Flashing and constant LED's help
Hi everyone,
I'm looking for help with a model I'm building (DeAgostini - Millennium Falcon)
I'm going to have approx. 20-25 LED's serving fibres 0.25mm and 0.50mm as well and lighting throughout.
Avoiding the use of Raspberry Pi and Arduino (but if I have will use but need help there too).
My requirement is:
x1 LED flashing on and off
x1 LED flashing on for 10 seconds off for on 10 seconds
x1 LED flashing on for 45 seconds off for on 45 seconds
The remaining LEDs will be on constant.
Here a link to the power source information:
Spec:UK 3 Pin Plug.Input: 110 - 240 Volts AC 50/60 Hz.Regulated Output: DC 9 Volts.Lead length: 2 Metres.Internal heat sinks (for reliable continuous operation).Over-current protection. Short circuit protection. IC Controlled Stable Voltage with Input & Output line filters. CE certified and ROHS compliant.
I searched online and Raspberry Pi and Arduino keep popping. I have a Raspberry Pi 3 and if I need happy to use that then great, but how would this connect to the Millennium Falcon circuit board - Ideally I only want 1 power source, or how do I use the Raspberry Pi instead. Do some learning on Python and other programme software. willing to learn.
PS If you need more information please let me know, I'm not sure what to put up until asked.
Thank you
Craig
Comments
11 months ago
I like the no microcontroller approach :)
Did you know you can actually get flashing LED's? ;)
Just add power and they flash with nothing else added.
Then there is the option to go 12V and to use a simple and dirt cheap LED(strip) controller.
The keep the last used setting if there is a power loss ;)
So all that would be left is a simple timer for those 10 and 45 seconds.
If in doubt this can be done with a 555 IC and a beefy transistor or better mosfet to give power to the LED controller.
But you can also get timers for 12V in the car department ;)
Using indicator relays for the blinking and the circuit from some windscreen wiper switch that has an adjustable interval knob...
Options are almost limitless once you start thinking out of the box ;)
11 months ago
If for nothing more needed, a very small Arduino is plenty! Like a small Arduino nano or pro micro.
With the arduino, you can PWM each of your LED to dim if you want or make it pulse and flash and whatnot... The sky is the limit... or Kessel ;)
Depending on the power of your LEDs, you may need to feed the PWM thru a FET or BJT for more power...
The LEDs will need a resistor to limit the current. If we know what LEDs you are willing to use, we can calculate the resistors...
The 9V will have to go thru a LDO to lower the voltage to 5V für the Arduino and the LEDs.
I suggest a super simple LM7805 to make 5V from your 9V. Maybe a small heatsink is necessary (Again, depending on the LEDs) and a imput + output cap of 1uF is propably plenty.
Reply 11 months ago
Most my research is taking me to Arduino, it struggling on how to connect the the models circuit board so it powers through on one button
11 months ago
I think the cheapest microprocesor that could do this is some kind of ATTiny.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATtiny_microcontroll...
Regarding an old-school way to do this. I think the way to do that, is with a 555 timer, or similar, to give a square wave with the smallest period you want. Then use a binary ripple counter, as a frequency divider, to give some signals with lower frequencies, with periods that are powers of 2 multiplied by the shortest period.
For example, if the shortest period is: T0 = 0.33 s
T0*2 = 0.66 s
T0*4 = 1.32 s
T0*8 = 2.64 s
T0*16 = 5.28 s
T0*32 = 10.56 s (close to 10 s)
T0*64 = 21.12 s
T0*128 = 42.24 s (close to 45 s)
I think all of these signals will naturally have 0.5 duty cycle; i.e. spending equal amounts of time on and off; i.e Ton = Toff.
Also I am guessing the timing does not have to be precise, if all this thing has to do is, like, look like it is doing something, to human eyes.
Reply 11 months ago
Thanks Jack - I keep coming across the 555 timer chip which is lookin to be the way forward. Being a beginner I have to do some more research such as having x3 LEDs
11 months ago
1 x LED flashing how fast 1/10 a second or 1 a second, it is important?
555 timer, a counter and a flip plop.
555 timer makes a signal 0.25 a second.
flip flop makes signal 50% on 50% off 0.5 second on 0.5 second off to LED and to a Decade counter.
Decade counter counts to 10 and signals 1 every 5 seconds to a flip flop to LED that flashes on 10 seconds off 10 seconds.
For a signal 45 seconds on 45 seconds off is a little harder but take the signal from the first counter to a divide by 8 counter will get you close.
Reply 11 months ago
Thanks for your response Josehf,
1 x LED for 1 second - not looked at counter yet.
I will need to do some research learning for this I think
11 months ago
you could also use flashing or animated LEDS there are lots of different kinds that change color or flicker and have different flash rates, some have a built in resistor so you can plug in and play
https://www.ledsales.com.au/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=148_178&sort=20a&page=1&zenid=hutpjk0p9b7vvlm8gmaajgkia0
Reply 11 months ago
Thank very much, I’m just starting so trying to find a supplier in the uk