I'm trying to make a simple LED flasher but I'm stuck.
It's basically three chains: one chain with 12 red LEDs in parallel (1.8V @ 240mA) and two chains with 6 blue LEDs in parallel (About 3.2V @ 120mA)
I want the chains to light up in a simple flashing pattern.
I started of with the idea of a regular flasher like **broken link removed**.
However, since the draw from the red chain is different from the draw from the blue chains, this probably won't look all too great.
Besides that, I'm a complete n00b. Started out with the basics a few weeks ago.
I've had a few ideas, but honestly no idea how I can make them work...
1: Using a transistor in some way so that the flasher circuit will only need to provide a
base current
2: Using a relay. Maybe a reed switch with a nice inductor next to it.
3: Using some kind of IC to get this done.
4: Increasing the value of the capacitor for the red chain. (I've tested my NPN transistors
at double their rating and they didn't get very warm. They only started to get real
warm when I set my variable supply to roughly 5V @ 1A. I thought I might be able to
fix this heat problem with a simple heatsink (I have plenty of small heatsinks).
When I tried to add larger value capacitors I had some issues with the circuit itself
in my simulation program.)
I don't really mind spending a bit of money: this is supposed to be a one-time project.
The relay method seems somewhat expensive though... Maybe a bit over the top...
I don't really like idea #3 though... I would prefer a solution without ICs if possible.
Can anyone help me out here please?
Or maybe give me a good IC to work with if there's no other way? I've been looking for a few decade counters but I got lost in the options and functions.
Any help is highly appreciated!
It's basically three chains: one chain with 12 red LEDs in parallel (1.8V @ 240mA) and two chains with 6 blue LEDs in parallel (About 3.2V @ 120mA)
I want the chains to light up in a simple flashing pattern.
I started of with the idea of a regular flasher like **broken link removed**.
However, since the draw from the red chain is different from the draw from the blue chains, this probably won't look all too great.
Besides that, I'm a complete n00b. Started out with the basics a few weeks ago.
I've had a few ideas, but honestly no idea how I can make them work...
1: Using a transistor in some way so that the flasher circuit will only need to provide a
base current
2: Using a relay. Maybe a reed switch with a nice inductor next to it.
3: Using some kind of IC to get this done.
4: Increasing the value of the capacitor for the red chain. (I've tested my NPN transistors
at double their rating and they didn't get very warm. They only started to get real
warm when I set my variable supply to roughly 5V @ 1A. I thought I might be able to
fix this heat problem with a simple heatsink (I have plenty of small heatsinks).
When I tried to add larger value capacitors I had some issues with the circuit itself
in my simulation program.)
I don't really mind spending a bit of money: this is supposed to be a one-time project.
The relay method seems somewhat expensive though... Maybe a bit over the top...
I don't really like idea #3 though... I would prefer a solution without ICs if possible.
Can anyone help me out here please?
Or maybe give me a good IC to work with if there's no other way? I've been looking for a few decade counters but I got lost in the options and functions.
Any help is highly appreciated!