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


Last Updated: June 02, 2021 01:45 PM

Got Designs?
Please eMail
if you want me to link to and/or post your original design Thanks.

Circuits Designed by Dave Johnson, P.E. :

LED Driver-WirelessThe circuit solves this problem by sending power to the LED through the plastic, using a magnetic coupling technique.  The circuit below can route power through plastic enclosures as thick as ¼ inch.  The circuit will not work through metal boxes . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David A. Johnson P.E.-November, 2008

LED Flasher needs only 1.5 VOLTSTo squeeze even more energy from a alkaline battery cell, this circuit adds two transistors to a circuit similar to the above design to boost the efficiency.  A small 1.5 volt alkaline N cell should flash the LED for a full year.  It too uses a "charge pump" technique to provide a LED the needed voltage . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David A. Johnson P.E.-June, 2000

LED Flasher that is Battery FreeLED flashers have been used for a wide variety of applications.  Some flasher units have been used in food and hardware stores, to draw attention to sale items and are often attached to boxes which dispense product discount coupons . . . Hobby Circuit designed by Dave Johnson P.E.-December, 2010

LED Flasher Universal 3vThe electronic circuit below will flash any LED color with fixed current pulses powered by a 3v battery.  It uses a charge pump approach, which routes a constant current pulse through the LED, regardless of the LED voltage requirement.  Using this approach . . . Hobby Circuit designed by Dave Johnson P.E.-June, 2008

LED Flasher-Wig/WagThis simple circuit will flash two LEDs in an alternating fashion . . . Hobby Circuit designed by Dave Johnson P.E.-December, 2004

LED Flasher-Wireless CircuitWhen you would like to flash a LED through a thick plastic case without wires, use this hobby circuit.  It performs this feat.  It draws about 300ua of average current at 5v.  It can be powered from a supply ranging from 3v to 6v . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David A. Johnson P.E.-January, 2011

LED Flashing Badge #1I have seen numerous flashing light badges at trade shows and conventions.  They are often handed out as gifts to promote some business.  The devices often use inefficient circuits, which cause the battery power source to be quickly depleted. . . Circuit by David A. Johnson P.E.-March, 2002

LED Flashing Badge #2This circuit uses a CD4013 dual D Flip/Flop IC.  A single lithium battery will provide months of continuous LED flashing.  It also has a tiny push-button switch to turn on and off the light flashing. . . Circuit by Dave Johnson P.E.-March, 2002

LED Lighthouse Flasher for HO Model Train  - 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 rotation . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David A. Johnson P.E.-July, 2006

Light to Frequency ConverterThis circuit uses a CMOS version of the classic 555 timer, to form a light intensity to frequency converter.  A small PIN photo diode is used as the light detector.  The pulses produced are short, so in some applications you may want to stretch them or . . . Hobby Circuit designed by Dave Johnson P.E.-May, 2008

Light/Dark 12V SwitchOften, for certain low voltage lighting systems; you would like to turn off the lights during the bright light of the day.  Most commercial day/night switches are designed for AC lighting.  The circuit below was designed for a 12v DC system.  But, it could be modified for other voltage as well.  It uses an inexpensive phototransistor as the light detector.. . . Circuit by David Johnson P.E.-June, 2008

Lighthouse LED  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 Dave Johnson P.E.-July, 2006

Lighthouse LED 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. . . Circuit by David Johnson P.E.-July, 2006

Line Powered High Intensity LED FlasherThere are times when you would like to generate an intensely bright flash of light using electrical power from the AC line.  The circuit below can drive a one to three watt power LED with about 350ma of peak current.  Since the circuit drives the LED with . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David Johnson P.E.-December, 2008

Line Powered White LED ArrayThere has been a lot of excitement lately in the lighting industry.  Some companies are beginning to manufacture general lighting fixtures, which replace incandescent and fluorescent lamps, using LED lights.  When proper heat management is designed. . . Circuit by David A. Johnson P.E.-February, 2010

Line-Powered Xenon Flash TransmitterThis line powered xenon flash circuit drives a small camera type flash tube.  It has an optical isolator to allow the flash to be safely triggered from some remote device.  A flash rate of 2Hz is possible with the circuit. . . Circuit by David A. Johnson P.E.-June, 2000

Low Battery Voltage FlasherThis circuit is designed to monitor two alkaline cells (3v) that form the battery often used in portable electronic equipment. . . Circuit by David A. Johnson P.E.-January, 1998

