Help with IR LED Strobe

F

Frank

Guest
I have been trying to build an Infrared strobe. I have been able to make the
diodes flash off and on using a 555 timer circuit. But I can not make them
strobe....I'm missing something here ????
What do I need to do to make the IR diodes STROBE BRIGHTLY not just turn off
and on ( I use Night vision equipment to see them). I purchased a real IR
Strobe (40 dollars) but its encased and I can't determine how
they made it strobe very brightly with just 3 diodes and a 9v battery. I'm
sure I need to hit the diodes with either a much larger voltage than normal
or something...
Any help would be great.

thanks
Frank
 
--
"Frank" <mayo9747@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:GU5nf.2055$kP5.637@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
I have been trying to build an Infrared strobe. I have been able to make
the
diodes flash off and on using a 555 timer circuit. But I can not make them
strobe....I'm missing something here ????
What do I need to do to make the IR diodes STROBE BRIGHTLY not just turn
off
and on ( I use Night vision equipment to see them). I purchased a real IR
Strobe (40 dollars) but its encased and I can't determine how
they made it strobe very brightly with just 3 diodes and a 9v battery. I'm
sure I need to hit the diodes with either a much larger voltage than
normal
or something...
Any help would be great.

thanks
Frank
Click to expand...
Without knowing your circuit it is hard to offer advice.

What is the difference between "Strobing" and flashing on and off

I am guessing that the commercial unit puts a lot of current thru the diode
for a very short time to make bright pulse

Dan Hollands
1120 S Creek Dr
Webster NY 14580
585-872-2606
dhollan3@rochester.rr.com
www.QuickScoreRace.com
 
On 2005-12-12, Frank <mayo9747@bellsouth.net> wrote:

I have been trying to build an Infrared strobe. I have been able to make the
diodes flash off and on using a 555 timer circuit. But I can not make them
strobe....I'm missing something here ????
What do I need to do to make the IR diodes STROBE BRIGHTLY not just turn off
and on ( I use Night vision equipment to see them). I purchased a real IR
Strobe (40 dollars) but its encased and I can't determine how
they made it strobe very brightly with just 3 diodes and a 9v battery. I'm
sure I need to hit the diodes with either a much larger voltage than normal
or something...
Any help would be great.
Click to expand...
try this

+--------+---- 9V
| |
| . . . .|. . . .
| . VCC(8) .
| . .
+------------+--RES(4) OUT(3)--
| . NE555 .
+--[100K]----+--TH(6) DIS(7)------+
| . . |
+--TR(2) CV(5)-- |
| . . |
| . GND(1) . |
| . . . .|. . . . |
| | // |
+--------(-------->|--+
| |
--- |
--- 10uF |
| Tant. |
| |
+--------+--- OV

larger capacitors for brigter flashes, smaller resistors
for more frequent flashes.

Bye.
Jasen
 
"Lacy" <lacy@cwv.net> wrote in message
news:1134516670_89419@spool6-east.superfeed.net...
"Frank" <mayo9747@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:GU5nf.2055$kP5.637@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
I have been trying to build an Infrared strobe. I have been able to make
the
diodes flash off and on using a 555 timer circuit. But I can not make
them
strobe....I'm missing something here ????
What do I need to do to make the IR diodes STROBE BRIGHTLY not just turn
off
and on ( I use Night vision equipment to see them). I purchased a real IR
Strobe (40 dollars) but its encased and I can't determine how
they made it strobe very brightly with just 3 diodes and a 9v battery.
I'm
sure I need to hit the diodes with either a much larger voltage than
normal
or something...
Any help would be great.

thanks
Frank

If you need to use that many diodes, you might consider driving them
from a transistor instead of directly off the timer. It may be a case of
the timer not delivering enough current to drive the diodes (this could
be why they are dim). To make them flash faster you need to calculate the
components r1, r2, and c1 for a higher frequency. .
Click to expand...
Also on your schematic I noticed pin 4 of the timer was left open. I don't
see how your circuit can work like this. Pin 4 has to be tied back to
positive in order for the timer to work.



