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Thread: LED Flasher/strobe Circuit

  1. #1
    ste1070 Newbie
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    Default LED Flasher/strobe Circuit

    Hi,

    Need to construct a LED strobe type flasher unit which flashes 2 pairs of amber/yellow LED's. Ideally needs to run on either 2 x AA batts or 9v cell. Need to flash twice quickly on 1 pair then change to other pair and keep alternating similar to emergency vehicle type but to run a small battery.

    Can somebody help me?

    Thanking you in anticipation.

    Steve


  2. #2
    Friend of the Electrons Andy1845c Good Andy1845c Good Andy1845c Good
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    Default

    If you search the forums for LED strobes, there have been a couple topics on this. Or handy dandy search feature isn't working at the moment though. The double flash will make it harder to do. I simple 555 timer can give you a single alternating flash.

  3. #3
    ste1070 Newbie
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    Thanks for quick response. Trouble is am an electrician and have limited electronic knowledge. Will double flash be big problem as need this really?

  4. #4
    Friend of the Electrons Andy1845c Good Andy1845c Good Andy1845c Good
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    how to make this

    Theres one of the topics I was thinking of. The last response might help you. If you dig around here, theres more I know. I just can't remember the titles.

  5. #5
    ste1070 Newbie
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    Quote Originally Posted by Andy1845c
    how to make this

    Theres one of the topics I was thinking of. The last response might help you. If you dig around here, theres more I know. I just can't remember the titles.

    What components would I need for this and is a diagram available? Sorry to be a pain!

  6. #6
    audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent
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    Default

    There were a couple of discussions about blinking an LED twice then blinking another LED twice, for toy police cars.

    A circuit used an oscillator driving a CD4017. The 1 and 3 outputs of the CD4017 had diodes to a transistor to blink the 1st LED, then outputs 5 and 7 had diodes to another transistor to blink the 2nd LED. then the 8th output of the CD4017 made it reset.

    EDIT: The IC is a CD4017.
    Last edited by audioguru; 2nd February 2007 at 12:34 AM.
    Uncle $crooge

  7. #7
    jbeng Good jbeng Good
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    Quote Originally Posted by audioguru
    The 1 and 3 outputs of the 555 had diodes...
    You meant the CD4017, right?
    JB
    Jeff

    Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - Weiler's Law

  8. #8
    RODALCO Newbie
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    Default 4017

    Use a 4017 IC driven from a 555 IC or eq. to make it receive clock pulses.

    Put on all 4017 outputs blocking diodes, set the light sequence with additional diodes after the blocking diodes, then drive the output transistors and led's as required.
    There are more ways to get to Rome.

    Electricity, Electric clocks, Meters and Trains are great.

    Please don't sent me private messages, I will not answer them.
    The questions asked can be discussed in the open forums.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/RODALCO2007 some interesting electrical stuff to watch.

  9. #9
    audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent audioguru Excellent
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    If you make the LED current really high then they will blink as brightly as strobes, maybe even with a bit of smoke. But only one time.
    Uncle $crooge

  10. #10
    AllVol Good AllVol Good AllVol Good
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    Hi, ste1070

    If you are interested, attached is a simple program using PICAXE that will do exactly what you desire. Programming a PICAXE is probably the simplest of all, using the free Program Editor and a simple three-wire RS232 cable.

    After you are through programming, simply mount the 8-pin AXE007, two resistors and the two LEDs, plus three AAA cells into your model car and have fun!

    See also: www.jrhackett.net

    Hope this helps.

    AllVol

    Sorry, the attachment would not download. I've never had that problem before.
    Last edited by AllVol; 3rd February 2007 at 01:44 PM.
    Creationists have a world of evidence

  11. #11
    AllVol Good AllVol Good AllVol Good
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    Let me try that attachment again.
    Attached Images
    Last edited by AllVol; 4th February 2007 at 02:19 AM.
    Creationists have a world of evidence

  12. #12
    Roff Excellent Roff Excellent Roff Excellent Roff Excellent Roff Excellent Roff Excellent Roff Excellent Roff Excellent Roff Excellent Roff Excellent
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    If you want a solution that doesn't involve a microcontroller, here's a schematic of what Audioguru described. You can tweak pulse widths and LED currents to suit your needs.
    Attached Images
    Ron


  13. #13
    AllVol Good AllVol Good AllVol Good
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    Not that I'm pushing PICs, although I am rapidly becoming attached to them, just compare the attached schematic with that of Little Brave and Nanuk of the North.

    1. Fewer components (count 'em)
    2. Less construction time (even if you count programming time)
    3. Less chance for error
    4. Possibly longer battery life
    5. Even a dummy like me can do this

    AllVol
    Attached Images
    Creationists have a world of evidence

  14. #14
    Banned cadstarsucks Newbie
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    Quote Originally Posted by AllVol
    Not that I'm pushing PICs, although I am rapidly becoming attached to them, just compare the attached schematic with that of Little Brave and Nanuk of the North.

    1. Fewer components (count 'em)
    2. Less construction time (even if you count programming time)
    3. Less chance for error
    4. Possibly longer battery life
    5. Even a dummy like me can do this

    AllVol

    Could have fooled me. A 74AC14, A74AC161, 3 resistors, and a capacitor will do it if you do not care about the pause between the color changes and can supply 50mA to the LEDs.

    D.

  15. #15
    Roff Excellent Roff Excellent Roff Excellent Roff Excellent Roff Excellent Roff Excellent Roff Excellent Roff Excellent Roff Excellent Roff Excellent
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    Quote Originally Posted by cadstarsucks
    Could have fooled me. A 74AC14, A74AC161, 3 resistors, and a capacitor will do it if you do not care about the pause between the color changes and can supply 50mA to the LEDs.

    D.
    That's still more parts than the microcontroller solution. Why don't you step up and provide a schematic, anyway. Talk is cheap.
    Ron


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