Low Current Flashing LED Power Indicator This circuit flashes a power indicator LED to keep the average current low . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David Johnson P.E.-June, 2000

Low Power LED FlasherJudging from the numerous references I have received, this electronic circuit, hobby circuit seems to be rather popular.  Many published circuits which flash LEDs need 3 or more volts.  This electronic circuit uses only a single inexpensive C-MOS IC and . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David A. Johnson P.E.-June, 2000

Low Power Sequential Flasher using 10 LEDsA while back I posted a flasher circuit which flashed 10 LEDs sequentially.  That circuit was powered by four AA alkaline cells.  The circuit below operates much the same way but has been modified to run from a single 3v CR2032 lithium coin cell . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David A. Johnson P.E.-April, 2011

Low Power Universal LED FlasherThis low power LED flasher circuit draws about 100ua from any DC power supply ranging from 3 volts to 24 volts.  The 1.0Hz 10ms LED pulsed current is held to a constant 10ma. . . Circuit by David Johnson P.E.-July, 2006


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

Lamp Dimmer Full Wave SCR (120 Volt AC) -  The full wave phase control circuit below was found in a RCA power circuits book from 1969.  The load is placed in series with the AC line and the four diodes provide a full wave rectified voltage to the anode of a SCR.  Two small signal transistors are connected in a switch configuration so that when the voltage on the 2.2uF capacitor reaches about 8 volts, the transistors will switch on and discharge the capacitor through the SCR gate causing it to begin conducting.  The time delay from the beginning of each half cycle to the point where the SCR switches on is controlled by the 50K resistor which adjusts the time required for the 2uF capacitor to charge to 8 volts.  As the resistance is reduced, the time is reduced and the SCR will conduct earlier during each half cycle which applies a greater average voltage across the load.  With the resistance set to minimum the SCR will trigger when the voltage rises to about 40 volts or 15 degrees into the cycle.   __ Designed by Bill Bowden

Lamp Dimmer-120 VA - C -  The full wave phase control circuit below was found in a RCA power circuits book from 1969.  The load is placed in series with the AC line and the four diodes provide a full wave rectified voltage to the anode of a SCR.  Two small signal transistors are connected in a switch configuration so that when the voltage on the 2.2uF __ Designed by Bill Bowden

Lamp Flasher -  This circuit adopts the rather unusual Bowes/White emitter coupled multivibrator circuit.  The oscillation frequency is about 1Hz and is set by C1 value.   __ Contact: Flavio Dellepiane, fladello @ tin.it

Lantern Flasher/Dimmer -  Basically a high-efficiency dimmer, but can also be used as a flasher.  In dimmer mode, the LM358  (dual op-amp) is wired to send pulses at a constant frequency.  By adjusting the width of these pulses, brightness of the bulb is controlled.  In flasher mode, the same potentiometer is used to control the frequency, from about 1 to 20 flashes per second__ tomzi.geo page

Lantern Flasher/Dimmer -  The electronic lantern control circuit  (fig.1) adds high-efficiency dimming and flashing to an existing battery-powered lantern or flashlight or to a custom design.  For the car it makes a great lamp for changing a flat tire, back seat reading or emergency engine work.  The flasher mode is useful for warning other drivers __ Contact: Charles Wenzel of Wenzel Associates, Inc.

Lantern Flasher/Dimmer -  The electronic lantern control circuit adds high-efficiency dimming and flashing to an existing battery-powered lantern or flashlight or to a custom design.  For the car it makes a great lamp for changing a flat tire, back seat reading or emergency engine work.  The flasher mode __ Designed by Tony van Roon  VA3AVR

LED Blinking for Embedded Systems -  Smart hardware design can simplify the embedded software and make it more reliable.  Designers use blinking LED signals to indicate different status and for inbuilt testability.  Making an LED array blink...__ Electronics Projects for You

LED brightness control -  It's easy to alter the brightness of an LED simply by varying the current through it.   __ Designed by Richard Torrens

LED Chaser -  I don't know why, but people like blinking lights.  You see LED chasers everywhere, in TV shows    (Knight Rider) , movies, and store windows.  This schematic is my version of a simple 10 LED chaser.  There is no 555 timer used because __ Designed by Aaron Cake

