No way, I can get uC startup kits for free (also compilers are free) and the chips themselves are much less than $1.00 or better yet a free sample.
Microchip offers one in a 6 pin SOT package hard to beat that for cost or size. All one needs is time. I only mentioned it again because the OP indicated he is interested in learning/using uC but had erroneously thought he couldn't do it unless he spent $50. For a one off design it *CAN* be done for $0.00 just your time to code it.

 

yes, i agree you will not be able to see an led at day. i have seen some hand held strobes that use two aa's and will be quite visible at day. you could pull it apart and mount the rest of the circuitry elsewhere and have the flash tube at the end of the chopper.

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the same 4093 based strobe circuit could be used to trigger an SCR which fires a recycled photo-flash from a disposable camera (possibly free from a photomat)

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For what its worth, this is what i am trying to accomplish
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=341776

Im not sure if you will be able to see it without registering, but give it a shot, there is a video of the setup in action.

I dont need the alarm, or even all the other lights, my main goal is just to get the strobe effect with even a single LED.

Im pretty sure he is using a micro controller but i have no experience with that so i was hoping to find another way. He sells it as a kit now, but its around $30.00 and i was hoping to have the satisfaction of building it myself.

Right now it doesnt even have to be that practical. I would prefer it to be practical of course but if i could just get it to work, that would be a starting point for me.

I would love to learn to program micro controllers, can you suggest a kit or something to get started? the only reference i have is from a few books that mention them. they pointed out the BASIC stamp2, which has a few kits, but they arent cheap. Where can i get started? any good kits for less or does anyone have any equipment they might want to part with?

I dont know anyone who can program one for me, so ill have to do it myself

Thanks

 

Icd2icd2icd2icd2

 

hi,
IF, you look carefully at my rough sketch of the 4093 you will see it has a FET as an LED driver!, no where have I suggested driving an LED from the 10mA output of the 4093. As the chopper has a 9.6V, 650mA/h battery it should be able to drive a hi-intensity white LED.
>>
For a one off design it *CAN* be done for $0.00 just your time to code it. This I would like to see.

So he has to learn how to program a PIC in order to flash a 'one off design' LED!
Once he has gained this programming knowledge, what he going to with this knowledge, after he has flashed the LED ??.

The only way he could make use of this knowledge, would require him to buy the necessary programming/debug hardware???

From what I can infer from the OP's posts, his hobby is R/C models, not programming.

__________________
Eric
"Good enough is Perfect"

PIC tutorials:
Gramo's: www.digital-diy.net/
Bill's: www.blueroomelectronics.com/

 

Eric, would you be kind enough to give me a parts list to build this? Im still feeling my way around! Ive built a few audio amps but with VERY detailed instructions. Thanks...

If i could get one led to flash, flash, off......flash, flash, off....I would be happy! its something to build on.

Also, I would be interested in micro controllers, i just dont know where to start! Ive looked on ebay and found kits of a PIC controller starting at 24 or so dollars, where would you recommend i start? or should i run as fast as possible in the other direction?

Thanks

 

hi Sam,
I could do a decent drawing of the 4093, with component values, given 24hrs. Let me know what you decide to do.

One of my jobs was designing marine rescue/safety lights also aircraft strobe lights,
I know what a chopper, 'double flash, pause' strobe light rate is.

With ref to Opitkon's input, regarding PIC's, it may appear as though I am being negative towards MCU/PIC's,
in fact, most of my products are MCU based.

In this instance, the quick. low cost solution, IMO, is a logic gate.
Many engineers have a tendency to over design a project, hanging 'bells and whistles' on the project until it becomes unreliable.

My signature below, 'good enough is perfect' means, if the product meets the users specification, then its OK.
If not, then its not good enough!.

Many modellers have taken the time/trouble to learn 'PIC-speak'.
If I was in your position I would learn how to program MCU's, there are many applications in R/C modelling that could be very interesting.

__________________
Eric
"Good enough is Perfect"

PIC tutorials:
Gramo's: www.digital-diy.net/
Bill's: www.blueroomelectronics.com/

 

There is a huge component supplier here in portland, i havent been there, but im going to try to get there in the next few days, otherwise...ill just order from digikey.

