Blinking leds

Listening to music on my pc (proudly using WINAMP), I was wondering how would be to have some leds blinking with the sound that came out from the P2 connector, so I decided to make a simple circuit to do that. It worked pretty fine, so I decided to write a HowTo telling step-by-step how to do it. Hope you enjoy it!

If you want to see more of my DIY projects, please, visit my website:
Daniel Spillere Andrade Website

Material and Equipment:

1. 4 LEDs (any collor)
2. P2 plug
3. 2 position switch
4. TIP31 component
5. Box to put all the stuff (if you want)
6. Soldering iron and accessories
7. Cable

Video of the final project:

Step 1 Step 1

This project will work this way, you connect 4 leds in the +12V from your computer, they are soldered to a 2 position switch that will connect to a component called TIP31, this component gets the intensity transmitted by the P2 connector, and with that, makes the leds blink with the music.



You can follow this scheme:

Comments

[whayle]

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[Epimetheus]

 Hey guys having a little bit of trouble here. I had this wired up temporarily last week and it worked great! I went to solder it all together today with more LEDs and it didn't work. It would switch on but when I flipped it to the other side nothing happened. I checked the wiring about four times and found nothing wrong, but I went to measure the P2 connection and it wasn't putting out any voltage. Yes it was plugged in, the volume was up, the multimeter was functioning properly and set to DC -- minimal to no voltage on the wires, sound on/off doesn't affect voltage. So I go to cut up another 3.5mm cable, same thing. But when I put the bare wires on the jack of headphones, the sound kicks in? This is not making any sense to me! I'm so lost on this one guys..

[absalam]

Try changing the TIP31...i blew mine once and had the similar problem as yours.

[TheMrWolf1994]

Can I wire together both wires from right and left speaker in one wire to the transistor? Will it be then stronger current through the tip31 and later through the LED's, cause i need a liitle bit stronger current cause my LED's are not blinkinkg so bright..thanx in advice

[deko69]

Hi! I did this mod and it's great. but I want to improve it a little more. I would like to hook up a cold cathode instead of these four leds for more light but the cathode isn't responding to music(won't light up). the cathode requires 12V and the input is 12V (same as leds) but I'm afraid that the current which is flowing trough tip31 isn't enough to light up the cathode Am I right? or what am I doing worong? Is there a way to add other component to make it work? I connected it to the circuit before inverter. should it be after inverter? but I'm afraitd if it won't damage the cathode when I do it that way. please take a look at the picture. any help appreciated

[Rhamkota]

Most likely the cold cathode can't respond fast enough to the current change, it most likely requires a quarter of a second to warm up, same with with the inverter

[aroman3]

man i have done that before ..... just like you show here , it is working ok ... ;)

[pyro-jim]

what is the inverter for? If the cathode take 12v and you are using 12v then why do you need an inverter? Do you mean that the inverter allows the cathode to use 12v? Otherwise I doubt it should be there.

[Arbitror]

*Sigh*

Inverters change direct current to alternating current, which is what cold cathode lights need.

[SmAsH!]

They also step it up to something like 500v low A, i did the cc mod at home and it works fine...

[yahya2coool]

 if tip 31 is not available then which other transistors can b used? plz help 

[aroman3]

i am using bd239c i think it is even better :DD

[DRodriguez]

Here's a great deal on them: 10 for like $3.50 ea.
Ebay

[SmAsH!]

Almost any npn transistor will work.

[aroman3]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxqjW6jItMI
Look my video i have made manyy circuits /w leds and cold cathodes ask me everything in the comments on my channel

[vishal17]

hi everyone
which transistor can i use other than tip 31?
please answer me fast :)

[chandeepa]

cooooool case mod bro.....

[Bisjon]

Hi, I was just wondering what "P2" is. I cut the wire from my ipod headphones, but I'm guessing that isn't it because it doesn't work.

[zack247]

P2 is a power connector, the plug from your ipods headphones inputs the music into the leds.

look for it (it doesn't have to say "P2" on it. any regular power connector will work) coming out of your power supply

[mark catapang]

how cn i add more leds? do i need another tip31? cn u show me a schematic diagram? please response..tnx

[deko69]

parallel connection

[anura92]

Hey... i tried it and it only works when i set the volume knob of my speaker(altec lansing headphone jack) to the highest.... the led i am using was salvaged from a pc fan...
So do i have to change the transistor or change my led to the right voltage ones? Psl help me :( 

[ST4N13Y]

could i use TIP33 ???? ....and....what i need to change in this scheme if i want to ude 9volt battery ??? thank you very much

[Algag]

add a resistor to the leds or take off an led because they are wired as suck there is a 3v drop (they are 3v each) across each LED so four is the max it could hold BUT if you used 1.5v leds and a 9v battery you could put on 6 leds in that pattern

[sharkawien]

where is the P2 connected??

[deko69]

to music output from your computer,ipod etc

[bmxlive]

i set to max the master volumen & wave level on audio pc control then i plug my p2 to my computer output but the signal in too weak to turn on the led, i plug an earphone and it was working... So i was wondering if the signal of the pc isn´t strong enough to make my circuit works... please help me

[funnyman953]

instead of a 3.5 mm jack can i put a mini micrphone instead cause i will connect it to my power supply's molex connector and will i need a resister if i do use my power supply's molex connector

[kishansukumar]

wud a tip32 work insted of a tip31? does it make a diffrence?

[Algag]

 tip32 is pnp not npn

[g0tmk]

Hi, I have a bit of a problem with mine.  I set mine up as kind of a pass-through, you plug a jack into the box and the box into speakers.  When I plug speakers into it though, it stops strobing.  How do I manage to get enough power through the transistor to strobe while it is still hooked to speakers?   I am using a 2n7000.  Thanks!

[Algag]

 this is an addition to my comment below...be carful though cause it would need a power souce too

[Algag]

 you could probably just add an amplifier circuit (two bucks)

[hape0]

if i want to plug it into the electric power of a house, what i have to change??

[DRodriguez]

You would need to use a 'wall wart' rated for twelve volts, cut off the plug on the end, find the polarity with your multimeter, and connect it that way.

[yahya2coool]

 can i use d313 other than tip 31

[laptaper]

help me please.. cant get my light to flash.. im using tip31c.. please help me with this..

[Soksume]

hmm I've hooked this system up once before with a couple ultra bright blue LEDs in some clear globe speakers it was sweet but i was wondering if it would work with a cathode in place of the leds?

[Arbitror]

You can, just make sure it is getting the right amount of AC voltage.

[KrunoDJ]

Great work, but can you please explain this to me.I did that and i connected that p2 plug(i took a part small headphones) but it doesnt work what is the problem (sorry on bad english) =).