mgodsell1973
United Kingdom
Asked
— Edited
Resolved by Rich!
Hi there, I am looking at adding a cool lighting system to my new robot "Trakx" (creative I know), the lighting is similar to the under car systems neon systems you can buy. My version uses a torn down led wire that you can attach to a bike. I have removed it from its casing and using simple wiring have managed to bypass the switch, but the question is will the v4 allow me to use the 3 different modes and how to wire it up?
I was thinking about using the modes as a visual warning system (ie the closer Trakx gets to something/one the faster it flashes)
Thanks for looking
Any advice welcome
How do you change/set the modes? Do you have any instructions, wiring diagrams etc. for the LED wire?
The short answer is yes, probably. But we don't have enough info to help you wire it.
Hi there Rich,
It is a simple 3v circuit, you change the modes by pressing the mini push button
Mode 1 = continually on Mode 2 = slow flash Mode 3 = faster flash
Pressing the button again will turn it off.
As for a circuit diagram I will go and try to do a bit more research
You can replicate a push button press quite easily. Have a look at this topic and see if a TIP122 based circuit would do the job. It's basically an easy on/off switch which uses the High/Low of a signal pin to activate the transistor. You may need to script it so it turns on, sleeps for a few milliseconds then turns off but it should work. The circuit itself may need a little modification but something along the same lines could work.
You may even be able to put the signal direct to the switch depending on voltage etc. much like the old EZ-Camera push switch mod. If you can find out what happens (voltage wise) to the switch when it's pushed it should be pretty simple to do.
I believe Also a 555 or 556 circuit would work.
Very probably however wouldn't that be over complicating things?
Mel, do you have a circuit in mind already for using the 555 to achieve this? I'm always interested in other methods as, thus far, I've not used a 555 timer and am itching to try one out
Hi @Rich,
i will have a look at building the TIP122 at the weekend. However my electronics knowladge is relitively small, whilst it is growing can you please give me an indication on what i shoul dbe looking for "voltage" wise from the switch.
Thanks @MovieMaker, do you have any way/ideas how to incorperate the 555 timer into the curcuit to make this work?
i appreciate your pactience with me on this.
thanks guys
:D
Usually when the switch is pushed it applies voltage to a specific part or pin of an IC. So what you need to do is find out what that voltage is and where it applies it.
When I get home later tonight I'll sit down and sketch up some circuits etc.
Sorry, didn't have chance to sit down last night.
Basically, if you get a multimeter set to DC volts. Place the red lead on one side of the switch. Place the black lead on the other side of the switch. The voltage should (hopefully) read 0v. Press the switch. Check what the voltage now reads.
If it's a positive voltage then you need to somehow bypass the switch and apply that voltage to where the red lead is connected (or a point along it's trace).
If it's a negative voltage the same applies but to where the black lead is connected.
There are a few solutions. One could be simply using the signal of a digital port (however we would need to check a few things). Another would be to use a TIP122 and relay to short the switch. Once we have the the above info we can see how to proceed with it
If it doesn't make sense or you need further help just shout and I'll try to make a short video or sketches or something.