Lamp/Lamp Control Electronic Circuits

Lamp / Light Control Circuits
Lamp Controls: #'s - B C - K L - M N - S T-Z

Last Updated: June 02, 2021 01:45 PM

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Circuits Designed by Dave Johnson, P.E. :

Night Light from White LEDAs many of you know, I have a pet peeve with poorly made LED night lights. Often, the light from the LED quickly fades, so within months, the light is useless. I have posted several versions of modified night lights using higher quality components. . . Circuit by David Johnson P.E.-November, 2008

One-Watt White LED Night LightAs many of you know, I have a pet peeve with poorly made LED night lights. Often, the light from the LED quickly fades, so within months, the light is useless. I have posted several versions of modified night lights using higher quality components. This circuit is yet another version, which produces much more light than those other designs. . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David A. Johnson P.E.-November, 2008

Optical Filter using Color Film NegativeThis isn’t an electronic circuit but the file shows the curve for an optical filter made from exposed color film. The material blocks most visible light but is very transparent to 880nM infrared light. Kodak 100ASA is exposed to "cool white" fluorescent light for about 5 seconds . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David A. Johnson P.E.-January, 1998

Pushbutton Controlled Up/Down Ramping LightThere are times when you want a lamp to gradually change from dark to light and from light to dark, with each push of a pushbutton switch. The circuit below performs this control function using a flip/flop and a classic pulse width modulation or PWM. . . Circuit by David Johnson P.E.-March, 2009

Ramping Lamp DriverThis circuit drives any 12v lamp, incandescent or LED type, in a ramping fashion. Each press of the button toggles the lamp from a fully off mode to a fully on mode. But, instead of an instantaneous lamp intensity change, the power is slowly ramped up a . . . Hobby Circuit designed by Dave Johnson P.E.-December, 2007

Ramping LED DriverThe circuit below was designed to drive a LED with an intensity ramping mode. Two 555 timers generate two different triangle waveforms. The upper device generates a 10KHz signal while the lower unit produces a 1Hz signal. The two signals are fed to a. . . Circuit by Dave Johnson P.E.-December, 2007

Reduced Power Sequential LED FlasherThe 74HC4017 is a neat decade counter which has 10 decoded outputs. When supplied with a low frequency clock and with a LED attached to each of the outputs, an interesting ten step sequential flasher effect can be produced. The LEDs can be configured in . . . Hobby Circuit designed by Dave Johnson P.E.-November, 2008

Revisited-Model Train Lighthouse FlasherThis was originally designed for a model in a HO train set. It simulates the behavior of the light from a lighthouse. The LED intensity gradually increases, then flashes with a bright light and finally decreases slowly in intensity . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David Johnson P.E.-July, 2006

Safety LightMy 1200 square foot metal shop only has one small entrance door and no skylights. If the lights are turn off while inside, there is not enough light to safely find the door to exit the building. On a couple occasions, while I was quietly working at my test bench, my wife would walk into the shop, grab a garden tool and rush back out, turning off the lights and closing the door without thinking . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David A. Johnson P.E.-November, 2004

Shop Safety LightMy 1200 square foot metal shop only has one small entrance door and no skylights. If the lights are turn off while inside, there is not enough light to safely find the door to exit the building. On a couple occasions, while I was quietly working at my test bench, my wife would walk into the shop, grab a garden tool and rush back out, turning off the lights and closing the door without thinking . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David Johnson P.E.-November, 2004

Simple Circuit for White LED Night LightThis simple circuit is designed to plug into a standard AC electrical outlet. It uses four super bright white light emitting diodes (LED) in conjunction with a capacitor coupled full wave rectifier circuit. . . Circuit by David Johnson P.E.-July, 2003

Sound Triggered Night LightA while back, I received a schematic from a guy by the name of Karl. He described a situation he and his wife found themselves in aboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean. They were staying in a room toward the inside of the ship, which did not have any port holes, windows or a balcony. . . Circuit by David A. Johnson P.E.-August, 2013

Super Bright 3v Powered LED FlasherI have posted several kinds of LED flashers over the years. This is yet one more flasher, designed to flash any high power LED of any color. It hits the LED with a 25ms 250ma pulse once every 2 seconds. This works out to an average current about 3ma. It. . . Circuit by David Johnson P.E.-April, 2009

Links to electronic circuits, electronic schematics and designs for engineers, hobbyists, students & inventors:

