Mini Retro TV V2

This instructables show how to build a 1:12 Retro TV with a capsule toys.

1. 1:12 capsule toys Retro TV
2. Waveshare ESP32-C6-LCD-1.47
3. Adafruit MAX98357A 3W I2S audio module
4. 28mm 3W Full Range Bass speaker

I have made 2 Retro TV before:

1. https://www.instructables.com/Mini-Retro-TV/
2. https://www.instructables.com/Mini-Retro-SPYFAMILY-TV/

This time is a simplified version. It only has 4 components, a capsule toy, a dev board, an audio module and a speaker.

So it's perfect for beginners, you still need soldering skills through.

Arduino IDE

Download and install Arduino IDE latest version if not yet:

https://www.arduino.cc/en/software

Arduino-ESP32

Follow installation step to add Arduino-ESP32 support if not yet:

https://docs.espressif.com/projects/arduino-esp32/en/latest/installing.html

Arduino_GFX Library

Open Arduino IDE Library Manager by selecting "Tools" menu -> "Manager Libraries...". Search "GFX for various displays" and press "install" button.

You may refer my previous instructables for more information about Arduino_GFX.

Dev Device Pins

Open Arduino IDE Library Manager by selecting "Tools" menu -> "Manager Libraries...". Search "Dev Device Pins" and press "install" button.

JPEGDEC

Open Arduino IDE Library Manager by selecting "Tools" menu -> "Manager Libraries...". Search "JPEGDEC" and press "install" button.

arduino-libhelix

Download and import the arduino-libhelix library to Arduino IDE:

https://github.com/pschatzmann/arduino-libhelix.git

Note:

You may refer to Arduino Documentation for the details on how to install/import library to Arduino IDE.

Select your favor videos and convert it to AVI files.

Here are the sample convert command:

Then create a folder called "avi" in MicroSD card, copy all the converted AVI files into the folder.

Ref.:

https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg.html

This project use aviPlayer developed in my previous project for playing video.

1. Download the source code at GitHub: https://github.com/moononournation/aviPlayer.git
2. Open "AviPlayer_callback/AviPlayer_callback.ino" in Arduino IDE
3. At around line 30, ensure below line is uncommented and other Dev Device header file all are commented:

Then compile and upload the program to Waveshare ESP32-C6-LCD-1.47.

Note:

You can see the video playing after program uploaded. Prepare the software part ready first so that you can test the audio module soldering work instantly at below step.

Please follow the video for the full making steps. Here are the connection summary:

Note:

1. This project use a short pin header to connect the dev board and audio module for easier plug and remove. If you do not have short pin header in hand, direct soldering the connection with wire is ok.
2. The USB power cable can use any old USB power cable bundle with the gadgets that only for charging only. The charging only USB cable is better than normal USB data cable because it only have 2 wires for power supply so the cable is thinner in most case.
3. The TV screen size is a little bit wider than the 1.47 LCD, so I use a PET plastics plate and some black double adhesive tape to mask the gap. You can reclaim the PET plastics plate from any product package.

Now you have a playable Retro TV for your 1:12 doll house!!