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Lamp / Light Control Circuits
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Last Updated: June 02, 2021 01:45 PM

Circuits Designed by Dave Johnson, P.E. :

Safety Light - My 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

Shooting Range Flasher -  Problem:  Design a unique indicating device which would detect when a steel target on a shooting range was hit with a bullet by flashing a bright light.  A crowded range masked the pinging sounds.  Solution:  The circuit is shown below.  The solution is broken into two separate parts - (1) a small box containing a piezoelectric shock sensor and (2) a trigger circuit connected to the main control box, positioned some 15 feet away.  The two assemblies were linked through a coax cable.  The coax cable has a thick jacket and is buried a couple inches below the surface.  . . . Dave Johnson, Lubbock TX-DC Magazine - 1st Q 2012

Simple Circuit for White LED Night Light - This 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 Light - A 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 Flasher - I 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:

Safety Flasher -  This circuit alternately flashes two high-brightness LEDs as a safety measure during jogging or walking.  The LED’s can be mounted on clothing or a belt.  The circuit draws a precisely controlled 10mA in order to conserve battery life.  Also, the battery vol __ Designed by Andrew R. Morris

Safety flasher warns of high voltage -  02/17/14EDN-Design Ideas A low power circuit warns the user that high voltage is presentWorking on high voltage circuits can be dangerous.  Capacitors can maintain high voltage in a system for a considerable time after power is removed Design by Clive Bolton

Safety Light -  My 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

Scheme Saves String Light Situation -  12/16/04 EDN on Components   As you enter the holiday season with strings of ac-line-powered lights hanging everywhere, do you ever wonder how bulb vendors overcame the frustrating problem of having an entire string go dark when just one of th Design by Bill Schweber

SCR Flipflop for Alternating Flashing Light Bulbs -  Schematic only __ Designed by G.L. Chemelec

Sequencing Neons Ne 51/Ne 2 -  This circuit is similar to the LED clock using 12 neon indicator lamps instead of LEDs.  It operates from 2 high capacity ni-cad cells    (2.5 volts) which keep it going for a couple weeks.  High voltage    (70 volts) for the neon lamps is obtained from a small switching power supply using a 74HC14 Schmitt trigger squarewave oscillator, high voltage switching transistor __ Designed by Bill Bowden

Sequential Bar Graph Turn Light Indicator for Car -  The article illustrates a simple yet innovative, fancy car turn signal light circuit which produces a rising bar graph sequence effect when switched ON. __ Designed by Swagatam Majumdar

Sequential Brake/Turn Lights -  Bar-mode LED-cluster sequencer.  Can drive up to 16 clusters.   __ Contact: Flavio Dellepiane, fladello @ tin.it

Sequential Flasher -  Scroll to find this one.  Here is an unusual flasher circuit for 120VAC loads.  The circuit is similar to the two-transistor flasher seen in several circuits in techlib.  com except that an SCR is used __ Contact: Charles Wenzel of Wenzel Associates, Inc.

Sequential LED Flasher -  for 10 LEDs.   __ Designed by Tony van Roon  VA3AVR

Seriously Bright 20W LED Floodlight -  Last February, we published a DIY 10W LED Floodlight, which has been enormously popular.  We said that one was almost blindingbut to paraphrase Croc Dundee, that's not bright.  THIS one is BRIGHT!__ SiliconChip

Set LEDs' hue from red to green -  By varying the current through red and green LEDs, you can vary the hue in 32 steps.  The circuit in Figure 1, which lets you create light of 32 of hues, uses red and green LEDs.  A constant current divides __ Designed by Marián Štofka, Bratislava

Seven Component Regulated LED Lamp -  This is a minimal parts lamp made with four white LEDs.  It features regulated light output from 10V to around 20V and works well as a flashlight.   __ Designed by G. Forrest Cook

Shop Safety Light -  My 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

Silent Metronome -  File contains several designs, please scroll to find this circuit.  The circuit below is a "silent" metronome that keeps the beat without becoming a member of the band.  The circuit flashes the 6 volt lamp at a rate set by the 20k potentiometer which can have a dial for setting the desired tempo.  Alternately, the potentiometer could be replaced with a rotary switch and selected resistors.  The lamp is an ordinary #47 bulb which will give good omni directional brightness but an LED and resistor could be used insteadtry a 100 ohm in series with a   high-intensity LED.  The batteries could be three C or D cells for good life.  This circuit could be used to generate "clicks" in a speaker but such metronomes are not particularly pleasing.  The ambitious might replace the lamp with a solenoid which taps on the wall of a hardwood box or wooden chime for a "professional" sound.   __ Contact: Charles Wenzel of Wenzel Associates, Inc.

Simple Circuit Color Organ -  A simple, satisfactory Color Organ can be built with a handful of cheap components.  This design features: no mains supply transformer, built-in microphone and three widely adjustable frequency bands obtained by means of very simple, passive filters for Bass, Middle and Treble __ Contact: Flavio Dellepiane, fladello @ tin.it

Simple Circuit Colour Organ -  This is a simple, one lamp colour organ.  It is far less complicated then the Three Channel Colour Organ.  It is simply a lamp controlled by an SCR.  It can be built in a few minutes, and combined with other circuits to make some pretty neat effects.   __ Designed by Aaron Cake

Simple Circuit Flasher Operates Off AC Mains -  06/23/11 EDN-Design Ideas A few components create an illuminated switch.  Looking for a mains switch in the dark is easier if the switch contains a built-in neon or filament miniature lamp.  Adding a small indicator to any mains switch is heLPFul.  It is even better if the indicator flashes.  This circuit makes a simple flasher using only four discrete components  (Figure 1) .   Design by Noureddine Benabadji, University of Sciences and Technology, Oran, Algeria

