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Strobe Flash Rate..... — Parallax Forums

Strobe Flash Rate.....

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2001-05-15 18:09 in General Discussion
Decrease charge capacitor value.(this will also decrease the flash
intesity)
Increasing flash rate may overheat the flash bulb, damaging it or even
exploding.
Raising the voltage seems be not pratical dued the need of change almost
all components that probably will not support higher voltages.
Be sure to safely discharge the capacitor (thru a resistor) before work
in this circut. Large hi-voltage capacitors used in a strobe may keept
lethal voltages for prolonged time.

ACJacques

Tim and Jo wrote:
>
> Group,
>
> I'm using a surplus camera flash unit as a strobe light in a BS2
> controlled project and I'd like to get it to charge faster so that I can
> increase the flash rate. Idealy, I'd like to flash the strobe about 8-10
> times per second. As it's designed, it takes about ten seconds to charge
> using a single AA battery as the power supply. What will it take to make it
> charge much faster? Is it simply a matter of increasing the supply voltage
> or is the charge time a function of the design?
>
> Any help is much appreciated,
>
> Tim
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-05-12 22:04
    Group,

    I'm using a surplus camera flash unit as a strobe light in a BS2
    controlled project and I'd like to get it to charge faster so that I can
    increase the flash rate. Idealy, I'd like to flash the strobe about 8-10
    times per second. As it's designed, it takes about ten seconds to charge
    using a single AA battery as the power supply. What will it take to make it
    charge much faster? Is it simply a matter of increasing the supply voltage
    or is the charge time a function of the design?

    Any help is much appreciated,

    Tim
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-05-15 18:09
    You may want to look for replacement bulbs for public safety lighting such
    as lightbars or the hide-away strobe bulbs.
    The opticom system to change the traffic lights when a fire truck approaches
    flashes at least 8-10 FPS.
    Check with Whelen, Federal Signal, and other manufacturers for more
    specifications on the bulbs.

    Jason
    Original Message
    From: "AC Jacques" <acjacques@i...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2001 2:14 PM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Strobe Flash Rate.....


    > Decrease charge capacitor value.(this will also decrease the flash
    > intesity)
    > Increasing flash rate may overheat the flash bulb, damaging it or even
    > exploding.
    > Raising the voltage seems be not pratical dued the need of change almost
    > all components that probably will not support higher voltages.
    > Be sure to safely discharge the capacitor (thru a resistor) before work
    > in this circut. Large hi-voltage capacitors used in a strobe may keept
    > lethal voltages for prolonged time.
    >
    > ACJacques
    >
    > Tim and Jo wrote:
    > >
    > > Group,
    > >
    > > I'm using a surplus camera flash unit as a strobe light in a BS2
    > > controlled project and I'd like to get it to charge faster so that I can
    > > increase the flash rate. Idealy, I'd like to flash the strobe about
    8-10
    > > times per second. As it's designed, it takes about ten seconds to
    charge
    > > using a single AA battery as the power supply. What will it take to
    make it
    > > charge much faster? Is it simply a matter of increasing the supply
    voltage
    > > or is the charge time a function of the design?
    > >
    > > Any help is much appreciated,
    > >
    > > Tim
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
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