Neon Desklamp - This circuit will power a 6 inch 4 Watt fluorescent tube off a 12 volt supply, consuming 300 mA. It may also be powered by a suitably rated universal AC/DC adapter. Advantages of the design are: good light, low power consumption, and readily available stock parts. __ Designed by Rev. Thomas Scarborough

Neon Tube Modulator for Cars - Simple circuit connects to the sub-woofer output and modulates a neon light to the beat of the bass__ SiliconChip

NESblinky-Nintendo Controller Bike Flasher - I saw the "Light Up Your Ride" contest, and I pondered about what could be re-purposed to increase the visibility of my bike, all while hopefully blinding a motorist or two into a fit of retro rage. I happened upon an old broken Nintendo controller, which made me think of all the superfluous NES controller mods I had seen before. This sparked a __ Designed by © Randy Linscott

Nick Has an Illuminating Flashback - 8-Jan-07 -Design News: Photography enthusiast Nick Pagazani was hindered by the range and fixed location of his camera's flash. Since his camera has no connector for an external flash, he needed a light-activated slave trigger to fire a remote strobe. It had to ignore the pre-flashes used for red-eye correction and fire __ Gadget Freak-Case #96

Night Alert - Idea of this circuit came to me a midnight when my pet dog started barking continuously on sensing a moving shadow, perhaps that of an intruder. Dogs have a night adaptation capability to maximise the sensitivity of vision in low light. They are well adapted to see moving objects rather than stationary ones in darkness. This circuit turns a lamp ‘on’ for a short duration when the dog barks, giving an impression that the occupants have been alerted.__ Electronics Projects for You

Night Lamps - Here are two night lamp circuits using LEDs. One could be used as a night-vision clock and the other as a TV lamp. Both the circuits are AC operated and consume...__ Electronics Projects for You

Night Light - This circuit for an electronic night light was submitted by Adam from Canada. I have provided the notes __ Designed by Andy Collison

Night Light from White LED - As many of you know, I have a pet peeve with poorly made LED night lights. Often, the light from the LED quickly fades, so within months, the light is useless. I have posted several versions of modified night lights using higher quality components. . . Circuit by David Johnson P.E.-November, 2008

Night Light Saver using AT89C2051 - This new version has internal Ni-MH battery backup, reset button and simple time setting. Now the circuit board was embedded with lamp fixture. Preset turn on period is from 18:00 to 22:00 everyday. You may let the saver turn on whenever you want. The period of time on can be reprogrammed with sdcc. Howvere this project is not recommended for beginner. The circuit uses transformerless supply and no galvanic isolation! __ Designed by Wichit Sirichote

Night Light Saver V5.0 - I have designed a device that controls a night light at home. The saver uses 2051 chip and a small TRIAC. The saver features low-cost, simple installation, no battery backup, and save energy. __ Designed by Wichit Sirichote

Night Light Saver V6 - Latest design night light saver, built with sdcc __ Designed by Wichit Sirichote

Night Rider 2 - this version has been built and testedincludes drive circuitry and pcb __ Contact: P. Townshend EduTek Ltd

Night-Light Uses a Photoresistor to Detect Dusk - 12/15/11Design Ideas: You can adjust this battery-powered circuit for different levels. Design by Chau Tran, Analog Devices, Malden, MA

No Hassel 3rd Brake Light - This circuit is NOT a pulser or flasher! What's so special about this circuit? Well, the first third-brake light I installed I had to pull a wire from the Third Brake Light all the way underneath the carpet to the brake-pedal-switch and I thought it would be easier to pluck the signal of both brakelights via the trunk. Bench-test your circuit first and apply power to the circuit, __ Designed by Tony van Roon VA3AVR

Nocturnal Animals Whisker - A low-rate flashing lamp drives away undesired visitors; Automatic on-off operation __ Contact: Flavio Dellepiane, fladello @ tin.it

Non-Dimmable Fluorescent Ballast - Efficient fluorescent lamps and magnetic ballasts have been the standard lighting fixture in commercial and industrial lighting for many years. Several lamp types, rapid start, high output, and others are available for cost effective and special applications. This user guide covers operation and development details of the non-dimmable version of our fluorescent ballast for operating a variety of lamps that are available today. __ Designed by AT89RFD-10 / EVLB002

Old idea, new twist-Magic Lamp - You have probably seen "magic lamp" circuits in which an ordinary incandescent bulb is lit by a match. These circuits rely on a hidden temperature or light sensor and are not particularly interesting. I decided to make a magic lamp, __ Contact: Charles Wenzel of Wenzel Associates, Inc.

One Cell Flashes White LED - 12/11/03 EDN-Design Ideas Many portable appliances and other products that must operate from a single cell are restricted to working at very low voltages. It is thus difficult to drive white LEDs that typically have a forward voltage of 3 to 5V. The ability Design by Anthony Smith, Scitech, Biddenham, Bedfordshire, UK

One-Watt White LED Night Light - As many of you know, I have a pet peeve with poorly made LED night lights. Often, the light from the LED quickly fades, so within months, the light is useless. I have posted several versions of modified night lights using higher quality components. This circuit is yet another version, which produces much more light than those other designs. . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David A. Johnson P.E.-November, 2008

Optical Filter using Color Film Negative - This isn’t an electronic circuit but the file shows the curve for an optical filter made from exposed color film. The material blocks most visible light but is very transparent to 880nM infrared light. Kodak 100ASA is exposed to "cool white" fluorescent light for about 5 seconds . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David A. Johnson P.E.-January, 1998

Opto-Isolated logic level trigger for general strobe applications - Schematic only, no circuit description.

Ornamental Flashing LEDs - This circuit can flash three sets of LEDs with different levels of Flashing. It can be used as Ornamental displays. The circuit uses a simple Astable multivibrator built around the popular timer IC NE555. Resistors R1, R2 and capacitor C1 determines the output frequency. When the output becomes high, Red LEDs lights first. When __ Designed by D Mohankumar

Outdoor Lighting Controller - When you step out of your brightly-lit house into the darkness, it takes a while for your vision to adjust. A solution to this problem is this outdoor light with automatic switch-off. As a bonus, it will also make it a little bit easier to find the keyhole when returning late at nightmust register on this site __ Designed by Published in Elecktor July/Aug, 2010

Parked-Vehicle Highway Flasher - Often, at night, a speeding vehicle rams into another vehicle parked at the edge of a highway. Cars have parking flashers, but trucks, buses and loading rickshaws rarely have any form...__ Electronics Projects for You

PC controls light dimmer - 08/19/99 EDN-Design Ideas Control one light dimming from PCUsing the simple circuit in Figure 1 , you can control the light intensity in your room or work area from your PC. The heart of the circuit is a low-power D/A converter that converts digital words from a computer's parallel port to analog-voltage signals. Design by Afshin Mellati

PC Parallel Port Output Capabilities - includes instructions how to connect a relay to PC parallel port __ Designed by Tomi Engdahl

Phone Light Flasher - This is very useful in a situation were there is lots of noise and it is impossable to hear the phone, such as a workshop. Here is such a device. The ring detect part of this circuit came from [url]http://www. hut. fi/Misc/Electronics/circuits/telephone_ringer. html[/url]. Notes: 1. You may need to use a lower voltage zener for D1 and D2.2. You can use a regular relay instead of a solid state relay, but the arcing accross the contacts may destroy it pretty quickly.3. Be very sure that you have not accidentally connected 120V to the phone line when building and installing this __ Designed by Aaron Cake

Photo Electric Street Light - This is basically a Schmitt Trigger circuit which receives input from a cadmium sulfide photo cell and controls a relay that can be used to switch off and on a street lamp at dawn and dusk. I have built the circuit with a 120 ohm/12 volt relay and monitored performance using a lamp dimmer, but did not connect the relay to an outside light. The photo cell should be shielded from the lamp to prevent feedback and is usually mounted above the light on top of a reflector and pointed upward at the sky so the lamp light does not strike the photo cell and switch off the lamp. The photo cell is __ Designed by Bill Bowden

Photo Flash Charger Minimizes Parts Count - 10/22/98 EDN-Design Ideas Photo-flash and strobe devices operate by discharging a high-voltage capacitor into a bulb. Charging the capacitor from a battery or other low-voltage source requires a step-up DC/DC converter to boost the voltage, typically to 300V. One way to generate the high voltage Design by Steven Chenetz

Photoflash Capacitor Charger has Fast Efficient Charging & Low-Battery Drain - DN303 Design Notes__ Linear Technology/Analog Devices

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Lamp Controls: #'s - B C - K L - M N - S T-Z