The fascinating lights of nightclubs and nightclubs are based mostly on intermittency, even more than intensity. They are usually accompanied by a more subdued lighting game that gives the party atmosphere but at the same time with the touch of mystery and color. But surely you’ve always wondered how to make a strobe light.
Just those that repeatedly flash, which also cause a kind of ecstasy because it creates an effect in the brain of light inconsistency. These signals are interpreted as a visual system failure and usually cause dizziness. Enhancing the impact of alcohol, cigarettes and making more than one, leave the place doing “S” when walking, having only taken a couple of drinks
Fun and Science
But what we seek is not a psychedelic effect, let alone harm us. But create a party atmosphere without having to buy expensive lighting devices. Therefore, we will teach you how to make a strobe light. If you pay attention, it will be better than a disco.
Strobe lights with LEDs
This electronic project is similar to several published on this page. Still, it brings together different ways of using LEDs as strobe lights, in most cases, they are alternative projects to those that use Xenon bulbs, which, although they produce an irreplaceable light, can make very similar projects with the advantages of LEDs but without the disadvantages of Xenon.
1.) Strobe light for disco
This project is similar to intermittent with LEDs and replaces strobe lights with Xenon.
The most practical thing is to make a pulse generator with a NE555 since it is similar to the time it is switched on, you can use slightly higher current values in the less than in continuous work.
And to use with 12 volts, we can use a power MOSFET to be able to place a series of LEDs until obtaining the desired result.
The power MOSFET I use is the IRF630A, although almost anyone who supports the consumption of the LED works. It is normal to calculate the consumption of a common LED in less than 20mA when it is fixed light and something more significant when it is pulsating.
By saying a typical LED, I mean the 5mm led. It can be used with 50m in pulses of approximately 10% of the total time, but in order not to reduce it much longer, it is better to calculate only a little past 20mA. Almost all 5mm leads. They do not support more than 30 mA continuous, nor pulses more significant than 75 mA.
In the Christmas series, they use LEDs that scatter light, which have similar electrical characteristics. We can use set of 3 LEDs with an Rc resistance of 220Ω each, in the diagram, there are three series (9 LEDs),
but to achieve excellent brightness, more series of LEDs are better. Although you can lower the value of the resistance by decreasing the life of the LEDs.
- R1 4.7K.
- R2 Potentiometer 100K
- C1 1 μF.
- C2 47 μF. or older.
- R5 100Ω
- R4 2.2K (maybe smaller)
2.) LEDs simulating police lights
Using a 4017 sequencer and an NE55 as a clock, we can get a pretty showy design, like the animation on the right. We can change the NE555 for another type of watch, like astable multivibrators with logic gates.
Rc is calculated as in the previous project, and the clock values (oscillator NE555) are also the same.
Pin 15 connects a resistance of 100K to earth to avoid that by leakage of the positive is in “reset,” it can also be combined with pin 11, but it shortens a time.
3.) Beacons and other applications
For beacons, the project is the same as project 1 (strobe light for disco).
The difference is in the speed; in this case, it is necessary to use a C1 value of 10μF. of 16 volts or more.
We will need the following.
- A cable extension of 1 to 2 m long for alternating current of 110v and 2 Amp
- A lamp of saving bulbs, these are composed of LEDs instead of conventional bulbs. They resist and shine much more and spend less energy, regularly work with 12V.
- We need a transformer of any device that does not work anymore, that receives the 110V but those 12 V.
- An intermittent plug, sold at all hardware stores
- The stroboscopic effect, we will achieve it with
- If you want a more dancer light, you can also get a time switch. It’s a kind of knob that regulates the speed of intermittency.
- One socket for the LED bulb
- A female plug
Instructions
We will first fix the mirrors in the form of a trapeze, leaving a space where the LED will stick with its base. To this, we are going to connect the current output of the regulator or transformer (remember that it must have 12 Volts of production). We use this because these lamps work with direct current. We can not connect it directly to the wall, or we would have a big explosion, and we lose everything.
Now, to make a strobe light, we’ll attach the extension to the switch or switch, using the intermittent plug to power it. The switch connects to one of the two strands of the cable, making a bridge that opens and closes with the button or knob. Now compare it to the socket, and we will see how the mirrors will do the rest, refracting the light in all directions.
Tips
Make sure you have an extra bulb on hand when you use your homemade strobe light, in case the first one burns.
Warnings
Some light bulbs get very hot with prolonged use, so be careful with the heat build-up when you use the strobe light!
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