LED Chaser -  This is the circuit of a simple LED chaser.  The LEDs lights one by one for a period of 1second and the cycle repeats giving the running light appearance.  The circuit uses two ICs (one is 555) to drive the LEDs.  IC1  (NE555) is the popular timer IC wired in the Astable Multivibrator mode.  Resistors R1, VR1 and capacitor C1 act __ Designed by D Mohankumar

LED Chaser -  A sequential light chaser using the PIC 12F629.   __ Designed by Jose Pino

LED Chaser II -  LED Chaser Version 2, Improved.  Use it as "LED chaser" or "Third Brake Light".   __ Designed by Jose Pino

LED Dimmer -  This circuit will adjust the brightness of one or more LEDs from 5% to 95%.  __ 555-Timer

LED Dimmer -  Find out how to put together a simple but efficient PWM dimmer circuit for LEDs.   __ Designed by REUK-Renewable Energy UK website

LED dimmer uses only two lines -  03/21/02 EDN-Design Ideas The circuit in Figure 1provIdeas 32 steps of brightness control-from 0 to 100%-for a backlight or instrument panel, using just two general-purpose-microprocessor signals.  In addition, the circuit requires little board space, because it uses only three SOT-23s and one µMax package Design by Jerry Wasinger, WallyWare Inc, Norcross, GA

LED Driven Tail/Brake Light Cluster -  LED driven tail/brake Light Cluster Constant current circuitry 12V Battery operation __ Contact: Flavio Dellepiane, fladello @ tin.it

LED Driver-Wireless -  The circuit solves this problem by sending power to the LED through the plastic, using a magnetic coupling technique.  The circuit below can route power through plastic enclosures as thick as ¼ inch.  The circuit will not work through metal boxes . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David A. Johnson P.E.-November, 2008

LED Drives Flash-and-Beep -  06/05/97 EDN-Design Ideas Sometimes, you need an alarm that is both audible and visible in an application that's stingy with space, power, and budget.  The circuit in Figure 1a is compact, efficient, and inexpensive.  The F336HD flashing LED  (part no.276-036 at Radio Shack) is a useful device.  It operates directly from 5V and produces a consistent pulse of light at approximately 1 Hz without a time-constant capacitor.    Design by Dennis Eichenberg, Parma Heights, OH

LED Flasher -  A SHORT COURSE in three designs to learn how to use Nutchips from ground up.  You will start making LED flashes.  You will continue learning how to switch outputs with separate START and STOP buttons.  In the last instalment, you will learn how to remotely switch a light on and off.   __ Designed by Projects & Ideas from Nutchip.com

LED flasher -  I made LED flash circuit which is often used as the PIC software making practice.  This circuit controls the blink of eight LEDs with the software of PIC.  The blinking pattern can be changed with five switches -- PIC16F84A __ Designed by Seiichi Inoue

LED Flasher -  This circuit is for amusement only! It flashes three led’s  (possibly of different colours) in sequence.  The frequency of operation depends on the values of the capacitors and resistors.  Try 1M resistors and 220n capacitors.  The integrated circuit is a 4584 hex inverting Schmitt trigger __ Designed by © David Hoult

LED Flasher -  This is a very simple project using a printed circuit board and 8 components.  It will flash an ordinary 3mm or 5mm  (1/8" or 1/4") LED at a rate of about one flash per second.   __ Designed by Collin Mitchell

LED Flasher -  LED flasher with the LM3909 IC and runs from1.5-Volt battery.   __ Designed by Tony van Roon  VA3AVR

LED Flasher -  This two LED flasher circuit uses any DC supply from 3V to 12V.  Flash rate is controlled by R1, C1 and R2, C2.  Larger values create slower fash rates, smaller values higher flash rates.   __ Designed by Evin Devore

LED Flasher -  Based on the MAX660, designed to power three 3mm/5mm white LED's from 3V  (1.5V min) , intended for replacing incandescent bulbs in small torches.)  __ Designed by Submitted Andre

LED flasher & TRIAC pulser work off AC line -  01/15/98 EDN-Design Ideas -  (This File contains several Design Ideas, please scoll to this one)  A flashing LED is an excellent visual alarm.  Unfortunately, the LED is a dc device and requires additional circuitry to operate from an ac source.  Several circuits can perform the necessary function, but the circuit in Figure 1a  is the most efficient Design by Dennis Eichenberg, Parma Heights, OH

