[sdiy] strobe light project...

[Tim Stinchcombe]

Hi Drew,
I cannot answer you main question, but I can supply some gen on the Velleman
kit, which I have made.

> 	This is NOT the strobelight that I have, but it appears 
> to have many, if not all, of the same componants:
> 
	http://www.velleman-kit.com/Product.asp?lan=1&id=9023

It runs at mains voltage levels, and contains a diac and a triac, about
which I know very little, but the circuit operation appears pretty
straightforward. Full-wave rectified mains charges a capacitor through a
pot; when a certain level is reached, the diac conducts and this turns the
triac on. The triac suddenly grounds one end of a second capacitor, the
other end of which is connected to a small transformer, the other side of
which in turn is connected to the tube. Thus it appears the sudden switch on
of the triac sticks a jolt across the transformer, which steps this up to a
much larger jolt, enough to make the tube flash. Maybe the diac could be
replaced with a relay or something which would then switch the triac 'on
demand' from whatever is controlling the relay, but with all the mains stuff
floating about the place, I'm sure _I_ wouldn't like to try it without
reading up a deal on triacs and diacs!

Tim

__________________________________________________________
Tim Stinchcombe 

Cheltenham, Glos, UK
email: tim101 at tstinchcombe.freeserve.co.uk