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Thanks to all for the assistance, I re-designed the circuit base on all the
suggestions. It's completely changed, still using the 555 but a mosfet, and
inductor to trigger the LED's
I'll post it as soon as I make sure it works
"Frank" <mayo9747@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:GU5nf.2055$kP5.637@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
I have been trying to build an Infrared strobe. I have been able to make
the
diodes flash off and on using a 555 timer circuit. But I can not make them
strobe....I'm missing something here ????
What do I need to do to make the IR diodes STROBE BRIGHTLY not just turn
off
and on ( I use Night vision equipment to see them). I purchased a real IR
Strobe (40 dollars) but its encased and I can't determine how
they made it strobe very brightly with just 3 diodes and a 9v battery. I'm
sure I need to hit the diodes with either a much larger voltage than
normal
or something...
Any help would be great.

thanks
Frank
Click to expand...
 
"Frank" <mayo9747@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:GU5nf.2055$kP5.637@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
I have been trying to build an Infrared strobe. I have been able to make
the
diodes flash off and on using a 555 timer circuit. But I can not make them
strobe....I'm missing something here ????
What do I need to do to make the IR diodes STROBE BRIGHTLY not just turn
off
and on ( I use Night vision equipment to see them). I purchased a real IR
Strobe (40 dollars) but its encased and I can't determine how
they made it strobe very brightly with just 3 diodes and a 9v battery. I'm
sure I need to hit the diodes with either a much larger voltage than
normal
or something...
Any help would be great.

thanks
Frank
Click to expand...
Although not an electronics answer, there is a simple IR filter that you can
use over a camera flash, and I would guess other strobe. Slide film that has
not been exposed, but has been processed (like that at the end of a roll of
processed slide film) turns out to be mostly opaque to visible light, but
mostly transparent to IR. I have used this techique to trigger slave flash
units when I dont want the trigger flash to add little to no light to the
scene. (As in some special backlighting effects, etc.) I just tape a piece
of film over the flash and use Wein slave flash sensors to trip the other
units. (Old heavy Norman flash units that arent made anymore but still work
great.)

Henry
 
"Frank" <mayo9747@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:GU5nf.2055$kP5.637@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
I have been trying to build an Infrared strobe. I have been able to make
the
diodes flash off and on using a 555 timer circuit. But I can not make them
strobe....I'm missing something here ????
What do I need to do to make the IR diodes STROBE BRIGHTLY not just turn
off
and on ( I use Night vision equipment to see them). I purchased a real IR
Strobe (40 dollars) but its encased and I can't determine how
they made it strobe very brightly with just 3 diodes and a 9v battery. I'm
sure I need to hit the diodes with either a much larger voltage than
normal
or something...
Any help would be great.

thanks
Frank

If you need to use that many diodes, you might consider driving them from
a transistor instead of directly off the timer. It may be a case of the
timer not delivering enough current to drive the diodes (this could be why
they are dim). To make them flash faster you need to calculate the
components r1, r2, and c1 for a higher frequency. .
Click to expand...


----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----
 
Be sure to have a look in the Datasheet of the diodes. In sufficiently short
pulses they often accept currents exceeding 1000 mA. The perrmissible
on-time is a few microseconds.


"Frank" <mayo9747@bellsouth.net> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:MC3of.17193$MA2.12268@bignews6.bellsouth.net...
Thanks to all for the assistance, I re-designed the circuit base on all
the suggestions. It's completely changed, still using the 555 but a
mosfet, and inductor to trigger the LED's
I'll post it as soon as I make sure it works
"Frank" <mayo9747@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:GU5nf.2055$kP5.637@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
I have been trying to build an Infrared strobe. I have been able to make
the
diodes flash off and on using a 555 timer circuit. But I can not make
them
strobe....I'm missing something here ????
What do I need to do to make the IR diodes STROBE BRIGHTLY not just turn
off
and on ( I use Night vision equipment to see them). I purchased a real IR
Strobe (40 dollars) but its encased and I can't determine how
they made it strobe very brightly with just 3 diodes and a 9v battery.
I'm
sure I need to hit the diodes with either a much larger voltage than
normal
or something...
Any help would be great.

thanks
Frank
Click to expand...
 
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