LED flasher 2 -  This flasher moves, while lighting of LED drags on.  The brightness of LED is four kinds, bright, less bright, almost dim and dim.  These lighting states are moved with time.  Control of brightness is performed in lighting time of LED like PWM  (Pulse Width Modulation) .  There is no PWM function in PIC16F84A __ Designed by Seiichi Inoue

LED Flasher Checks Fiber-Optic Strands -  7-Jan-10 EDN-Design Ideas Send visible light through strands to check for breaks Design by Edwin A Mack, Port Republic, NJ

LED Flasher Indicates Low Battery Condition -  01/02/97 EDN-Design Ideas Many portable electronic devices could benefit from a visual indication when their battery requires replacement.  Typical low-battery indicators simply turn on an LED when the battery voltage drops below a certain value.  Such circuits actually accelerate the battery's extinction by drawing excessive current.  The circuit in Figure 1 draws a mere 1 m A in its standby mode and averages only 20 m A when activated.  The low current imposes a minimal burden on any battery circuit.  An off-the-shelf, undervoltage sensor IC (IC1) monitors the battery voltage--  Design by David Johnson, DiscoverCircuits.com

LED Flasher needs only 1.5 VOLTS -  To squeeze even more energy from a alkaline battery cell, this circuit adds two transistors to a circuit similar to the above design to boost the efficiency.  A small 1.5 volt alkaline N cell should flash the LED for a full year.  It too uses a "charge pump" technique to provide a LED the needed voltage . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David A. Johnson P.E.-June, 2000

LED Flasher that is Battery Free -  LED flashers have been used for a wide variety of applications.  Some flasher units have been used in food and hardware stores, to draw attention to sale items and are often attached to boxes which dispense product discount coupons . . . Hobby Circuit designed by Dave Johnson P.E.-December, 2010

LED Flasher Universal 3v -  The electronic circuit below will flash any LED color with fixed current pulses powered by a 3v battery.  It uses a charge pump approach, which routes a constant current pulse through the LED, regardless of the LED voltage requirement.  Using this approach . . . Hobby Circuit designed by Dave Johnson P.E.-June, 2008

LED Flasher uses Minimal Parts -  11/20/97 EDN-Design Ideas A pair of alternating flashing LEDs makes an excellent visual alarm, this alternating LED flasher is based on one LED with built-in flashing function and two transistors driving  or normal LED.    Design by Dennis Eichenberg, Parma Heights, OH

LED flasher using NE555 timer IC -  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

LED flasher with "Rising & Falling" Brightness -  Here is a Simple Circuit to give a Flashing LED, With a "Rising and Falling" Brightness.  It Uses the Sawtooth waveform from pins 2 and 6 to create the rise and fall.  The Resistor and LED on Pin 3 are Optional.  The 10K Potentiometer give a reasonable range of Speed.   __ Designed by G.L. Chemelec

LED Flasher-Wig/Wag -  This simple circuit will flash two LEDs in an alternating fashion . . . Hobby Circuit designed by Dave Johnson P.E.-December, 2004

LED Flasher-Wireless Circuit -  When you would like to flash a LED through a thick plastic case without wires, use this hobby circuit.  It performs this feat.  It draws about 300ua of average current at 5v.  It can be powered from a supply ranging from 3v to 6v . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David A. Johnson P.E.-January, 2011

LED Flashing Badge #1 -  I have seen numerous flashing light badges at trade shows and conventions.  They are often handed out as gifts to promote some business.  The devices often use inefficient circuits, which cause the battery power source to be quickly depleted. . . Circuit by David A. Johnson P.E.-March, 2002

LED Flashing Badge #2 -  This circuit uses a CD4013 dual D Flip/Flop IC.  A single lithium battery will provide months of continuous LED flashing.  It also has a tiny push-button switch to turn on and off the light flashing. . . Circuit by Dave Johnson P.E.-March, 2002

LED Flashing sweetheart kit -  LED Flashing sweetheart kit __ Contact: Velleman USA

Lighthouse LED  Flasher -  This 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 Dave Johnson P.E.-July, 2006

LED Lighthouse Flasher for HO Model Train  -  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 rotation . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David A. Johnson P.E.-July, 2006

LED Lighting For Dual-Filament Lamps -  Before we describe how it’s done, note that we recommend that the result be checked as having sufficient brightness for a stop & tail-light application.  That’s because the light output may be inadequate, depending on the tail-light lens and reflector assembly – so use any modified lamps with discretion! As shown, an additional diode  (D1) […]

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


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