How to Make a Time Lapse Using a TI 86

The TI-86 can be programmed to cause a camera to take time-lapse photographs.

Owners of the TI-86 generally use the calculator for basic high school or college math classes. Users can download or program mathematical applications directly into the calculator. Enthusiasts of this idea took it one step further and started creating non-mathematical programs for the calculators. One such program allows the TI-86 to make any camera with a remote shutter release port into a time-lapse camera. In order to make a time-lapse program with your TI-86, you need to understand how the programming feature works and how to install a relatively simple, program.

Things You'll Need

• TI-86 graphing calculator
• Camera with a remote shutter release port
• 2.5 millimeter link cable

Instructions

1. Turn on the calculator. The "ON" button is the first button from the bottom on the left side.

2. Push the "PRGM" button. The program or "PRGM" button is the third button from the right, third row down from the top, underneath the "DEL" key.

3. Highlight the "NEW" heading and press "ENTER." Once the "NEW" menu comes up, press "1" on the keypad, selecting the "Create New" option.

4. Type in a name for the new program and press "ENTER." After you press "ENTER," a menu will appear with the heading "PROGRAM: name of program you chose" and a colon beneath it.

5. Push the "PRGM" button again, highlight the "I/O" heading, select the "Prompt" option, and press "ENTER." The word "Prompt" will show up next to the colon.

6. Press the "ALPHA" key (second key from the top on the far left row). The "ALPHA" key works the same way as the "SHIFT" key on a computer, but on the TI-86 it allows you to use the operations above the keys written in the same color as the "ALPHA" key. A small highlighted "A" will appear in the upper right corner of the screen to inform you the "ALPHA" key is selected. Once the 'ALPHA" key is selected, push the "LOG" key to insert an "A" after the "Prompt" command.

7. Press "ENTER." A new colon will appear asking for a new command.

8. Push the "PRGM" button, highlight the "While" option and press "ENTER." Push the "1" key and press "ENTER." A new colon will show up on the screen.

9. Push the "PRGM" button, highlight the "For" option and press "ENTER." The "For" command will show up on the screen with an open, left parenthesis.

10. Press the "ALPHA" key. Make sure the "A" symbol is in the upper right corner. Push the "(" key; the letter "H" will show up on the screen next to the parenthesis.

11. Press the "," button (far left column, two keys above the "ON" button) and push the number "1." Push the "," key again and press the "ALPHA" button. Once the alpha command is on, press the "LOG" button to insert an "A". After the "A", push the "," button and press the number "1" again. Close the parenthesis by pressing the ")" button. Hit "ENTER." Another colon will appear.

12. Push the "PRGM" button and choose the "End" option. Press "ENTER" to start a new line.

13. Press the "PRGM" key and highlight the "I/O" heading. Select the "Send" option and press "ENTER." Like the "For" option, the "Send" option will show up on the screen with an open, left parenthesis. Press the "ALPHA" key and hit the "LOG" button to insert an "A" next to the parenthesis. Close the parenthesis by pressing the ")" key and pushing "ENTER." A new line will show up.

14. Press the "PRGM" button and select the "End" option from the number menu. Press "ENTER." The calculator screen should now read:

    : Prompt A

    : While 1

    : For (H,1,A,1)

    : End

    : Send (A)

    : End

15. 

    Connect the calculator to the camera with a 2.5 millimeter line cable.

    Connect one end of the 2.5 millimeter cable to the input jack on the calculator and the other end to the remote shutter release port on the camera.

16. Press the "PRGM" button on the calculator and highlight the program. Press "ENTER." The command "Prompt A = ?" will appear on the screen. Type in the number of seconds you want between each pictures. Press "ENTER" to start the camera.

Tips & Warnings

• The program will work with TI-83, TI-84,TI-84 plus and TI-85.

• You can make the program more advanced by programming a predetermined number of pictures, and varying time between pictures with additional programming and commands.

References

• University of Southern Maine: TI-86 Graphing Calculator Guidebook
• Timescapes.org: ti-83 + interval timer program
• The digital-picture.com: CanonEOS 40D Digital Instruction Manual
• Breeze Systems: Firing Multiple Cameras at the Same Time
• Ohlone College: Texas Instruments Calculator Comparisons