Flashing lights

strwrs77 · Post by **strwrs77** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:53 pm

I have 8 mini Maglite bulbs wired up and I want them to blink. Is there a relay or something I can put between the lights and the on/off switch to make them do this? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and Happy Holidays.

jwrjr · Post by **jwrjr** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:15 pm

The flasher that I make is good for 250ma. That works out to 10 leds. But I don't know how that converts to mini Maglight bulbs.

en'til Zog · Post by **en'til Zog** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:32 pm

I've used mini-mag bulbs, and regretted it. They have a very short working life if you blink them due to the thermal shock they get for each blink. If you can use LEDs you should use LEDs.

My 2 drachma.

strwrs77 · Post by **strwrs77** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 1:03 pm

Thank you for your input guys. Unfortunatley the model is already built and there is no way to replace the bulbs. I'm already kicking myself in the @$$ for not using LEDs. This model was built a few years ago and I just never figured out how to make the navigation lights blink. Btw, the kit I am refering to is the Star Wars Shuttle Tydirium.

en'til Zog · Post by **en'til Zog** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 3:26 pm

Oh....

Yeah, I built a Star Destroyer w/ inky lights.

Long ago....

You could always run all the bulbs on less than full voltage to prolong their lives. If you really have to blink the nav beacons, you could use a S L O W on and off action to avoid the heavy inrush current and thremal shock. Somehow...

I'd take some mini-mag bulbs and build a test rig outside the model.

Then you could use one of the "slow blink" techniques to run the bulbs and see how they work, how long they last.

jwrjr · Post by **jwrjr** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 11:22 pm

I have a 15 year old model with light bulb 'strobes' (an ERTL refit) that still work fine. But these are not mini maglite bulbs (Now he tells me ...).