I have a Pinnacle Video Transfer unit.  I think it is a great unit, except that I did not like that I could not have it record for a set period of time.  Having to be there to stop recording, rather than going to bed, was inconvenient for me.

So I opened the unit and added a small circuit board with a picaxe micro-controller, five indicator LED’s, a transistor to trigger the record button, six resistors, one resistor network and three pushbutton switches.  It all fits nicely inside the bottom of the box, drawing its power from the Pinnacle board.

1 button is used to increment the timer up in 10 minute intervals.  The second button increments it down.  The third button starts the timer as well as the recorder.

The lights show the time in binary 10 minute intervals.  So with all five lights lit the unit will record for 310 minutes, or 5 hours 10 minutes.

I have pictures, and if I knew how to attach them I would.

Ken