THE INTHINKERATOR MK I

The simple, adjustable DIY 2mA current source for less than $10.

- DISCLAIMER -

BUILD AND USE THIS DEVICE AT YOUR OWN PERIL. THE AUTHOR IS
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INJURIES, OR OTHER
CONSEQUENCES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT OCCUR BEFORE, DURING, OR
AFTER USING "THE INTHINKERATOR".

YOU MAY COPY, STEAL, MODIFY, AND REPRODUCE THE

INTHINKERATOR IN ANY WAY YOU PLEASE.

- ADVICE -

Don't place too much trust in my instructions or your

skills: you can find a ready made device at
http://thebrainstimulator.net/ for $90 that has a very
similar functionality to the Inthinkerator Mk I and is
likely to serve you well.
Table of Contents
THE INTHINKERATOR MK I.................................................................................................................1

...............................................................................................................................................................2
Introduction................................................................................................................................................3
Technology.................................................................................................................................................3
Specs......................................................................................................................................................3
Tools and Supplies.....................................................................................................................................3
Project Resources.......................................................................................................................................4
Soldering 101 .......................................................................................................................................4
Drilling Holes in Plastic........................................................................................................................4
How a Potentiometer Works .................................................................................................................4
Measuring Voltage and Current: a Multimeter Tutorial........................................................................4
2N3904 Transistor Datasheet................................................................................................................4
2N3904 Transistor Pin-out....................................................................................................................4
Parts List and Online Sources...............................................................................................................5
Circuit Diagram.....................................................................................................................................6
Bread Board Setup.....................................................................................................................................7
Assembly Instructions................................................................................................................................8
Tools and Supplies.................................................................................................................................8
Manufacturing the Enclosure................................................................................................................8
Soldering the Circuit.............................................................................................................................9
Current Calibration..................................................................................................................................10
Making a Dial...........................................................................................................................................11
Appendix .................................................................................................................................................12
Pictures................................................................................................................................................12
Bread Board, Close Up...................................................................................................................12
Bread Board, Overview..................................................................................................................13
Solder Connections, Close-Up........................................................................................................14
Enclosure Internals, Different Views..............................................................................................15
Design Notes.......................................................................................................................................16
Noise and Output Stability..............................................................................................................16
Oscilloscope Setup..........................................................................................................................17
Potential Improvements and Contact Info......................................................................................17
Introduction
The Inthinkerator is an affordable, adjustable current source that offers two nice features to any new
DIY tDCS enthusiast:

– no phosphenes (light flashes): ramp up the current at your own pace with a potentiometer
– easily avoid uncomfortable sensations by adjusting the amount of current to what suits you at
any time

The device was designed with a focus on affordability: it does not have an integrated amp-meter and it
needs to be calibrated after its assembly to limit the max. output current at 2mA.

Regardless of that, for less than $10, including the battery, this device comes close to the functionality
of some more expensive devices, and it sure as heck beats strapping a 9V battery with some resistors to
your head.

Important: For best results, use salt water soaked sponge electrodes. Other electrode types will
work, but the device might not be able to provide it's maximum current of 2mA.

Technology
The insides of the Inthinkerator are nothing fancy: it is an NPN transistor current source that derives
its constant voltage from a white or blue LED, and some potentiometers that allow the operator to
adjust the output current.

Learn more about this type of current source here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_source#LED_current_source

Specs
Output current range (after calibration): Adjustable from ca. 0.35 to 2.0mA
Maximum output voltage at 2mA: ca. 5.65V
Maximum load at 2.0mA: ca. 2.9kOhm

Tools and Supplies

In addition to what is laid out in the Parts List, you will need the following to complete this project:
A Multimeter Soldering Iron, Solder Small Screw Drivers Drill & Drill Bits
Small Gauge Wire Hot Glue Gun A Nail Needle-Nose Pliers
Project Resources

