Safecracker sensor manual

General info

Safecracker sensor has a multitude of uses involving turning something – it can be used as a safe lock, valve, or steering wheel. Attach anything you like to the encoder and design any puzzle using one of the five different modes.

The sensor comes with two 3D-printed add-ons so you can comfortably test every mode.

The maximum load of the feeback connector is 50 mA. If you want to connect something with a higher current load, connect an external power supply - then the maximum load is 1A.

Below you will find content of the package:

Preparing the safecracker sensor

Connect the safecracker sensor to the Universal puzzle controller (sold separately) via an included Ethernet cable. Connect the puzzle controller to a power source. Use any add-on for the encoder (you can use test ones included in the package) and make at least one full turn.

If you ordered an additional LED lights chain, connect the chain’s green screw terminal to the Safecracker sensor. It works only in 4th and 5th mode.

Now the safecracker sensor is ready to be programmed.

Safecracker sensor – Entering the programming mode

MODE 1 – POSITION

– players have to turn the encoder into the right direction

Programming:

Hold the sensor’s teaching button until it blinks once. Direct the encoder into the desired position and push the teaching button.

You can change the margin for error (how accurate players have to be) with the potentiometer knob. Look at the sensor’s red diode to check if the correct position is set.

MODE 2 – STEERING WHEEL

– players have to make a sequence of turns. The position is not important, what counts are the turns.

Programming:

Hold the sensor’s teaching button until it blinks two times. Each consecutive turn has to be confirmed by pushing a teaching button. To finish the programming (after you confirmed the last turn), hold the teaching button until it stops blinking.

Players have to recreate the sequence from any position they want. When solved, the winning state will be active for 5 seconds.

If players make a mistake, the sensor has to be reset. To reset the safecracker sensor, don’t turn it for 5 seconds (the red diode will blink a couple of times).

You can change the margin for error (how accurate players have to be) with the potentiometer knob. Look at the sensor’s red diode to check if the correct positions are being set.

MODE 3 – SAFECRACKER

– players have to make a sequence of turns. The position is important. The full turn is divided into 32 spaces and changing between them can be heard through the buzzer. The first turn has to be done to the left (counterclockwise) and each consecutive turn – to the other direction (left, right, left, right, etc.).

Programming:

Hold the sensor’s teaching button until it blinks three times. Make two full turns to the left (counterclockwise). Choose correct spots and confirm each spot by pushing the teaching button. To finish the programing (after you confirmed the last spot), hold the teaching button until it stops blinking.

To reset the sensor after a mistake, make two full turns to the left (counterclockwise). Now it can be solved again. Look at the sensor’s red diode to check if the correct positions are being set.

The potentiometer knob controls how much different is the buzzer sound when players hit the correct spot. Turn the knob to the right (clockwise) to make it more distinct, and turn it to the left (counterclockwise) to make it sound more like a normal click.

MODE 4 – VALVE

– players have to turn the encoder to the right (clockwise) up to a specific point. The progress is shown on the LED lights chain (one full turn of the encoder lights up one diode).

Programming:

Hold the sensor’s teaching button until it blinks four times. Turn the encoder to the right (clockwise) as many times as you want. To finish the programming, press the teaching button.

The LED lights chain is not active during the programming. Then, after the right point is programmed, you can reset the position of the encoder by turning it to the left (counterclockwise) or just unplug the Universal from the power source and plug it again.

You can change the margin for error (how accurate players have to be) for the programmed point with the potentiometer knob.

MODE 5 – PUMP – players have to keep turning the encoder quickly for a specified period of time. The progress is shown on the LED lights chain. When the encoder is not being turned, the progress decreases.

Programming:

Hold the sensor’s teaching button until it blinks five times. Press the teaching button to start programming the speed and period of time of turning the encoder. To finish the programming, press the teaching button.

In MODE 5, what counts is the average speed in the programmed period of time. It is easier to treat it as a physical puzzle where players have to maintain the turning speed for a certain period.

Saving the programmed mode on the Universal puzzle controller

After the mode is set and triggered (its red diode is lit), go to the Universal puzzle controller (that the Safecracker sensor is connected to) and hold its teaching button until the status diode blinks once (STATE mode) or twice (SEQUENCE mode).

You can read more about the puzzle controller’s modes in the Universal guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I program any mode? The sensor’s red diode doesn’t work.

Check the potentiometer knob. It could be turned all the way to the left. In that case, turn it half the way to the right and then adjust the margin for error.

Why the LED lights chain does not work?

Make sure you are using the Safecracker sensor in the 4th mode (Valve) or the 5th mode (Pump). LED lights chain needs an additional power supply to work.

I want to make my own add-on. What are the dimensions of the top of the encoder?

The dimensions (e.g. for a 3D printer project) are as follows: