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DiscoverCircuits.com  --   Hobby Corner
 Last Updated on:  07/10/2008 08:39:36 PM

HO Train Model Lighthouse Flasher
HO train sets often have authentic looking scale model homes and buildings.  The hobby circuit below can be mounted inside a model lighthouse.  The electronic circuit drives a single LED lamp in such a way that it produces light which simulates the rotating light from a lighthouse beacon.  It uses a dual low power op amp IC. The first device forms a classic oscillator circuit whose output is both a triangle waveform signal and a square wave signal.  The triangle signal is routed to a current regulator circuit, which converts the triangle voltage signal to a triangle current signal through the lighthouse LED.  The square wave signal is first sent through a capacitor then to a power FET transistor.  This produces a high current pulse through the LED, with the right timing to produce a strobe effect.  The result is a LED, which gradually grows brighter, then flashes even brighter before dimming again. This should produce a light, which simulates a rotating lighthouse light.
 

Click on Drawing to view PDF

Lighthouse Flasher Circuit designed by David A. Johnson, P.E. (July 7, 2005)

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