As soon as i get the parts, maybe this weekend, i would like to build your circuit. Once i get it put together, i can spend some time figuring out how it works?

So, the BASIC stamp2 would be considered an MCU? i assume there are different languages and standards?

 

hi sam,
Is that Portland UK?

I have never used the Basic Stamp, but as I understand, its just a PIC preloaded with a BASIC interpreter, I'm sure if I am wrong that someone will enjoy jumping up and down on me!.

I use the term MCU, [micro-controller unit] to cover all the common types, AVR, PIC, Z80,,, etc, there are a number to choose from.

If you decide to learn programming you will have decide which programming language suits YOU.
Examples, Assembler , C, .....

__________________
Eric
"Good enough is Perfect"

PIC tutorials:
Gramo's: www.digital-diy.net/
Bill's: www.blueroomelectronics.com/

 

for a lower cost alternative to the basic stamp, check out the picaxe

their programming is setup for school children... you "draw" your program using their special (free) software, and then upload it to the chip. the programmer is a simple serial cable with some resistors

here's the chip:
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/pro...oducts_id=8308

programming cable:
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/pro...oducts_id=8313

basic development board to mess around with:
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/pro...oducts_id=8321

if you're clever, you can build your own cable and development board

__________________
If you don't have a planet, what good are gold bars?

want to contact me directly? gmail gordonthree
check out my project website: http://projects.dimension-x.net
Favorite numbers:
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

 

Eric, the OP was not at all against learning to program. He expressed interest in doing so. You provided some non programming solution and others have suggested a PIC related programming solution. My only contribution is to mention that a uC development platform can cost $0.00

It is quite possible to call these companies and get a free startup kit & samples. I've done it before so I would not suggest it if I didnt know that it can actually cost $0.00 to develop a microcontroller program, program the part and use the programmed part in a design. They give this stuff away to schools for free all the time.

 

hi Sam,
If you are in Portland UK, send me the PIC, post your assembly code to the forum, I will program/debug and return your programmed PIC, FOC.

Download the free MPLAB IDE from www.microchip.com

If you decide you want to do this, let me know, I will then PM my address in Hampshire UK.

Optikon,
if I was advising a Newbie [I hate that term] a student, I would say,

if you intend following a hobby or career in electronics, get on the PIC ladder asap.
Consider the money that you outlay for the kit, as an investment in your future, MCU's are not going to go away for a very long time.

I am probably over reacting, but I find in almost every case engineers want to have a MCU somewhere in a project,
when a simple piece of logic will do the same job just as well.

I prefer a simple, quick, reliable solution to solving problems.

I would like to say that I enjoy discussing the pro's and con's with a fellow engineer, this is the way, I am still prepared listen and learn even after 57 years in this industry.
Its good to hear other points of view, it helps me think outside 'the box'

Regards

__________________
Eric
"Good enough is Perfect"

PIC tutorials:
Gramo's: www.digital-diy.net/
Bill's: www.blueroomelectronics.com/

 

hi sam,
This may help you to decide, the circuit has been tested on a project board and it works fine.

I've put a couple of single turn [low cost] potentiometers on the circuit so you
choose your own flash rates.

EDIT: On the circuit I have used Tantalum caps, but Ceramic for the 0u1F would be OK and Electrolytic for the 4u7F.
All the Resistors are 1% Metal Film and the Pots are 500K single turn, pcb mount.

__________________
Eric
"Good enough is Perfect"

PIC tutorials:
Gramo's: www.digital-diy.net/
Bill's: www.blueroomelectronics.com/

 

Thanks for your help, ill look over the schematic and see what i can put together.

I am in Portland, OR USA. I would take you up on your offer, but i think ill try this out first and go from there....

In regards to the PICAXE I was looking at this http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/pro...ducts_id=8321# and thought i might give it a shot. The problem is, I dont have a serial port, so im stuck paying 25.00 for the cable. I have a spare USB cable, how easily could I wire that up to it? Is there a resource for the USB pinout so I could wire it to a plug myself? Thanks