Soldering 101
http://www.instructables.com/id/EHD4UHG1XDEWUSKWVD/?ALLSTEPS

Drilling Holes in Plastic

http://www.ehow.com/how_8428464_drill-hole-plastic.html

How a Potentiometer Works

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potentiometer

Measuring Voltage and Current: a Multimeter Tutorial

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/multimeters-tutorial.shtml

2N3904 Transistor Datasheet

http://www.fairchildsemi.com/ds/2N/2N3904.pdf

2N3904 Transistor Pin-out

Parts List and Online Sources
Hardware
9V Battery buy anywhere $3.00
Toggle Switch http://www.taydaelectronics.com/electromechanical/switches-key- $0.47
pad/toggle-switch/mini-toggle-switch-spdt-on-on.html
Red Banana Jack http://www.taydaelectronics.com/hardware/binding-posts/red- $0.25
binding-posts.html
Black Banana Jack http://www.taydaelectronics.com/hardware/binding-posts/black- $0.25
binding-posts.html
Plastic Enclosure http://www.taydaelectronics.com/hardware/enclosures/project- $2.99
plastic-box-03.html
LED Bezel http://www.taydaelectronics.com/electromechanical/led- $0.17
holders/5mm-bezel-led-holder-chrome-metal.html
Battery Clip http://www.taydaelectronics.com/9v-9-volt-battery-clip- $0.10
connector.html
Pot. Knob http://www.taydaelectronics.com/potentiometer-variable- $0.47
resistors/knobs-29/chickenhead-black-knob.html

Electronics
2N3904 Transistor http://www.taydaelectronics.com/2n3904-npn-general-propose- $0.02
transistor.html
5kOhm Pot. http://www.taydaelectronics.com/potentiometer-variable- $1.49
resistors/rotary-potentiometer/linear/5k-ohm-linear-taper-
potentiometer-round-shaft-pcb-9mm.html
500 Ohm Trim Pot. http://www.taydaelectronics.com/potentiometer-variable- $0.28
resistors/cermet-potentiometers/500-ohm-trimmer-potentiometer-
cermet-25-turns-3296w.html
Blue LED http://www.taydaelectronics.com/leds/round-leds/5mm- $0.05
leds/blue/led-5mm-blue-water-clear-ultra-bright.html
3.3kOhm Resistor http://www.taydaelectronics.com/3-3k-ohm-1-4w-1-metal-film- $0.012
resistor.html
1kOhm Resistor http://www.taydaelectronics.com/10-x-resistor-1k-ohm-1-4w-1- $0.012
metal-film-pkg-of-10.html
680 Ohm Resistor http://www.taydaelectronics.com/10-x-resistor-680-ohm-1-4w-1- $0.012
metal-film-pkg-of-10.html
Total Cost not including shipping, assuming $3 Battery $9.80
Circuit Diagram

BT1 9V Battery
SW1 Toggle Switch
R1 3.3kOhm Resistor sets transistor base current and LED current
R2 1kOhm Resistor limits adjustable max. output current
R3 680 Ohm Resistor over current protection in short circuit scenario
RV1 500Ohm Trim. Pot. max. output current calibration
RV2 5kOhm Pot. real time current adjustment from 0.35-2mA
D1 White or Blue LED on/off indicator and reference
voltage source for the NPN transistor
Q1 2N3904 NPN Transistor regulates current to level set by D1, RV1 and RV2

To save parts in this particular design, the indicator LED forward voltage (ca. 3.5V
for blue or white LED) is also the reference voltage for the current source.

Using a LED color other than blue or white will significantly lower the max. output
current of this design.
Bread Board Setup
It might be a good idea to assemble and test the circuit on a bread board before you build the actual
device. That will give you an opportunity to better understand how the circuit works, and solve
potential problems before you commit to a more permanent construction.

You can find some pictures of my own bread board setup in the appendix.

SW1 Toggle Switch

R1 3.3kOhm Resistor
R2 1kOhm Resistor
R3 680Ohm Resistor
RV1 500Ohm Trim. Pot.
RV2 5kOhm Pot.
D1 White or Blue LED
Q1 2N3904 NPN Transistor
Assembly Instructions

Tools and Supplies

Drill & Drill Bits Needle-Nose Pliers Plastic Enclosure
Hot Glue Gun One Nail Soldering Iron, Solder

Manufacturing the Enclosure

1. Open up the enclosure and decide where you want to place the components listed below. Use
the nail to make indents in the plastic. These will serve as your drill marks.

Switch LED Bezel 2x Banana Jacks

Rotary Potentiometer Trim Potentiometer 9V Battery

2. Pick the appropriate drill bit sizes for the components and drill your holes.
3. Mount the components in their respective holes. Use hot glue to fix the trim potentiometer in
place.
Soldering the Circuit
If you don't have much soldering experience, go ahead and check out this Instructable:
http://www.instructables.com/id/EHD4UHG1XDEWUSKWVD/?ALLSTEPS

You can assemble and solder the electronic components using any technique you want. I'm not setting a
great example here, because I went with a quick'n'dirty approach: I soldered the components directly to
each other, using the mounted components (switch, potentiometers etc.) as anchor points. That method
may or may not be a safe choice for you. A safer variation on that would be to hot-glue the resistors and
transistor to the inside of the enclosure first, and then carefully solder the wire connections from
component to component, avoiding bare leads as much as possible. Another option would be to solder
the components onto a piece of prototyping board first and then mounting that inside the enclosure.

