How to build flashing LED's

[Ben McCoy]

Does anybody have a schematic and a parts list of how to build this. I am thinking something along the lines of - Left wing, blink blink-right wing, blink blink- tail, single blink. Something along the lines of that. I am a complete newbie when it comes to electronics. I was just wondering if someone had something easy to follow.

Thanks,

Ben

[crvogt]

Ben,

The good news is no complicated circuit is necessary now days, you can purchase LEDs with the bliker built in. You just hook them up in series with a resistor between + and - and they start blinking.. Very easy to add lights to a plane...

Sources for blinking LEDs
Radio Shack ( a little expensive now days)
http://www.radioshack.com/category.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F011%5F006%5F002%5F000&Page=2


Allelectronics ( electronic surplus)
http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=340200&type=store

There are also kits good way to learn a little about electronics...
http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=305&type=store

Hope this helps
Carl

[Texy]

Unfortunately, correct me if I,m wrong, but all they do is blink on and off at a fixed rate - you are unable to control the period. There is lot a of folks out there,
myself included, who have designed circuits to blink more like a real aircraft, which is what Ben was asking for (I believe).
Texy

[Ben McCoy]

Thats right Texy.. Could you help?? Thanks for the info anyway CRVOGT... :D

[Andy W]

Get a 555 timer from RadioShack. The application notes on the web more than cover everything else you'll need.
..a

[Texy]

Get a 555 timer from RadioShack. The application notes on the web more than cover everything else you'll need.
..a

Well a single 555 wont give you a double blink, but you could use 2 555's.
The PIC approach is the cleanest of course, but you will need to program it.

My website shows you how I did it. My circuit controls an aiptek optionally as well as my own nav-led system, including landing led's.
Unfortunately I,m in the States until 28th August so cant send you any
PIC files. I strongly recommend learning all about the PIC though.
Blinking LED's are one of those subjects that the tutorials love!!
Texy
www.btinternet.com/~texy

[Jenny2657]

The LM3909 went out of production years ago, but with a little searching, I imagine that you'd be able to find someone who has some lying around and would love to get rid of them cheap. It sounds like it might be what you need, but I don't know about synchronizing them. They're really simple to use; just the chip, LED, and a capacitor. You can change the period simply by changing the cap value.

Here's the datasheet:
LM3909 (http://alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/pdf/NSC/LM3909.html)

HTH,
Jen

[zagisrule!]

You can use a PIC of all things... :D

You might also consider discrete transistors configured in a multivibrator configuration to give alternating flashing. You can calculated capacitances and resistances to fit your needs as far as flash rates. You could even use a pot instead of a fixed resistor so you could vary the times.




-Matt

[Ben McCoy]

Thanks for the info guys. Wheer do I find info on the pic???

[Foxy]

Check out the PICAXE controller if you dont have any programing skills. http://www.rev-ed.co.uk/picaxe/
Very easy to use.

Adam

[Texy]

Check out the PICAXE controller if you dont have any programing skills. http://www.rev-ed.co.uk/picaxe/
Very easy to use.

Adam

Maybe good for learning PIC programming, but look at the cost, and it looks relatively heavy for RC use (compared to a purpose built PIC circuit).

Texy

[Solcat]

Look in ebay under LED lights. They have small battery powered flashing lights for about a buck that you could just glue on. I bought a couple for a night fly. They were labeled "body lights". Just twist to turn on and off. No wires.

[Texy]

But still back to the original problem - a simple flash on-off-on-off etc, no control,
and not 'life-like'.
Neat all the same, but not what the original poster is asking for.
Texy

[Mr.RC-CAM]

I am a complete newbie when it comes to electronics. I was just wondering if someone had something easy to follow.
I would recommend that you look at Michele's model light system. It allows you to create complex blink patterns. http://xoomer.virgilio.it/schieppati.m/prod03.htm


Or, if you have access to a PIC programmer then the Nav-Lights Project might be what you need: http://www.rc-cam.com/navlight.htm

Keep in mind that you will want VERY bright LED's (at least 5000 mcd). The typical "bright" LED's that you get with ready to use Rave-like products are not the best choice. The RC-CAM LED Info page has some LED data that may help: http://www.rc-cam.com/led_info.htm

RC-CAM

[Majortomski]

But still back to the original problem - a simple flash on-off-on-off etc, no control,
and not 'life-like'.
Neat all the same, but not what the original poster is asking for.
Texy


OK I'm confused! What do you mean by "LIFE LIKE"?

