FLASHING LIGHTS

An ultra simple circuit suitable for any pupils who can handle a soldering iron.

The circuit uses a number of standard LED's in a parallel arrangement which are powered through a flashing LED. As the flashing LED pulses it controls the other LED's and they all pulse together.

I have found that ten standard LED's will be powered satisfactorily by a single Flashing one. If you use low power LED's instead you should be able to get up to fifty powered off one flashing but I have not tested it.

This circuit does not work properly in LiveWire but I have included the file anyway.

I am currently (December 2003) developing these with a group of 4, year 9 pupils who are going to mass produce bright orangfe christmas tree shaped mirrors with 3mm led's flashing in them.

Construction could be as simple as twisting the LED wires together. Drilling holes in a tree shaped piece of wood or acrylic and using green and red LED's would produce a nice product.

You could also use a terminal block which would cut out soldering completely!

LIve wire version


Square flashing LED layout

Close-up of soldering (rough!) of strip flashing lights

Strip of flashing lights

A finished set of lights produced using the bending jig

The jig in use.. High technology at work!

A pupil's finished set of lights.....