navigation light help

[zackesch]

i am new to eletrical circuits and all that go with it. do you know where i can find schematics for navigation lights? i know ram sells a set, but i think it would be more fun to make, and cheaper too.

[zackesch]

i found this link, http://www.electronic-circuits-diagrams.com/lightsimages/lightsckt1.shtml

is there anything you want to add?

[Tomapowa]

i am new to eletrical circuits and all that go with it. do you know where i can find schematics for navigation lights? i know ram sells a set, but i think it would be more fun to make, and cheaper too.

It all comes down to what you want it to do... do you want a simple (always on) flasher... or do you want to control it (turn flashing on/off) from an R/C receiver?

Use google and search for "LED Flashing Circuit":
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=LED+flashing+circuit

For a more complicated, R/C-controlled LED flashing circuit, search google for "LED R/C LED Flasher":
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=active&q=LED+R%2FC+LED+Flasher

[zackesch]

i posted a link which is a flashing led plan. i can get everything but the NE 555 at radio shack, and i can get a NE 555 online, but wiht 5.00 s and h. any ideas where i can get components w/o shipping or low s/h?

[jeffs555]

Should be able to get a 555 at radio shack.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062596&cp=2032058.2032230.2032279&parentPage=family
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062595&cp=2032058.2032230.2032279&parentPage=family

LM555 is same thing as NE555.

TLC555 is same thing, but uses less power because it is CMOS. It can only output 100ma instead of the 200ma of the NE/LM 555 but that should be plenty for navigation lights.

[zackesch]

thanks jeff! i know there are going to be more projects on the way, so i was wondering what i should stock up on. i know i can get resistor sets cheap from radioshack, but i was wondering what else i should stock up on.

are there any web sites or books anyone would recomend to me to help explain circuitry, comonents and all that goes with it?

[rick.benjamin]

http://www.electronics-tutorials.com/basics/starting-out.htm

http://www.thelearningpit.com/

http://www.twysted-pair.com/

http://www.williamson-labs.com/schematicreading.htm

http://www.ibiblio.org/obp/electricCircuits/

http://www.gregsgold.com/schematic.htm

http://www.play-hookey.com/dc_theory/index.html

[SteveM732]

thanks jeff! i know there are going to be more projects on the way, so i was wondering what i should stock up on. i know i can get resistor sets cheap from radioshack, but i was wondering what else i should stock up on.
I would think that Radio Shack is the most expensive place that you can go to buy resistors! The LM555 is $1.69 at Radio Shack but you can get one from Digi-Key for $0.44 each or as low as $0.19 each from Jameco if you buy 5 or more. A much cheaper place to buy them is a place like Digi-Key (http://www.digi-key.com). The last time I ordered from them there was no minimum order size, no handling fee, and USPS shipping was all of $3 since my parts were small and light.

A 1/4W 1 KOhm resistor at digi-key can be as little as $0.03 each for small quantities or $1.32 for 100. If you need a lot of one type of resistor then Jameco (http://www.jameco.com) is the lowest at $1 for a bag of 100 resistors. If you want an assortment of resistors then search Digi-Key for "kit" then filter for something like "1/4w carbon film 5% axial" and you will be able to get 365 resistors for $15 to as much as 33,800 resistors for $239.

You will probably also find yourself needing capacitors, transistors, and voltage regulators (eg. LM317).

EDIT: Pots, LEDs, and diodes are good too. Inductors can be useful but most DIY circuits don't use them so I would only buy them as needed.

[Malc C]

Jumping on this thread a bit late, but there is the "search this forum" option at the top right that will bring up all the previous post containg "navigation lights" if entered into the seach string ;)

[scratchwerk]

Zachesch,

Here is a link to a mod I made for my coax. Cheap and simple. It has a push button to turn it on. One push for solid on, second push for flash. Has a nice flash rate.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8955028&postcount=1151

[alex.guzun]

maybe a bit offtopic, but onyone knows what the circuit is in these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/TRINITY-34073-WHITE-HEAD-LIGHT-KIT-MINI-BAJA-OR-MINI-T_W0QQitemZ290251150149QQihZ019QQcategoryZ44028QQc mdZViewItem
or
http://cgi.ebay.com/HPI-1075-HEADLIGHT-TAIL-LIGHT-KIT-MINI-LST-MINI-LST2_W0QQitemZ290253031123QQihZ019QQcategoryZ44028 QQcmdZViewItem

i got some while LEDs and it needs about 3v and 20mA, but my rccar is running 7.2 battery.
How reverse mode is detected?

[Malc C]

How reverse mode is detected?

It monitors the width of the pulse on the throttle channel, and when it's below the mid point (1.5ms) to reverse the truck turns on the reversing LEDs

[chris6414]

I just picked one of these up from BP. I used LEDs and have 5 of them. Two NAvs of each color on my Hawk's canopy and red Strobe on the tail. I know it's pre-made, but you still get to solder some LEDs. The little light bulbs that came with it didn't work so well and they are tiny and difficult to solder with a hair lead. I also use a Pico Switch also from BP to turn them on and off from the radio.

http://www.bphobbies.com/view.asp?id=V718224&pid=V360528