On international civilan aircraft there are five types of lights. The navigation lights; red on the left wingtip, green on the right wingtip, and white on the aft end of the plane or rudder pointing aft. NONE of thes blink on a civilian plane. On USAF aircraft they may be programed to blink at one of several rates. The second type of light is/are anti collision light(s) usually RED rotating beacons, blinking incandesants, or red strobes. naturally these blink on-off-on-off at a fixed rate. However two of them on the same plane may not blink at the same rate. Number three are white anticollison strobes, flash ,not blink at a constant rate. Landing lights, which may or may not flash in alternating patterns for identification purposes, but only with the gear down. And logo lights which illuminate the company's logo on the fin. Usually don't flash.

So what Life like lights are you trying to replicate?

[Texy]

Well I,m certainly no expert, but in the UK, when I see low flying aircraft I distinctly see twin-flash blink lights it. That is, blink,blink.................blink,blink........... ...etc
I could be mistaken of course.
But anyway, the point I was making was that a simple flash on-off-on-off isn't
life like (to me anyway).
Texy

[Ben McCoy]

Texy has the right idea of what I am looking for.

[Foxy]

Texy, the 8 pin device only cost me $4AUD, the 18 pin is only $10AUD and you only need a few resistors to program it. I'm not sure how it would be heavier than a pic circuit. I think it is a great alternative for those who dont want to learn assembly, and the software is free.
All the best
Adam

[Texy]

I was obviously looking at the wrong thing on the website then - fair dinkum!!

and happy programming.
Texy

[beanie]

i recommend the nav-light system by mr rc-cam. you can get to it at http://www.rc-cam.com/navlight.htm i built one of these following his instructions and it works tremendously well. you've got the ability to set the blinking lights to single or double. and they you have constantly-on lights and landing lights. he has the pic programmed such that the landing lights turn on after the throttle is reduced as if in preparation for landing. i simply applied a mix on my radio so that i can turn the landing lights on and off from channel #5. so, on my hellcat, i have a constantly on red wingtip light, a constantly on green wingtip light, a blinking yellow light on the fuse and 2 controllable landing lights as well. its great! and as an added bonus, he has also programmed the pic to be a glitch counter as well!
the best is that he provides the pic programming for free (as long as you are not using it for commercial purposes). the software can be had for free. i ordered a jdm programmer from e-bay for $12.95. i got my pic for free as a sample from www.microchip.com. i've made 3 of these systems now and they are just awesome.
just my 2 cents
-beanie
ps. i have no knowledge of pic programming and hardly any knowledge of reading electrical circuits, but i was able to put one together.

[Texy]

Excellent advice beanie.
More or less what I did myself, except I wanted to develop
my own hardware and software. Luckily I was able to build my pic programmer from my parts bin - there are loads of circuit diagrams out there. Then I ended up buying a job lot of microchip picstart plus's at a silly price and was able to ebay them off for profit and still have one for my own use!
Also, I can't remember how many times I,ve received free samples from microchip -
this makes it all very easy and cheap for the pic newbie.

Texy

[crvogt]

While looking for something came across this site, has nice simple "blink-blink" circuit
while it is not as fancy as the programable ones is simple and mimim parts count, no pic programmer required, hehe!

http://www.cpemma.co.uk/blink.html

Hope this help

[LtGoofALot]

While looking for something came across this site, has nice simple "blink-blink" circuit
while it is not as fancy as the programable ones is simple and mimim parts count, no pic programmer required, hehe!

http://www.cpemma.co.uk/blink.html

Hope this help

I did some experiments with the CMOS 4060 this afternoon and worked great.

This is the cheapest blink-blink circuit so far.... :cool:

CMOS 4060 - CDN$1.25
Resistors - CDN$1.00 - 10pcs/pack
Capacitors - CDN$0.66 - 10pcs/pack

Instead of doing the complicated one, I just did the simple circuit from this website: http://www.starshipmodeler.com/tech/cj_blink.htm

But instead of using .01 microF capacitor I replaced it with the 22nF to boost the frequency of the oscillator. ;)

Now I can put NAV lights on all my airplanes for less than CDN$10.00

Thanks crvogt :D

[Malc C]

Does anybody have a schematic and a parts list of how to build this. I am thinking something along the lines of - Left wing, blink blink-right wing, blink blink- tail, single blink. Something along the lines of that. I am a complete newbie when it comes to electronics. I was just wondering if someone had something easy to follow.

