DIY Navigation Buoy

[cdog46]

I am enclosing a picture of my DIY navigation buoy which is not completely finished like so many of my boat models. It t is only suitable for land; at least this model.

I have to get some transfers and put a number on it. I'm getting so senile I can't remember if a red bell takes an even or odd number.

The LED flashes and uses a National 3909 flasher chip which makes the circuitry incredibly simple. Trouble is-these chips are hard to find. Come this fall when I have more time-I will program an eight pin PIC miccrotroller if there is any interest.

I will probably also paint the aluminum rails red. Anyone care to venture a guess where I got the red part of the buoy?

[patmat2350]

No clue on the base... but I recommend replacing the standard LED with one of these Xmas bulbs:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=603835

Pat M

[RhumbLine]

OOH OOH OOH, I think it's a funnel...do I win...please not the pointy hat again :o

[jonread1983]

is the end from a tube of sealant or something? The type that goes into one of the guns?

[cdog46]

Rumpy was correct-Walmart kerosine lamp funnel and aluminum tubing from hobby store-
christmas tree light would work so long as you had correct current limiting resistor-is that correct-rumpy?

[RhumbLine]

Yes. The thread link that Patmat posted earlier has information about this. There is a great little web based calculator in one of them that will give you the resistor value if you input voltage and nominal current. If you don't know either of these, then read the thread. It gives you a good starting point. It's true that many LED's are inexpensive, but the magic smoke is never fun. The fun is making them light up, and then making them wink and blink. If you are not into building a small board that does this, you can buy LED's that simply blink themselves, but you have almost no control over the blink cycle.

Rhumbline

[Brooks]

Even

[green-boat]

I wanted to make some for our last Regatta with a flashing Xenon strobe but I could never find the right PVC pipe cap with the right shape dome end. They all were flat. I know that I had seen them before but I could'nt place which hardware store I saw them in and with my job that could be anywhere within a 250 mile radius. :(

[Rex R]

heh you wanted the presure rated end caps(female). sadly a lot of stores only carry the non rated caps(DWV) especially in the larger sizes... us plastics carries almost any kind (including clear) and they ship fedex. I feel I should warn you though they also carry a LOT of interesting stuff that could be usefull...one could find oneself spending a lot of money there.