If you do copy my soldering style, please make sure the bare leads of the components have lots of
space in-between each other, and that the construction as a whole is rigid, i.e. no flopping around of
components or wires. If they cross and touch in places they aren't supposed to, the circuit will
malfunction in potentially harmful ways.

If possible, print out the circuit diagram. Follow the connections on the schematic and cross each one
off after you solder it. That will help you keep track of what components and connections you still need
to work on. Look in the Appendix for close up pictures of solder connections.

I'm lazy, so I mounted

my battery by hot-
gluing it into the case.
Feel free to splurge on
a 9V battery holder!

When it's all soldered

up, make sure your
switch is in the off
position. Now it's time
to connect the battery
and battery clip. After
that, reassemble the
enclosure. Done!
Current Calibration

1. Connect amp-meter
between anode and cathode
jack. (Don't connect
anything else.)

2. Turn amp-meter on.

3. Turn Inthinkerator on.

4. Turn RV2 5kOhm pot to

max. current. (uncalibrated
max. current might be
between 1.5 and 2.5mA)

5. Adjust RV1 500 Ohm

trim pot with small flat head
screw driver until amp-
meter reads 2.0mA. Illustration 1: Uncalibrated Current

6. Adjust RV2 rotary potentiometer from min. to max. and back and observe your amp-meter. If all
went well it should travel between 0.35 and 2.0mA.

Illustration 2: Calibrated Current

Making a Dial
To properly adjust the Inthinkerator during
use without leaving an amp-meter connected,
it is necessary to make a dial.

To do that you either want a pen that is

legible on black plastic, or you can stick
something onto the enclosure that you can
write on. I cut out a paper disc, but you could
also use masking tape, a post-it note, or a
series of little stickers to make your dial.

If you haven't already, stick your

potentiometer knob on and tighten it lightly
with a very small flat head or torx screw
driver (screw should accessible from a hole Illustration 3: Dial Made from Paper Disc
in the side of the knob).

1. Turn the knob to the min. and max. point of the potentiometer range and adjust it so that it turns
an equal distance to the left and right. Once it is balanced, tighten the screw on the
potentiometer.
2. Connect your amp-meter (nothing else) to the Inthinkerator and turn the meter on.
3. Turn on the Inthinkerator and turn the knob to max. current.
4. Mark the max. current spot on your dial and write current in mA next to it. The meter should
read 2.0mA.
5. Adjust the knob until the amp-meter reads 1.5mA, then mark and annotate that position
6. Adjust the knob until the amp-meter reads 1.0mA, then mark and annotate that position
7. Rinse and repeat. Feel free to measure and mark as many current settings on the dial as you
wish.

Once everything is calibrated and annotated, you shouldn't have to do this again anytime soon.
How ever, it is a good idea to periodically check your output current and how it corresponds with
your dial. If it seems off, you can try to recalibrate the device.
Appendix

Pictures

Bread Board, Close Up

Bread Board, Overview
Solder Connections, Close-Up

Illustration 4: Trim Pot. RV1 and Banana Jacks, R3 on Red Jack

Illustration 5: Rotary Pot. RV2 (center, green), R3 (left), R2 on Trim Pot.

Enclosure Internals, Different Views
Design Notes

Noise and Output Stability

Test setup: 2.0mA on a 2kOhm resistive load, 10MOhm probe, ATTEN ADS1102CAL oscilloscope

Illustration 6: Voltage over 2kOhm Resistor, DC Coupling

On its own the output seems very stable. No visible oscillations. How ever, zooming in and isolating
the AC component of the signal, we can see that the circuit is picking up high frequency noise from the
environment. This is to be expected and shouldn't impair the device itself in any way.

Illustration 7: Voltage over 2kOhm Resistor, AC Coupling

Oscilloscope Setup

Potential Improvements and Contact Info

This device is far from perfect, both in concept and construction. An easy improvement would be to use
a logarithmic 10k potentiometer for RV2 instead of the linear 5k. That should lower the min. current to
about 0.17mA and allow better, more precise adjustment in the 1.0-2.0mA range.
I look forward to seeing what other community members come up with.

Questions, ideas, feedback: u/Kulty on Reddit or logancna@gmail.com