Flasher Circuits


Posted on Feb 5, 2014

The basic two-transistor flasher shown below has found its way into dozens of applications due to its simplicity and versatility. Applications have included such diverse circuits as a micropower low battery indicator, a lightning detector, a off-line switching power supply, a micropower high voltage supply, an unusual beeping capacitance probe,


Flasher Circuits
Click here to download the full size of the above Circuit.

a windshield wiper controller, a lamp dimmer, a police siren, and several others. The simple circuit can be used at very low frequencies, RF frequencies, low voltages, or even very high voltages with careful selection of transistors. The power handling capability and power consumption are also easily modified to suit the requirement. The basic flasher is shown below. Notice that it is a "two-wire" circuit and simply connects in series with the load and battery. The two resistors on the base of the PNP set a threshold voltage and when power is applied the capacitor begins charging toward this voltage. When the capacitor voltage is high enough the two transistors begin to conduct. The current flow causes the voltage across the circuit to drop slightly and this drop causes a drop in the threshold voltage. The lower threshold voltage causes even more current and this positive feedback causes the circuit to rapidly turn on. It stays on until the capacitor discharges at which point a reverse process causes the circuit to suddenly switch off. Power transistors may be added for handling higher current loads. The two circuits below are typical connections. In the first circuit a flasher circuit in series with a 220 ohm resistor turns on a power transistor. In the second circuit, a power FET is used in place of the NPN. A pull-down resistor is added to pull the gate low when the circuit turns off. Don`t hesitate to modify this basic...




Leave Comment

characters left:

Related Circuits

  • New Circuits

    .

     


    Popular Circuits

    Multimedia speakers
    6 Channel RF Remote Control
    Preregulator for power supply
    Sensitive Low-Current-Drain Motion Detector
    cellphone operated land rover
    300w power amplifier circuit with 2n773
    Electret Condenser Microphone (ECM) Preamplifier
    Phase shift AC Circuits
    amstrad cpc464
    Tube Tune-A-Lite ID37856
    IR Remote Control Modulation Detector
    SAA1042 stepper motor control circuit



    Top