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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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
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.
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.