World's Simplest Xenon Flasher

This simple Xenon flasher is fun to play with because you control the flash rate with the switch.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• xenon
• flasher
• disco
• lights
• electronics
• howto

[User2718218]

Another fantastic clip Chilliqueen, thank you. I have a few interesting questions. Is it the switch contact make, or break, or both that initiates the flash?

When the contact breaks it looks like you have an inductively coupled LC oscillator that can resonate, the 0.1 uF cap and the primary coupled with the Xenon lamp capacitive load of the trigger plate and the secondary. Is there a ring-down?

Finally, what determines the duration of the flash?

Thanks again for a great clip.

[chilliqueen2007]

@User2718218 The make and break of the contacts in the trigger coil produces the back emf in accordance with Lenz Law as you mentioned in your channel. Yes, you can produce a much more powerful flash if you use higher cap values. But be warned, it is potentially very dangerous and explosive.

[tubetez]

great project!

do you think you can pulse the switch and have it working like a strobe?

and maybe control the pulses with a 555 chip?

that'd be awesome...

thanks for sharing,

[theshillhunter]

Gotta try this one, your work is amazing :~)