Thanks,

Ben

I too went down the PIC route and came up with a simple sequenced outout on three pins which gave a "flash, flash.....flash, flash......flash, flash"

The CCt can be found on my website www.micro-heli.co.uk and if you are still looking for a solution and this suits your needs (there is a video of the navigation lights on my helicopter so you can see if they flash to your desired flash rate) then drop me an e-mail and I'll sort you out with a kit of parts or just the PIC which would be programmed for free.

[Waldo Pepper]

LTGoofaLot,
What are you using to power the 4060? Think the spec sheet calls for over 6V or it doesn't do it's thing...

thanks
wp

[Dan Baldwin]

LTGoofaLot,
What are you using to power the 4060? Think the spec sheet calls for over 6V or it doesn't do it's thing...

thanks
wp

Nope. CMOS 4000 series chips used to be my favorite logic chips BP (before PICs) because of their extremely low static current draw, and their wide supply range of 3 to 15 volts.

Dan

[LtGoofALot]

LTGoofaLot,
What are you using to power the 4060? Think the spec sheet calls for over 6V or it doesn't do it's thing...

thanks
wp


Nope. CMOS 4000 series chips used to be my favorite logic chips BP (before PICs) because of their extremely low static current draw, and their wide supply range of 3 to 15 volts.

Dan

Well said Dan. ;)

Walt,

I'm using a 3s lipoly cells (11.1V) on my model (MM hellcat). As Dan had noted, CMOS operates from 3-15 Volts so it's within the range. I didn't use the BEC because it's output is to low to power all the LED lights that I used. The draw back of this connection is you might run out of juice to power the controls when you go on dead stick. As a work around, I always checked my batteries and keep of the flight time to avoid DS. Fortunately I haven't got one yet. :eek:

Lt. Goof

[Waldo Pepper]

Thanks for the info. Now to order some and get to 'sperimenting.

"If it ain't broke...mess with it....

wp

[Waldo Pepper]

Got a couple of blinking 4060's working in fine fashion. After building the RC off/on switch this assembly was a piece of cake.
Running one LED off 4 and 6 = heart rate-type beat.
Another off 4 and 7 = gives 3 blinks and then off, repeat.
Along with the always on LED's my plane stands out at night.

wp

[dilbert]

Is there anything out there that will reproduce the slow rise/fall intesity of a rotating beacon?

[Texy]

Now thats a good idea, and could easily be done by changing the mark/space ratio of a pulse to the LED. I guess at the mid point of the cycle, you could have the LED fully ON where it is effectively 'pointing' straight at you, and OFF when its 'pointing' 180 degrees away from you.
Is that what you mean?
Texy

[bedgie]

I found this that might help it is for a model lighthouse but it should work if this is the kind of thing you want

lighthouse flashing leds (http://www.discovercircuits.com/DJ-Circuits/LIGHTHOUSEFLASH5.htm)

[mike50]

Is there anything out there that will reproduce the slow rise/fall intesity of a rotating beacon?
This could be done very easily with a microcontroller (PIC, AVR, etc).

Mike

[Tomapowa]

Funny... this has been a recent project of mine... "Mini-Beacon", a rotating beacon simulator/LED Driver...
(still in the making... have 4 out there as beta testers)
http://www.diyrc.com/picaxe-minibeacon.htm

A few videos are here:
http://www.diyrc.com/Beacon-Sim2.wmv

http://s279.photobucket.com/albums/kk133/gadgetdude_album/Bell%20222/?action=view&current=HPIM4441.flv

[Malc C]

That post should carry a warning... I keeps seeing black spots before my eyes now :) :D

Guys- if you watch the video make sure you have some sun glasses to hand !! - god that LEDs bright ;)

[Comatose]

We've got a new product out that does this pretty handily - http://www.dimensionengineering.com/DELightController.html

Outputs 1-4 are current controlled and programmable, so just whip up a ramp in the software and away you go.

[Pete P]

I didnt bother to read the whole thread, but:
If you couple a 555 with a triplicate of self-blinking LEDs, and given their blinking period, one could program the 555 timer to power them each for a period of 2 blinks, alternating between the 3.