help on making or buying a strobe circuit for my tail light

MaxPower

MaxPower

New Member
First off, I have never built a circuit. I do understand that electrical systems work by keeping smoke in the wires but that's about it. I would love to build my own flashing circuit and would really like some supervision on the project. I'm looking for either a place to buy an already built one (which would be no fun) or a sources for each components I would need. What I really like is someone to post links to parts and I could buy them all together as a kit. I know I'd need resisters, transistors, and capacitors from the research I've done but I have no Idea how it goes together. Maybe someone could give me an education on each component and how they work together.

here is the system I have on my bike.
2- 12v 55 watt halogen headlights
1- 12v LED tail light Walmart.com: Blazer 4" LED Oblong Combo Marker Light, Red: Automotive
1- 12 volt 8 amp SLA battery
negative ground on bike frame

My plan is to use a switch on my brake to turn the strobe circuit on or off when I pull the leaver.
 
Research 555 IC circuits. You will find tons of schematics and parts lists needed.
Very easy to make.
 
Super simple circuit using just a relay and capacitor, choose 'A' or 'B' for the flash more to your liking, A= long on, short off, B=long off, short on:

 
Last edited:
that's great I'm still a little confused on what I should buy. Is 1000 uf a type of relay? and what resistor should i buy?

I should of posted this picture before but this is what I was thinking. would your circuit work like this?
 

Attachments

  • light.jpg
    light.jpg
    17.6 KB · Views: 219
Also, I would think that there should be a resistor in the "brake off" line, so that it is dimmer than when the "brake on" line is used.
 
I'm still a little confused by your diagram. Can you draw it in plan language? what is NC and NO? If I put the switch to NO on the bottom switch does that turn off the strobe? and what does the top switch do? A and B wires look like they do the same thing?
 
Average current will be less, but don't forget, you will have a relay that draws power as well, so any LED savings will be negated by the relay.
 
The flash rate can be changed by changing the value of the capacitor; larger uF = slower flash rate.
Additional circuitry is needed for strobe effect.
 
Putting 12 volts into a 6 volt system will let out the magic blue smoke.
POOF!
It does not work anymore.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top