Unique and entertaining, for all ages. Like a Furin wind chime, but works indoors. Not for use outdoors.

Lighting and performance

No other solar chime requires less light.

Hang it from a cup hook in the ceiling of a well lit room.

It chimes every few minutes in an average brightness room, say 200 lux. The solar cell faces down. It can tolerate direct sunlight but chimes almost continuously, in reflected light of say 1k lux. You can hang it above a table lamp to control when it chimes.

It chimes faintly, less than a wind chime. You can hear it in the same room, or farther when the house is quiet.

Details:

• Three inches in diameter
• Hangs on a six inch cord
• Weighs one ounce
• No batteries or maintenance except occasional dusting

Fully assembled.

Made from:

• a decorated, blown glass bell (from a gutted wind chime)
• a pager motor
• an amorphous silicon solar cell
• a tantalum capacitor
• miscellaneous control electronics
• an OSHPark PCB
• white polyester cord and nylon quilting line
• tinned piano wire
• red, glass bead weights
• red, acrylic sheet (for decoration)

Warranty is one year, but it should last for years, until the motor wears out.

Ships securely in a cardboard box. Be aware when unpacking that the suspension is slightly more delicate than that of a wind chime.

You can put tape over the solar cell to get less spinning in very strong light.

Patent pending. The clapper is suspended by a thread to the axle of the motor. The clapper wobbles a little as it spins, throwing the weight outwards. The bell opening is more or less eccentric. The clapper strikes the bell chaotically.