This article teaches how to use a common chip called the IC 555 to create a flashing LED strobe light.
The brightness and flashing speed of the light is adjusted via a few knobs and resistors.
The electricity supply that reaches the LEDs is controlled by another resistor.
A special switch that can control a lot of power is used in this project.
If possible you can also use other switches that are identical.
By adjusting the value of one resistor this circuit is used for various kinds of LED colors and numbers.
For example one should try to use three rows of twelve white LEDs.
It is crucial to confirm that the power supplies voltage is sufficient to run all the LEDs that are connected together.
What is a LED Strobe Light Circuit:
A LED strobe light circuit is an electronic circuit that controls the flashing or strobing of Light Emitting Diodes LEDs.
Strobe lights are used in many different kinds of industries such as special effects, entertainment and warning systems and can be detected by their quick random flashes of light.
Circuit Diagram:
Parts List:
| Component | Description | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Resistors | All resistors are 1/4 W CFR unless specified | |
| 100k | 1 | |
| 10k | 1 | |
| 56Ω | 1 | |
| 5.6Ω 2W | 1 | |
| Potentiometer | 1M | 1 |
| Capacitors | ||
| Electrolytic | 1000μF 16V | 1 |
| 1μF 16V | 1 | |
| Semiconductors | ||
| Diode | 1N4148 | 1 |
| MOSFET | IRL3103S | 1 |
| IC | 555 | 1 |
| LEDs | 5mm | 36 |
How to Build:
The construction of LED strobe light circuit is made to understand through the following points:-
Connect the 555 IC:
- Connect the power supply to pin 8 of the IC 555 and ground to pin 1.
- Connect pins 2 and 6 together.
Set Up Components:
- Connect a capacitor C1 between pins 2 and 6.
- Connect a resistor R2 from pin 7 to pin 6.
- Connect another resistor R1 from pin 6 to pin 2.
- Connect a variable resistor P1 from pin 6 to ground.
- Connect a resistor R3 from pin 7 to the positive side of the LED array.
Connect LEDs:
- Connect the negative side of the LED array to ground.
- Connect the positive side of the LED array to pin 3 of the 555 IC through the power switch.
Power Switch Connection:
- Connect the drain pin of the MOSFET to the positive power supply.
- Connect the source pin of the MOSFET to pin 3 of the 555 IC.
Adjustable Components:
- Adjust P1 to set the desired frequency of the strobe.
- Adjust R1 to control the duration of light burst.
- Adjust R3 to regulate the current supplied to the LEDs.
- Power up the circuit and observe the LED strobe effect.
- Ensure that the voltage drops across the series connected LEDs are within the specified limit.
Formulas:
Below are the formulas for Simple LED Strobe Light Circuit:
LED Current Calculation:
The current flowing through the LEDs is calculated by the resistor R3.
Use ohms Law to calculate the current ILED
ILED = VR3 / R3
where,
- VR3 is the voltage across R3 which is calculated by:
VR3 = Vsupply − VLED
where,
- Vsupply is the supply voltage and
- VLED is the combined voltage drop across the series connected LEDs.
LED Series Voltage Calculation:
- Ensure that the sum of the voltage drops across the series connected LEDs VLED is always less than the supply voltage Vsupply.
Important Notes:
- As mentioned before take precautions when it comes to the possible health hazards that quick flashes of light may pose.
- By changing the value of R3 you can modify the circuit to match various LED types, colors and quantities.
- Make sure that the power supply voltage meets the components requirements.
Conclusion
Safety measures should be taken seriously if you want to build or experiment with an LED strobe light circuit particularly if you will be working with high intensity LEDs or connecting the circuit to a power source.
Also knowing the particular needs of your application and the properties of the LEDs you are using will help you build a strobe light circuit that is safe and efficient.
Leave a Reply