So I've wired up a piezo according to the signal conditioning setup found here:
http://leucos.lstilde.org/wp/2009/06/piezo-transducer-signal-conditioning/
So that I should presumably be getting a little 5v wave, and no ripple. I don't have a scope to test, but I'm assuming it's working right.
I then tried to setup a Solenoid driver as found here:
Then I kind of ran into some problems. This is my first non-arduino book project I've tried to build.
Now will the output of the piezo circuit go into a digital pint or analog pin? The only information I need from it is as a trigger. Perhaps at some point velocity will matter if I setup multiple Solenoids.
Now, regardless of what pin that it goes into, would I use an if/else type statement (if val > x) to have it cross a threshold into action, then drop below it? Or is there a better way?
Next, the Solenoid. I ordered a bunch of parts, including a small (it looked bigger in the picture!) Black Knight 12VDC Solenoid, and all the parts needed for that solenoid driver circuit. I set it up then I realized that the power going to the Solenoid needs to be 12v. I had misread the diagram at first. How do you get 12v to the solenoid? Do I setup a physical power supply (12v wallwart?). How do you safely connect that to a breadboard (without exposed wires ready to shock fingers). Will power off a wallwart be clean enough, or would it need its own voltage regulator (for testing purposes).
Does the orientation on the Solenoid matter? In the diagram there's nothing to indicate what side is what, and the Solenoid itself has only 2 identical wires coming out of it.
And to power this with the software, I just send a HIGH digital output message to that driver circuit and then a LOW one to turn it off (like the LED tutorials)?
Sorry for the bombardment of questions. I'm just exciting as this is the first step in the project that made me want to buy the Arduino in the first place (a somewhat intelligent auto-accompanist).