Adjustable Strobe Light

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This Adjustable Strobe Light is the bigger brother of the plain old strobe light. This one uses a much more powerful "horse shoe" Xenon tube which produces more light. You can also control the flash rate up to about 20Hz. Do not look directly at the flash tube when this thing is on!

DANGER: HIGH VOLTAGE DANGER: HIGH VOLTAGE DANGER: HIGH VOLTAGE DANGER: HIGH VOLTAGE DANGER: HIGH VOLTAGE

Schematic

This is the schematic of the strobe

PC Board Layout

This is the PC board pattern of the strobe

Parts Placement

This is the parts placement diagram of the strobe light

Parts
Part
Total Qty.
Description
Substitutions
R11250 Ohm 10 Watt Resistor
R21500K Pot
R31680K 1/4 Watt Resistor
D1, D221N4004 Silicon Diode
C1, C2222 uF 350V Capacitor
C310.47uF 400 Volt Mylar Capacitor
T114KV Trigger Transformer (see "Notes")
L11Flash Tube (see "Notes")
L21Neon Bulb
Q11106 SCR
F11115V 1A Fuse
MISC1Case, Wire, Line Cord, Knob For R2

Notes

  1. T1 and L1 are available from The Electronics Goldmine (see Where To Get Parts).

  2. This ciruits is NOT isolated from ground. Use caution when operating without a case. A case is required for normal operation. Do not touch any part of the circuit with the case open or not installed.

  3. Most any diodes rated at greater then 250 volts at 1 amp can be used instead of the 1N4004's.

  4. Do not operate this circuit at high flash rates for more than about 30 seconds or else C1 and C2 will overheat and explode.

  5. There is no on/off switch in the schematic, but you can of course add one.

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Comments
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newbie to technology
Adjustable Strobe Light
Sunday, August 19, 2012 5:59:53 AM
HI...I would like to ask that can this circuit be solder on a stripboard?? as i would like to make it increase the speed of flashing when i press the button increasing by time and can the flash stop and continuing lighting the light without flashing after a long pressing on the button??
richard
Adjustable Strobe Light
Thursday, February 23, 2012 6:35:26 AM
the xenon should be rated at how many watt ? i am going to waor this circuit in 240v and i had removed the doubler (C1 & D1) how many volt n watt required for the neon bulb to discharge the capasitor ? last, the ground pin or primary pin of the trigger transformer is connected to SCR ?
Devin
Adjustable Strobe Light
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 3:24:23 PM
What determines the power output to the flash tube? How is the capacitor value determine in a voltage doubler. Say I want to power a much larger flash tube.
anonymous michael
Adjustable Strobe Light
Thursday, July 14, 2011 3:10:45 AM
What are the changes required for the circuit to work on 220V

(Editor's notes: Remove voltage doubler.)
eric
Adjustable Strobe Light
Wednesday, May 11, 2011 6:26:22 PM
where is a good source for the SCR ? the high V cap ?
anonymous
Adjustable Strobe Light
Monday, January 17, 2011 6:13:17 PM
I know what an 106 SCR is, but I can't it. Could someone help me?
Bonnie
Adjustable Strobe Light
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 6:27:42 AM
what volt battery does it run on?
Max Balboa
Adjustable Strobe Light
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 8:34:34 AM
Very helpful. Just a quick question, how do I do this on 220V? Best regards, -Max
Tom
READ THIS
Thursday, March 11, 2010 11:38:01 PM
Hi all. Just to answer some questions you might have about the neon light. Since the circuit runs (thereby charging the capacitor) as soon as it is plugged in, the components become dangerous to handle. The neon bulb is a mean a discharge the capacitor so that the circuit doesn't zap you if you go to touch/modify it. Another way to put that is: when you plug the strobe light in, don't turn it on at all, then unplug it, the neon light will go on to eliminate any build-up of charge. Give me an e-mail if you have any questions.
anonymous
Adjustable Strobe Light
Friday, February 19, 2010 4:55:17 PM
I remember building this circuit as a kid way back in the 70's when all the parts were available from radio shack. The neon bulb acts as a trigger for the transistor and coil. It passes no current until there is enough charge in the capacitors and then all of a sudden it fires. It needs to be there.
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