Simple Circuit Flashing Light 1 -  This project uses a 3909 IC and a few other parts; power is 1.5 volts DC.   __ Designed by ML Rollins

Simple Circuit Flashing Light 2 -  This project uses parts from Digi-Key __ Designed by ML Rollins

Simple Circuit Flashing Light 3B -  The simplest flashing light circuit in the world! This is the simplest flashing circuit, suitable for tops of tall buildings, smokestacks and water towers __ Designed by ML Rollins

Simple Circuit for White LED Night Light -  This 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

Simple Circuit LED Constant Current Source -  Chip manufacturers are always coming up with ever more sophisticated constant current driver chips for LEDs.  We have included this design for those of you who prefer a more cheap and cheerful solutionmust register on this site __ Designed by Published in Elecktor July/Aug, 2010

Simple Circuit LED flasher -  This circuit has a lot going for it.  For one thing, it only consists of two transistors, two capacitors and four resistors.  That also means it consumes very little power.  You can control the flash rate by changing the size of the 100k resistors    (100k makes for a pretty slow rate) .  You can also control the duty cycle by using resistors of different values on the two sides __ Designed by Colin Pringle

Simple Circuit light flashing -  This circuit use 2 transistor and some components.  

Simple Circuit 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

Simple Circuit scheme saves string-light situation -  12/16/04 EDN on Components   As you enter the holiday season with strings of ac-line-powered lights hanging everywhere, do you ever wonder how bulb vendors overcame the frustrating problem of having an entire string go dark when just one of th Design by Bill Schweber

Simple Circuit Tester Checks Christmas-Tree Lights -  12/23/99 EDN-Design Ideas Why is it that you always test 48 bulbs before you find the bad one in a 50-light string? This simple circuit allows you to divide and conquer, greatly reducing the time it takes to find the bad bulb. Design by William Dias, Brown & Sharpe, North Kingstown, RI

Simple Circuit Timer Exploits OpAmp Bias Current -  07/21/94 EDN-Design Ideas The simple, low-cost analog timer in Fig 1 exploits the parasitic input-bias current of op-amp IC1.  The timer achieves long time delays even though it uses only low-value, inexpensive ceramic chip capacitors.  After all, because the input-bias current is the minimum current flow into an op amp, Design by Aleksandr Belousov, Baltimore, MD

Simple Circuit Transistor Organ -  This simple circuit can provide hours of enjoyment as you learn tunes, play duets or just make some really weird sounds by pushing all the buttons at once.  You have probably seen this circuit before, it is fairly common.  I have seen it in several __ Designed by Aaron Cake

Simple Circuit two transistor lights LEDs -  9-Apr-09 EDN-Design Ideas A previous Design Ideas describes a circuit that uses an astable multivibrator to drive an LED (Reference 1].  The circuit in Figure 1 uses a simpler alternative approach.  The circuit uses a 2N3904 NPN transistor and a 2N3906 PNP transistor, which operate as a high-gain amplifier Design by Barry A Tigner, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Simple Light & Sound Indicator for Mains Power Supply -  While repairing or installing electrical machines in a building, the AC mains power supply is switched off from the mains electrical switchboard installed outside the building.  There is a chance that...__ Electronics Projects for You

Simple Light Aquarium sunrise Moonrise controller -  cheap and simple white and blue mixture controller __ Designed by Thomas Scherrer OZ2CPU

Simplery for cellular-telephone/camera-flash illumination -  05/27/04  EDN-Design Ideas Successfully implementing flash lamps involves understanding numerous practical considerations.  Next-generation cellular telephones will include high-quality photographic capabilities.  To support their improved image sensors and optics, they will need high-quality "flash" illumination, which requires special design attention.  This lighting is crucial for yielding good photographic performance and requires careful consideration.   Design by Jim Williams, EDN's most revered contributor, passed away in June 2011 after a stroke.  He was 63.

Simplest LED Flasher -  This may be the simplest LED flasher circuit you can build, with the notable exclusion of LED's with integrated flashing circuits.  This might be a good replacement for the LM3909 in some applications. 
 __ Designed by Dick Cappels

Simplified white-LED flasher operates from one cell -  26-May-05 EDN-Design Ideas 1.5V circuit flashes white LED Design by Anthony H Smith, Scitech, Biddenham, England

Simplify Solid-State Lighting Dimmer Design -  Solid-state lighting is rapidly becoming the most popular lighting option for a broad range of applications.  With the U.S.  government's mandate to save energy, incandescent lamps are being rendered largely obsolete,...__ Electronics Projects for You

Simulate the Gyralite (dual flashing headlights) -  This circuit must be connected to a 5 volt DC source.  See my RR page for several 5 volt supplies.  Note the flashing LED is optional, but looks s-o-o-o-o good on the top of a locomotive. __ Designed by ML Rollins

Single 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

Small Transformer Drives Large EL Panel -  03/01/96 EDN-Design Ideas Electroluminescent  (EL) panels find wide use in backlighting LCDs in handheld, battery-powered products.  EL panels require ac-voltage drive of 50 to 90V at 400 to 1000 Hz.  The conventional way to generate such a drive voltage from a low dc-voltage supply is to use a converter built around a step-up transformer.  The low operating frequency dictates a relatively large-sized transformer.  Alternate designs strive to reduce the size of magnetics by using a step-up converter followed by an H-bridge or chopper. Design by Boris Dvoskin, Worcester, MA

Smart Bicycle Light -  JULY 2012: With this circuit built, boxed up and installed in your bicycle, you can look forward to safely riding your cool bicycle at night.  The circuit ensures that the bicycle...__ Electronics Projects for You

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