Strobe Light

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Disco anyone? Actually, this strobe serves a much more useful purpose then making it look cool when you dance in the dark. You can use it to view fast moving objects, look for craks in PC boards (hold the strobe on the trace side of the board and look from the component side), and it is a great attention getter in a store window.

Schematic

Parts

Part	Total Qty.	Description	Substitutions
R1	1	10 Meg, 1/4 Watt Resistor
D1, D2	2	1N4003 Silicon Diode	1N4007
C1, C2	2	10uF 350V Capacitor
C3	1	0.1uF 400 Volt Mylar Capacitor
T1	1	4KV Trigger Transformer (see "Notes")
FT	1	Flash Tube (see "Notes")
L1	1	Neon Bulb
Q1	1	106 SCR
S1	1	115V 1A SPST Switch
MISC	1	Case, Wire, Line Cord

Notes

Where To Get Parts).

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.

Most any diodes rated at greater then 250 volts at 1 amp can be used instead of the 1N4003's.

Related Circuits

Comments

Add A Comment

anonymous Strobe Light Friday, March 23, 2012 2:36:36 PM

What is the battery voltage needed to power this?

Redhead parts locater Saturday, September 12, 2009 4:42:50 PM

Most all of theese parts can be found at Electronic goldmine .com if you look at the 9in strobe unit it will give you the pdf to get a schmatic of allmost the same curcuit shown here. You can get thr scr 106 at jameco.com. good luck all.mgbv

anonymous Strobe Light Monday, May 25, 2009 3:42:15 PM

Steve - The "106" notation for the SCR is short form for any device that has the main number of 106. There are many variations of these SCRs that pertain to the package type, voltage rating and in some cases the current rating. A typical number would be TIC106D, however different manufacturers will have different prefixes. The author of the circuit has specified a "106" device probably due to it's characteristic low current gate drive requirements, but being triggered via neon bulb would allow you to use almost any SCR that you wanted. Choose one that suits the load you want to drive. Cheers

saman Strobe Light Saturday, April 18, 2009 2:55:41 PM

i looked for this circuit too much And now i get it. thanks for your helps.best regard

Steve Strobe Light Monday, March 23, 2009 12:59:02 PM

Re: the SCR, to what does the 106 mean; I don't know what to look for when searching. Thank You, Steve

Brian Strobe Light Sunday, February 08, 2009 1:19:31 PM

Hi! Thanks for sharing your strobe light project. Could you share your source for the 4kv flash transformer and flash tube?

anonymous Strobe Light Monday, November 17, 2008 8:28:08 AM

it works i made it

Larry Oatman Strobe Light Saturday, October 04, 2008 1:26:39 PM

Get a disposable flash camera, take the pictures, wind the film all the way into the cartridge(just like a 35mm film can), break open the camera, take the film in for processing, and take out the flash unit. The flash is powered by a AAA battery, which is stepped up to 330 volts by an electronic circuit. You can replace the AAA battery with a D battery for longer run time. And you can replace the battery with a new one when necessary. I have taken many of the strobe units and converted them to run on house current for my Halloween decorations.

Adrian James Flynn Strobe Light Thursday, June 12, 2008 6:34:33 PM

Where is the missing information in the "NOTES:" for the following from the parts list? (T1 1 4KV Trigger Transformer (see "Notes") FT 1 Flash Tube (see "Notes") )
(Editor's notes: Oops. Will correct with the next update. But both a generic parts. Any 4KV flash trigger will work, any small Xenon flash tube will work as well.)

Benedict Khoo Portable Strobe Light Thursday, June 05, 2008 6:31:05 AM

Hi there. I need to find a good way to build a strobe light circuitboard that is portable. i am doing mosquito research w a university, and we are testing electrophysiological responses. i am trying to see the effects of a strobe light, and so i need a portable strobe light device that is low-voltage and long-lasting (typically for 12 hours at least) and safe for other students to handle. any suggestions guys?

Shaf security light Monday, March 03, 2008 5:53:30 PM

a very good website i really love it, i enjoy building up projects from the circuits, it help me practice for my A level electronics. COULD you please help me to HOW to build up a circuit for Security light.i want it to light when something move next to it.it has to light up for few second and then automatically turn off. PLEASE would u help me i really need your help. THanks

The Lightning Stalker Strobe Light Thursday, January 17, 2008 10:03:53 PM

There should be a resistor in series with the AC line to prevent a half cycle of the AC from coming through and blowing the tube like so: http://silenceisdefeat.org/~lgtngstk/Sites/Strobe/Strobe.html. I learned this the hard way. Cheers
(Editor's notes: Just a note that I've had several of these circuits operating for more then 15 years with no resistor.)

