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DIY portable LED strobe

by DOT. on July 22, 2013 Table of Contents DIY portable LED strobe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intro: DIY portable LED strobe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 1: Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 2: Schematic and PCB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 3: Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 4: Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 5: Casing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 6: Finishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 5 7 8 8

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-portable-LED-strobe/

Intro: DIY portable LED strobe

I and my friends like to have fun in summer. We like to fool around with music when we are camping. To make those parties more likely to professional ones I have made portable 9V LED strobe. For my surprise it really gives a big effect. I hope you will like it!

Step 1: Tools
Here is the list of tools you will (mostly) need: 1)marker; 2)ruller; 3)pliers; 4)screwdriver; 5)knife (or wood carving knife) 6)1, 3, 6 and 7mm drill bits; 7)drill stand or dremel tool; 8)sanding paper; 9)solder or soldering station; 10)lead solder; 11)flux.

Image Notes 1. permanent marker 2. wood carving knife 3. wire cutting pliers 4. simple pliers 5. ruller 6. screwdriver

Image Notes 1. solder or solder station 2. lead solder 3. flux 4. third hand (modified)

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-portable-LED-strobe/

Step 2: Schematic and PCB

This project is very simple but there isn't as much schematics on the internet as I thought it will be. But I'm happy because I found this one. It is really simple and cheap. All the parts (including the case) can be found at local radioshack. And what is really cool that it can be done in one day! The heart of this schematic is timer LM555. It generates square impulses which width are regulated by variable resistor or potentiometer (it really doesn't care which you will use). Light board can be made from as many LED's as you want. Starting from 3 LED's and increasing by 3 (for example it can be 3, 6, 9, 12. 15 and etc.). I have chosen 60 LED's for brighter and bigger light area. I have uploaded my schematic and PCB in Eagle and .pdf format. My main board is really small. You can make it smaller if you use SMD parts. LED board size was made 87x57mm to fit into my case.

Image Notes 1. power header 2. LED header

Image Notes 1. negative 2. positive

File Downloads

LED_strobe.brd (40 KB) [NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'LED_strobe.brd']

LED_strobe.sch (700 KB) [NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'LED_strobe.sch']

60led_strobe.brd (37 KB) [NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to '60led_strobe.brd']

60led_strobe.sch (116 KB) [NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to '60led_strobe.sch']

60led_strobe.pdf (13 KB) [NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to '60led_strobe.pdf']

LED_strobe.pdf (10 KB)

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-portable-LED-strobe/

[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'LED_strobe.pdf']

Step 3: Parts
Bill of materials (BOM) for electronics can be find in .txt file that I have attached.All those parts will cost just few dollars. Maybe LEDs will cost more. Of course you will need some parts for case assembly such as: 1)8xM3 screws; 2)two small screws for switch mounting; 3)4x10mm metal holder; 4)4x22mm metal holder; 5)case (I have used plastic 90x60x25mm). Also there is 9V battery holder, some wire, DC jack, switch and variable resistor knob (I have shortened it because it was to long).

Image Notes 1. 8xM3 screws 2. 4x22mm holders 3. 4x10mm holders 4. switch 5. DC jack 6. case outside 7. organic glass. Will be shown in assembly part

Image Notes 1. case inside 2. switch 3. switch holding screw 4. variable resisor 5. DC jack

File Downloads

BOM.txt (726 bytes) [NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'BOM.txt']

Step 4: Assembly
I forgot to take pictures of soldering part. But I think it is easy to understand from schematic and board layouts because there are just a few parts. How you can see, I have connected switch just to battery holder. When switch is off but DC adapter is connected it still works. Now when it is done with electronics it's time for casing!

Image Notes

Image Notes

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-portable-LED-strobe/

1. main board 2. third hand (modified)

1. negative 2. positive 3. header connector 4. LED's board bottom side

Image Notes 1. this pot was changed to variable resistor because this one was to big for my case 2. 9V battery holder 3. LEDs board 4. main board 5. 9V battery

Image Notes 1. this is how DC jack and 9V battery should be connected

Step 5: Casing
How you can see there were no holes and fittings in my case so I have made it by myself. For holding case with LED's board and organic glass in place together I have made 3mm holes for screws and those metal holders. 10mm holders were used between organic glass and LED's PCB. And those 22mm length were used inside case for holding all the parts together.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-portable-LED-strobe/

Image Notes 1. used 1mm drill bit for this hole.. 2. ...and for this one

Image Notes 1. perfectly cut hole for switch

Image Notes 1. used 3mm drill bit for this... 2. ...and this... 3. ...and this... 4. ...and this hole to fit screws perfectly

Image Notes 1. 7mm drill bit was used to fit this

Image Notes

Image Notes

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-portable-LED-strobe/

1. organic glass which I mentioned earlier 2. 10mm metal holder 3. 3mm hole 4. M3 screw

1. 6mm hole and shortened knob for variable resistor

Step 6: Finishing
While finishing the strobe I thought about LEDs board. I should have painted it with black or even with chrome paint to reflect light. But well I have made mistake which you can avoid. It still looks nice and shiny. That organic glass really does the job. It protects LEDs from scratching. By the way. Power supply can be 6 to 12V. I use 12V indoors. It flashes brighter. And for outdoors I use 9V battery which really easily fits in case. I am happy about this my project, it really works well. P.S. If you decide to use bigger casing you can use Joulie thief to make LEDs flash brighter from battery. P.S.S. If you want to make color light strobe you can use RGB LEDs or cut out various colors films and clip them to the organic glass. I hope You enjoyed my first instructable!

Image Notes 1. connection header 2. 22mm metal holder 3. at the end I thought that I should have painted it with black or even with chrome spray

Image Notes 1. this is how all the wirings should look like

Image Notes 1. these headers are very handy 2. connected LEDs 3. this screw is flat-head so it was just glued to the case

Image Notes 1. shortened knob

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-portable-LED-strobe/

Image Notes 1. Finished!

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http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-portable-LED-strobe/