Building a flashing LED - I need help

ErnestTeel
ErnestTeel Posts: 2
edited October 2012 in The Clubhouse
Hi guys, hopefully someone can help.
I need to build a flashing LED circuit for my DS9 build. I have a 555 chip as I understand thats the best to use? Thing is, the only calculators I can find online will calulate a flash rate when resistors and capacitor rating are inputted. What I would like to know is what resistors and capacitors I would need to get a 1 second interval flashing light. Also, whats the best way to build up the circuit? I've found tute vids on youtube but they all use a breadboard, I need something permanent.

Any help would be appreciated.
LED Fluorescent
led ceiling lights
led strip
Post edited by ErnestTeel on
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  • CoolJazz
    CoolJazz Posts: 570
    edited October 2012
    Radio Shack used to sell a handfull of different little project books. One was specifically on LED's. I think it may have had a circuit like you're after in it with about that kind of flash rate. If so it'd have values that'd get you started.

    You could build the rest of the circuit on one of the Shacks little PC boards and clip lead temporarily caps and resistors to get a rate that stikes your fancy. It is a little experimental. If your needing to be pretty precise with the flash rate, you may need to include a pot to get there.

    I believe that I once ran across those posted on-line somewhere. Maybe somebody has a link??

    I do have those booklets in my home workshop and if it doesn't turn up elsewhere, I could probably email you something tomorrow...

    CJ
    A so called science type proudly says... "I do realize that I would fool myself all the time, about listening conclusions and many other observations, if I did listen before buying. That’s why I don’t, I bought all of my current gear based on technical parameters alone, such as specs and measurements."

    More amazing Internet Science Pink Panther wisdom..."My DAC has since been upgraded from Mark Levinson to Topping."
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited October 2012
    http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/snas558h/snas558h.pdf

    Look on the datasheet. Go down until you see Fig4 Astable operation. Read through until fig6 which will show you values. You could choose 1 microfarad on the left hand side for "C" in the circuit. For around one second timing you could go with the 1 megohm line which intercepts with the 1 microfarad line. You will see it gives you about 1.2 seconds. Now, you have to figure out what duty cycle you want. If you want to have it on for 1/2 second and off for 1/2 second then you take the 1 megohm value from above and divide in half for Ra and Rb.

    In the end you have Ra=500K ohms, Rb=500K ohms and C=1 microfarad.

    This is 1.2 sec flash rate at a 50% duty cycle. To change the duty cycle you might try 250K and 750K instead of 500K and 500K.
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • ErnestTeel
    ErnestTeel Posts: 2
    edited October 2012
    I understand thats the best to use?
    LED Fluorescent
    led ceiling lights
    led strip
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,754
    edited October 2012
    ErnestTeel wrote: »
    I understand thats the best to use?

    Snuck the links in on that one. Reported spammer...
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  • CoolJazz
    CoolJazz Posts: 570
    edited October 2012
    Here is what I found between two different booklets...

    LED Flashers.JPG


    If I had an email, a copy could be mailed.

    CJ
    A so called science type proudly says... "I do realize that I would fool myself all the time, about listening conclusions and many other observations, if I did listen before buying. That’s why I don’t, I bought all of my current gear based on technical parameters alone, such as specs and measurements."

    More amazing Internet Science Pink Panther wisdom..."My DAC has since been upgraded from Mark Levinson to Topping."
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited October 2012
    The 555 is fine to use. The CD4047 would also work. http://www.fairchildsemi.com/ds/CD/CD4047BC.pdf
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,754
    edited October 2012
    You guys notice he's spamming?
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited October 2012
    ken brydson wrote: »
    You guys notice he's spamming?
    Sneaky little devil... Nice catch! :lol: Reported again, for good measure.
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited October 2012
    ken brydson wrote: »
    You guys notice he's spamming?

    Eh, maybe he just likes LEDs. Anyway, someone else might find the info useful.
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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