Warehouse 13 Tesla Gun

The Warehouse 13 Tesla Gun replica operates through an integrated system of microcontrollers, optical signaling, and custom lighting driven by a Raspberry Pi Pico. The Raspberry Pi Pico acts as the central processing unit, executing scripts written in CircuitPython or MicroPython to manage the device's logic flow. User input is captured via a physical potentiometer acting as a control dial, which varies an analog voltage read by the Pico's analog-to-digital converters to adjust operational modes or lighting patterns. For visual feedback and prop illumination, the system drives a NeoPixel Mini Button PCB alongside additional discrete LEDs, utilizing data-driven serial communication to produce dynamic lighting animations across the prop's body and barrel. An infrared (IR) LED is incorporated to transmit optical signals, allowing the prop to interact with compatible receivers or other devices. The physical aesthetic is anchored by a 3D-printed chassis housing a central 4-inch vacuum tube and two flanking 2-inch vacuum tubes, which serve as structural and visual centerpieces for the replica. While a PAM8302 audio amplifier IC is included in the hardware inventory, it remains unused in the final assembly. Power distribution and signal routing tie all these elements together into a cohesive, interactive prop controlled entirely by the embedded Pico microcontroller.