3 Simple Ways to
Share What You Make

With Instructables you can share what you make with the world — and tap into an ever-growing community of creative experts.

PhotosPhotos

Share one or more photos of a project, recipe, or whatever you've made, quickly and easily.

Step by StepStep-By-Step

Share your step-by-step photos with text instructions of what you made so others can do it too!

VideoVideo

Share your how-to video. You'll need your embed code from a video site such as YouTube.

Hack a flash camera into a emergency strobe light

Step 5Using it

Using it
After you had done all of that work making the strobe, it is now time to test it to see if it works... Push the charge switch and you should get an flash in a few seconds and another flash, if it does not work, go back to the flash circuit and find out what have you done wrong... (is the SCR soldered the wrong way round?)

It works well for me! My strobe flashes every few seconds depending how good the battery is...
« Previous StepDownload PDFView All StepsNext Step »
2 comments
May 29, 2011. 11:44 PMdrzego says:
a strobe uses a RELAXATION OSCILLATOR to trigger the flash. A flash circuit uses the same oscillator to indicate the charge is ready, so, a simple SCR can convert a disposable camera in a Strobe. The neon lamp have an interesting characteristic (and an interesting glowing also). This gas conducts electricity IF the voltage is greater than 75 volts, so when the capacitor charges, the voltage rises until the neon conducts the electricity that triggers the SCR.
May 16, 2011. 1:31 AMmischka says:
Interesting, but I dont understand how it works. Can you please explain why the SCR and neon light make it flash?

Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

All Steps Viewing
View all steps of an Instructable on the same page when you're a Pro Member.

Upgrade to Pro today!
778
Followers
33
Author:Plasmana
 "Energy cannot be created nor destroyed!" 
more »