I used the enclosure without the opening and cut a window myself. In all project cost me about 200 bucks versus buying one. Just be creative and improvise . The whole thing was fun to do but time consuming. I used a Dremel tool and everything was at home Depot for the most part. Had to special order window mold and animated leds , plus the enclosure.
Randy

[Timebender]

I made my first one using an
iPad, the Time Circuits app, a cardboard box that was a good size for the iPad to make an accurate window size in relation to the iPad, painted it gray, used electrical tape for the window seal, added some metal electrical elbows, and that was it. Everyone who saw it running thought it was awesome. And to be honest it felt more realistic with the lights vs. the crappy strobing and wrong direction from the Diamond Select BTTF II unlimited FC that's supposed to be more movie accurate- which I'm baffled by with only 3 LEDs per strip and the inner to outer sequence. In thinking of modding it and putting in more Leds and so it goes out to in.