Basic Arduino strobe light

This instructable will show you how to make a basic strobe light with an arduino.

You need
- 4 leds (the code can be modified for more if you want)
- an arduino (i am using the UNO r3)
- a paperclip
- a computer with the arduino ide installed
- an A/B USB cable to plug the arduino into the computer
- possibly some pliers to help bend the paperclip

(sorry for the lack of pictures)

Step 1 Assemble the board and leds

put a paperclip in the digital ground pin and bend it down and across  for the led leads to touch. next put the positive lead (the longer one) in pin 7 so it also touches the paperclip. Repeat for pins 9, 11, and 13.

Comments

[Ugifer]

If you are powering this off a normal 5V Arduino, I'm rather worried you may burn it out!

The Ardu' can only supply 40mA per pin max and even a white LED only drops about 3-3.5V. That means you need about another 40-50 Ohms minimum to avoid drawing more than the max rated current.

Other than that, it's a great idea - I might try with a pot' and a 1-watt LED (through a transistor) for a variable "strobe light" for tricks like suspended water drops from a dripping tap etc.

[tim127]

I have been powering it with the stantard usb so it is 5 volts. I havent had any problems, but i will check that out too see if i am overdrawring the power. I like the idea with the transistor, when you make it i would lIke too see it if you could post a picture or something.