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Build an LED Strober
The strobe light or stroboscopic lamp, commonly known as Strober,
is a device used to produce regular flashes of light.
The light source commonly used in the strobers is a xenon flash lamp,
which manages a temperature of approximately
5,600 degrees Kelvin
This makes some durable and high risk of burning the device.
Having in mind economy and durability,
we have used LEDs instead of the obsolete xenon bulbs.
LEDs or Light Emitting Diodes, allow today to make a new lighting system,
working at very low temperatures,
giving a greater efficiency, lower environmental pollution and work intermittently
for extended periods
of time.
As our primary purpose is to transmit basic concepts of electronics
through practical projects, a way of achieving a better understanding of this circuit
circuit is to mount breadboard (protoboard) from the schematic.
We recommend domig this setup before building the circuit board.
operation
This strobe light system is powered by a single source designed without transformer.
It incorporates a tank circuit formed by a capacitor of 2.2 uF
polyester
and a resistance of 330K.
After these two components limit the current to about 60 milliamps,
is rectified by a diode bridge and a capacitor.
Like this voltage is high,
is reduced to 6 volts by a zener diode
with its respective polarization resistor.
The 555
is an integrated circuit used to generate oscillations
and time delays of accuracy.
In this case we will use it to make an astable oscillator.
The working frequency is set by a potentiometer, a pair of resistors and a capacitor.
The 555 is responsible for controlling the transistors
that act as switches,
LEDs light up.
The signal delivered the 555 square foot in 3,
goes through a 10K resistor to the base of the
2N3904 transistor.
The sender of this goes to ground and the collector receives
the voltage via a 10K resistor and in turn is connected to the base
of another transistor.
The collector of the other 2N3904 is in series with the LEDs
that are powered from the positive of the diode bridge,
before the zener diode limiting resistor.
When the 555 sends a positive voltage,
the transistor Q1 between emitter and collector leads,
negatively biasing the base of transistor Q2.
. At this time Q2 does not conduct and therefore does not turn on the LEDs.
By the time the 555 sends a negative pulse, the first transistor (Q1)
does not lead and positively polarized base of transistor Q2, making driving.
At that moment you turn on the LEDs.
This cycle is repeated at high speed, producing the effect of flashing light.
construction
After downloading from our website the PDF file with a list of materials,
wiring diagram and the PCB,
we must begin to build the oscillator card.
They should put all the components using the mask as a guide and review components
thoroughly before soldering.
If you have no experience in assembling electronic project,
be sure to read our section on Recommendations.
Having built the oscillator circuit, we must make the panel of 80 LEDs.
We will use the lid of a jar of cold recycling.
Mask is printed components found in the PDF file
and then cut scissors.
Paste the mask pattern on the cap and components with the help of a drill,
drilled all the holes where the LEDs will go later.
LEDs placed at the top, considering that all the LEDs stay with its negative pole
facing the left side, in other words the opposite of clockwise
To identify the polarity of the LED, we note that the short leg is negative.
If by mistake, an LED is placed upside down, the circuit will not start.
We bend the legs of the LEDs and cut to sufficient size so that the leg
is positive for each LED with LED negative leg immediately following.
At this point we must realize the voltage to feed our circuit.
If in our country we have a voltage of 220V
on the public network
we must make a single series from start to finish with 80 LEDs.
But if we have a voltage of 120 volts,
should do 2 sets of 40 LEDs.
Having made the connection of LEDs, proceed to weld their feet,
joining all the LEDs together
. Be careful not to melt the plastic lid. Make good welds and quickly.
Now comes the installation of the oscillator circuit in the bowl of ice cream.
Must be made three holes in the back: one for the knuckle of the potentiometer shaft
or another to fit the pin it up,
and at the bottom there is another hole where the power cord exit the circuit.
Card is installed to ensure the pot with nut and washer.
It is important before removing the power cord, tie a knot so that
when pulling the cable, do not go to abuse the circuit.
The sheet will serve as the strobe support
the bend by a (U).
At each end to make a hole using a drill bit the same diameter
as the screws that adjust the blade to the jar.
We do a couple of holes on the sides of the bowl and put the screws holding it with foil,
leaving the butterflies on the outside,
so you can adjust to taste and to change the angle of the strobe.
Connecting the LED panel, with the oscillator circuit.
The connection I see is for supply of 120 volts.
If your country the utility voltage is 220 volts,
should be placed in series all 80 LEDs and additional wires will unite
the two parallel series,
only two wires will oscillator circuit, to panel LEDs.
In the end we put the power cord plug.
We placed a step switch on and off
our strobe.
We have our strobe light Strobe or terminated.
We can use it at our parties in the establishment or place next
to our videojukebox,
encouraging the rumba, giving it a disco atmosphere to our business.
We hope that this project is also very useful and contribute their knowledge
in electronics.
Success!