Chris Strobe Light Thursday, December 13, 2007 6:54:57 PM

I'm working a project to make a slave strobe. I see your "slave" circuit, know it is supposed to plug into "somewhere", and have looked at your "strobe" circuits, but cannot "visualize" how to merge the two together. Could you possibly send me an example of a functional combined circuit, please? Thank you. Keep up the good work ! Sincerely, Chris

Bobby Strobe Light Saturday, November 17, 2007 9:38:51 PM

i love strob lights!!!

David Strobe Light Friday, November 02, 2007 7:02:51 AM

What would I need to make this work on 12vdc? Thanks

jul hoka Strobe Light Thursday, October 18, 2007 11:52:01 AM

i wabnt using 220 V AC, can i get a flash lights. are 4700 microFarad is enough to get the light bigger? how can i get T1 (4KV)

manitu Strobe Light hmmm Thursday, October 11, 2007 12:02:50 PM

is the Schematic of the circuit right ? anyone who make it work ?

siddie Strobe Light Saturday, September 22, 2007 3:32:50 AM

May i have scheme of srobe light w/ multi grade voltage, i want use on my heavy duty truck or equipment , plese give me information include with list of component what i need

awash Strobe Light Tuesday, June 19, 2007 3:28:16 PM

How can i distinguish primary and secondary part of the trasformer( Trigger Trasformer)? and is that possible to connect the primary to 240v A.C. or what can i do? and how can i distinguish the Red, Brn, and Blue parts of the trasformer? Please try to help me as soon as possible. Thank you

anonymous Strobe Light Sunday, June 10, 2007 8:27:14 AM

so far i seeen ya projects love them been working on a few other proj my self i ould like ya to help me out wit a circuit for motion detector to switch a light on n off when the motion stops for some time

anonymous Strobe Light Friday, June 08, 2007 11:16:46 AM

Lots of bright flashing lights

LUIS ROSERO Strobe Light Wednesday, May 16, 2007 12:39:28 PM

IT'S GREAT AND EASY FOR WE ARE DO GOOD,VERY NICE

anonymous Strobe Light Tuesday, May 08, 2007 10:22:39 AM

Yeah, I know people but i think this strob-light is gonna be fun to build. haahaha

anonymous Strobe Light Monday, May 07, 2007 2:11:50 PM

this will be awesome for my party thank cool kid aaron cake

anny Strobe Light Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:58:05 AM

YEAH I LUV THEESE They can get u high

anonymous Strobe Light Tuesday, April 10, 2007 6:49:35 PM

I want to see the dam light

Tyler Strobe Light - Yeeyaa! Wednesday, March 28, 2007 9:59:52 AM

Haha, we're going to make this strobe light in our computer course in school. any tips or advice you could give that would be sick cause we suck and will fuck up somehow!

