12VDC Xenon Flasher Kit

SKU
QK163
Out of stock
$19.95
Overview
Trigger a high voltage xenon flasher tube using 6 - 18V DC power supply.

12 V Version available Order QK163

This Kit builds the circuit to trigger a high voltage xenon flash tube using a 6 volt DC input from a power supply. The flash rate is fixed but we explain how you can vary it by changing resistor &/or capacitor values. (Actually the Kit contains two types of flash tubes. The xenon filled tube is the one which makes all the light. However, there is another flash tube which contains neon gas. This flashes as well but provides a different function as will be explained below.)

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

First check the components supplied against the Component Listing. Follow the overlay on top of the PCB. Note the orientation of the Xenon tube (red dot), the trigger coil, the electrolytic capacitor C1 and the diodes.

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION

There are three parts to the circuit:

- an oscillator centered around T1 transformer

- an RC network C3, R3 and R4 which controls the flash rate

- the flash circuit itself

Oscillator. This is a self-oscillating circuit centered around T1. Applying power turns on Q1 via current flow through R2. This causes current to flow in the primary winding of T1. The resulting magnetic field causes a voltage to be induced into the secondary winding, The polarity of this voltage (at pin 3) is such that it turns off Q1. Current stops flowing in the primary, the magnetic field collapses and the induced secondary voltage reverses polarity. This voltage now causes Q1 to turn off and the whole process repeats. The turns ratio between the primary winding (pins 1 & 4) of T1 and the secondary winding (pins 2 & 5) is high (25 turns to 1500 turns resp.) So the voltage induced at pin 2 is high. This alternating voltage is half-wave rectified by diode D3 which then charges capacitor C4. This produces a DC voltage across C4 of about 375V. This voltage is negative (due to orientation of D3).

RC Network. Capacitor C3 is charged at a rate determined by resistors R3 and R4. This charging rate determines the flashrate. (more later).

Flash Circuit. The voltage across C3 is also applied across the neon tube N1 via pins 1 and 2 of the trigger transformer T2 and the SCR CR02AM-8A Q2. This voltage increases as C3 charges. When it reaches about 70V (the firing voltage of the neon) N1 fires, a voltage pulse is put onto the gate of the SCR, Q2 and Q2 conducts discharging C3. This puts a voltage pulse into the trigger transformer T2 which is stepped up to hundreds of volts. When the high voltage pulse from the trigger transformer appears on the surface of the flash tube the electric field inside the tube initiates the breakover and the tube flashes. The cycle then begins again.

Flash Rate. This is determined by the RC network of C3, R3 and R4. The time constant of the RC network is given by the equation T = R x C. Reducing T will reduce the charge time and increase the flash frequency rate. Conversely, increasing T will increase the charge time and reduce the flash rate. For the values supplied (R=20Mohm; C=.1uF) the circuit flashes at about 2 flashes per second. If we short one of the 10M resistors R is now halved and the flash rate will be about double (4 per second). Slowing the flash rate is not quite so easy. Resistors values above 10M are hard to get. The easiest thing to do is increase the value of C3. Try a 0.15uF or 0.22uF capacitor. Remember it has to be rated at 400V. Increasing C3 to 0.22uF will reduce the flash rate to about 4 flashes every 5 seconds, or just under 1/sec.

Brightness. Increasing the value of C4 say from 2.2uF to 4.4uF or more will increase the brightness of the flash.

WARNING: Before handling this kit please discharge capacitor C4. This could be charged to over 300V and will give you a nasty shock if you touch it. Discharge the C3 by shorting it with a 1K resistor.