As things are slow at the moment. Here is a project that I have built.
The background is that I was given a number of strings of (tungsten filament) lights (as my neighbour thought that I was unfestive). Over the years the bulbs have burned out.
(The strings were of the US type 100 bulbs consisting of two set of 50 bulbs in series and the two 50 strings in parallel).
So what about replacing the bulbs with LEDs - even better bicolour LEDs.
The circuit is essentially a high voltage H-bridge (integrated H-bridges do not seem to go above 40V). By switching polarity the LED changes from red to green, they can even be switch fast enough to make a passing orange.
So attached is the circuit.
Caution: If you are unconfortable working with high voltages do not attempt this (it uses 170 DC which will kill).
Here is some code. I'm sure somebody can come up with better sequences.
Care should be taken not to have the wrong two halves of the h-bridge on at the same time.
#chip 12F1840,16
#config OSC=INTOSC, MCLRE=Off, WDT=off, boren=off
'trisa=b'00001000'
dir porta.0 out
dir porta.1 out
dir porta.2 out
dir porta.4 out
dir porta.5 out
'lata=b'00000000'
set porta.0 off
set porta.1 off
set porta.2 off
set porta.4 off
set porta.5 off
dim ix as word
dim iy as word
dim ia as word
wait 1 sec
Randomize
do
repeat 100
j=random/64
if j=0 then
lata=b'00010001' 'RED
wait 1 sec
end if
if j=1 then
lata=b'00100010' 'GREEN
wait 1 sec
end if
if j=2 then
repeat 200
lata=b'00010001' 'RED
wait 2000 us
lata=b'00100010' 'GREEN
wait 3400 us
end repeat
end if
IF J=3 THEN
lata=b'00000000' 'off
wait 250 ms
end if
end repeat
repeat 5
lata=b'00000000'
wait 1 sec
for ia=0 to 1000
ix=ia*10
iy=10000-ix
lata=b'00000000' 'off
wait iy us
lata=b'00100010' 'green
wait ix us
next i
lata=b'00100010' 'green
wait 2 sec
for ia=0 to 1000
ix=ia*10
iy=10000-ix
lata=b'00010001' 'fade green-red
wait ix us
lata=b'00100010'
wait iy us
next i
lata=b'00010001' 'red
wait 2 sec
for ia=0 to 1000
ix=ia*10
iy=10000-ix
lata=b'00010001' 'red
wait iy us 'fade red-green
lata=b'00100010' 'green
wait ix us
next i
lata=b'00100010' 'green
wait 2 sec
for ia=0 to 1000
ix=ia*10
iy=10000-ix
lata=b'00010001' 'fade green-red
wait ix us
lata=b'00100010'
wait iy us
next i
lata=b'00010001' 'red
wait 2 sec
for ia=0 to 1000
ix=ia*10
iy=10000-ix
lata=b'00010001' 'red
wait iy us
lata=b'00000000' 'off
wait ix us
next i
repeat 20
lata=b'00010001' 'red
wait 10 sec
lata=b'00000000' 'off
wait 250 ms
lata=b'00100010' 'green
wait 10 sec
lata=b'00000000' 'off
wait 250 ms
repeat 2000
lata=b'00010001' 'RED
wait 2000 us 'attempt at orange
lata=b'00100010' 'GREEN
wait 3400 us
end repeat
lata=b'00000000' 'off
wait 250 ms
end repeat
end repeat
loop
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
I got a lantern and a few "bulbs" that have a flame effect but they are so cheap in lidl or ebay why bother?
It's difficult to find something worth making that costs less on ebay.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
It's the joy of creation and I can say that mine is unique. I would guess that it probably is the only one in the world.
I spent a week in England recently and all I saw were flashy white led things I saw none with bicolour LEDs. Oh and I can program in any sequence I want.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
As things are slow at the moment. Here is a project that I have built.
The background is that I was given a number of strings of (tungsten filament) lights (as my neighbour thought that I was unfestive). Over the years the bulbs have burned out.
(The strings were of the US type 100 bulbs consisting of two set of 50 bulbs in series and the two 50 strings in parallel).
So what about replacing the bulbs with LEDs - even better bicolour LEDs.
The circuit is essentially a high voltage H-bridge (integrated H-bridges do not seem to go above 40V). By switching polarity the LED changes from red to green, they can even be switch fast enough to make a passing orange.
So attached is the circuit.
Caution: If you are unconfortable working with high voltages do not attempt this (it uses 170 DC which will kill).
Last edit: David Stephenson 2019-12-20
Here is some code. I'm sure somebody can come up with better sequences.
Care should be taken not to have the wrong two halves of the h-bridge on at the same time.
or go to poundland :)
I got a lantern and a few "bulbs" that have a flame effect but they are so cheap in lidl or ebay why bother?
It's difficult to find something worth making that costs less on ebay.
It's the joy of creation and I can say that mine is unique. I would guess that it probably is the only one in the world.
I spent a week in England recently and all I saw were flashy white led things I saw none with bicolour LEDs. Oh and I can program in any sequence I want.