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anonymous	Strobe Light	Friday, March 23, 2012 2:36:36 PM
What is the battery voltage needed to power this?
Redhead	parts locater	Saturday, September 12, 2009 4:42:50 PM
Most all of theese parts can be found at Electronic goldmine .com if you look at the 9in strobe unit it will give you the pdf to get a schmatic of allmost the same curcuit shown here. You can get thr scr 106 at jameco.com. good luck all.mgbv
anonymous	Strobe Light	Monday, May 25, 2009 3:42:15 PM
Steve - The "106" notation for the SCR is short form for any device that has the main number of 106. There are many variations of these SCRs that pertain to the package type, voltage rating and in some cases the current rating. A typical number would be TIC106D, however different manufacturers will have different prefixes. The author of the circuit has specified a "106" device probably due to it's characteristic low current gate drive requirements, but being triggered via neon bulb would allow you to use almost any SCR that you wanted. Choose one that suits the load you want to drive. Cheers
saman	Strobe Light	Saturday, April 18, 2009 2:55:41 PM
i looked for this circuit too much And now i get it. thanks for your helps.best regard
Steve	Strobe Light	Monday, March 23, 2009 12:59:02 PM
Re: the SCR, to what does the 106 mean; I don't know what to look for when searching. Thank You, Steve
Brian	Strobe Light	Sunday, February 08, 2009 1:19:31 PM
Hi! Thanks for sharing your strobe light project. Could you share your source for the 4kv flash transformer and flash tube?
anonymous	Strobe Light	Monday, November 17, 2008 8:28:08 AM
it works i made it
Larry Oatman	Strobe Light	Saturday, October 04, 2008 1:26:39 PM
Get a disposable flash camera, take the pictures, wind the film all the way into the cartridge(just like a 35mm film can), break open the camera, take the film in for processing, and take out the flash unit. The flash is powered by a AAA battery, which is stepped up to 330 volts by an electronic circuit. You can replace the AAA battery with a D battery for longer run time. And you can replace the battery with a new one when necessary. I have taken many of the strobe units and converted them to run on house current for my Halloween decorations.
Adrian James Flynn	Strobe Light	Thursday, June 12, 2008 6:34:33 PM
Where is the missing information in the "NOTES:" for the following from the parts list? (T1 1 4KV Trigger Transformer (see "Notes") FT 1 Flash Tube (see "Notes") ) (Editor's notes: Oops. Will correct with the next update. But both a generic parts. Any 4KV flash trigger will work, any small Xenon flash tube will work as well.)
Benedict Khoo	Portable Strobe Light	Thursday, June 05, 2008 6:31:05 AM
Hi there. I need to find a good way to build a strobe light circuitboard that is portable. i am doing mosquito research w a university, and we are testing electrophysiological responses. i am trying to see the effects of a strobe light, and so i need a portable strobe light device that is low-voltage and long-lasting (typically for 12 hours at least) and safe for other students to handle. any suggestions guys?
Shaf	security light	Monday, March 03, 2008 5:53:30 PM
a very good website i really love it, i enjoy building up projects from the circuits, it help me practice for my A level electronics. COULD you please help me to HOW to build up a circuit for Security light.i want it to light when something move next to it.it has to light up for few second and then automatically turn off. PLEASE would u help me i really need your help. THanks
The Lightning Stalker	Strobe Light	Thursday, January 17, 2008 10:03:53 PM
There should be a resistor in series with the AC line to prevent a half cycle of the AC from coming through and blowing the tube like so: http://silenceisdefeat.org/~lgtngstk/Sites/Strobe/Strobe.html. I learned this the hard way. Cheers (Editor's notes: Just a note that I've had several of these circuits operating for more then 15 years with no resistor.)
Chris	Strobe Light	Thursday, December 13, 2007 6:54:57 PM
I'm working a project to make a slave strobe. I see your "slave" circuit, know it is supposed to plug into "somewhere", and have looked at your "strobe" circuits, but cannot "visualize" how to merge the two together. Could you possibly send me an example of a functional combined circuit, please? Thank you. Keep up the good work ! Sincerely, Chris
Bobby	Strobe Light	Saturday, November 17, 2007 9:38:51 PM
i love strob lights!!!
David	Strobe Light	Friday, November 02, 2007 7:02:51 AM
What would I need to make this work on 12vdc? Thanks
jul hoka	Strobe Light	Thursday, October 18, 2007 11:52:01 AM
i wabnt using 220 V AC, can i get a flash lights. are 4700 microFarad is enough to get the light bigger? how can i get T1 (4KV)
manitu	Strobe Light hmmm	Thursday, October 11, 2007 12:02:50 PM
is the Schematic of the circuit right ? anyone who make it work ?
siddie	Strobe Light	Saturday, September 22, 2007 3:32:50 AM
May i have scheme of srobe light w/ multi grade voltage, i want use on my heavy duty truck or equipment , plese give me information include with list of component what i need
awash	Strobe Light	Tuesday, June 19, 2007 3:28:16 PM
How can i distinguish primary and secondary part of the trasformer( Trigger Trasformer)? and is that possible to connect the primary to 240v A.C. or what can i do? and how can i distinguish the Red, Brn, and Blue parts of the trasformer? Please try to help me as soon as possible. Thank you
anonymous	Strobe Light	Sunday, June 10, 2007 8:27:14 AM
so far i seeen ya projects love them been working on a few other proj my self i ould like ya to help me out wit a circuit for motion detector to switch a light on n off when the motion stops for some time
anonymous	Strobe Light	Friday, June 08, 2007 11:16:46 AM
Lots of bright flashing lights
LUIS ROSERO	Strobe Light	Wednesday, May 16, 2007 12:39:28 PM
IT'S GREAT AND EASY FOR WE ARE DO GOOD,VERY NICE
anonymous	Strobe Light	Tuesday, May 08, 2007 10:22:39 AM
Yeah, I know people but i think this strob-light is gonna be fun to build. haahaha
anonymous	Strobe Light	Monday, May 07, 2007 2:11:50 PM
this will be awesome for my party thank cool kid aaron cake
anny	Strobe Light	Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:58:05 AM
YEAH I LUV THEESE They can get u high
anonymous	Strobe Light	Tuesday, April 10, 2007 6:49:35 PM
I want to see the dam light
Tyler	Strobe Light - Yeeyaa!	Wednesday, March 28, 2007 9:59:52 AM
Haha, we're going to make this strobe light in our computer course in school. any tips or advice you could give that would be sick cause we suck and will fuck up somehow!