How to make LED's flash?

jceli728 · 03-22-2005, 04:12 PM

How are you going guys

I have been doing so reserch on

but have not been able to come up with anything. i want to make some kind of circuit that will alow me to control the way led's flash, or make it flash in a pattern. so far all i've been able to find is that i need a chip. but i need info where to buy it and how to program the chip.

I will me really thankful if someone can give some ideas how to do this. keep in mind i want to run this from my car at 12v.

Prem · 03-22-2005, 05:12 PM

I find the following link useful when building circuits.

http://www.discovercircuits.com/

Hope this helps.

Prem

rubicon · 03-22-2005, 05:20 PM

Turn them on and off *really fast*.

fantomas · 03-22-2005, 05:27 PM

parallel port interface...and control them with some custom software....

Saab9-5 · 03-22-2005, 05:35 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by fantomas

parallel port interface...and control them with some custom software....

Agreed. Depending on how much control you want, using your carputer would give you the most flexibility with flash rates and patterns. Using the parallel port would eliminate the need for a chip. Individual LEDs can be driven directly from the port's pins. A string of LEDs would be controlled by a transistor connected to the port's pins to give you more current for the LEDs without the possibility of damaging the port.

NiN^_^NiN · 03-22-2005, 05:45 PM

When i get home i'll give u instructions and code to make the LED's flash on and off from the parallel port

Just wait a few hours tho cause it's 9:50am and i don't leave work till 7 so i'll be home at 8 or 9

jceli728 · 03-22-2005, 06:45 PM

Thanks for the info so far. NIN^ ^NIN, i will appreciate if u can provide me those instructions.

Stonewall78 · 03-22-2005, 10:37 PM

A 555 timer works great for simple flashing jobs and I am sure you can find even more circuits on the discovercircuits site. Here is another site for you.. link .

Curiosity · 03-22-2005, 11:28 PM

If it doesn't matter how fast or anything, I'd just buy blinking LEDs.

99bravada · 03-22-2005, 11:55 PM

Hooking leds up to the computer is a bit overkill if you just want simple blinking... I've seen led strips with a potentiometer monitoring how fast it blinks, etc... but this was at a surplus store, so no link to give unfortunately

I saw some LED strips at walmart one time that light up with the music as well... you may want to check there.

Chris31 · 03-23-2005, 01:06 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by jceli728

i want to make some kind of circuit that will alow me to control the way led's flash, or make it flash in a pattern. so far all i've been able to find is that i need a chip. but i need info where to buy it and how to program the chip.

Use a christmas light

Saab9-5 · 03-23-2005, 06:01 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by 99bravada

Hooking leds up to the computer is a bit overkill if you just want simple blinking...

@jceli728 - How about going into more detail about what you are thinking/planning on doing?

code- · 03-23-2005, 12:00 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by rubicon

Turn them on and off *really fast*.

Like... uhm... MIRT fast?

rubicon · 03-23-2005, 12:04 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by code-

Like... uhm... MIRT fast?

Well, after years of "practice" using advanced training material (read: lots 'n lots of porn), I can say "yes."

At least with my right hand.

jceli728 · 03-23-2005, 04:28 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Saab9-5

@jceli728 - How about going into more detail about what you are thinking/planning on doing?

Thanks for the feed back. yes i'm trying to stay away from hooking them up to my pc. What i'm really looking to do is for a show purpose, for ex: i have put them in the interior door handles, now i'm able to turn them on with my headlight switch or with an independent switch when the headlights are off.

but what i want to do is make them flash back and forth between the doors & create different patterns in the rest of the car almost like strobe lights. i know it will just be much easier using strobe lights but for the place where i'm installing the LED's i will not be able to install a strobe light.