lighting & electronics

cerberus · Post by **cerberus** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 3:57 pm

My wife recently purchased a box of train stuff for her nephew and in it was a 3909 LED flasher/oscillater from Radio Shack is this of any use in wiring up a lighting system for a model. according to the package it will operate one year one a "C" battery. If so how do you use it.

Jeff Herne · Post by **Jeff Herne** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:37 pm

If this is the 'wig-wag' signal crossing circuit, I've used two of them tied together to get a semi-believable random flashing. I think the newer units have potentiometers on them to adjust the rate of flash. By using two units with 4 different colored LEDs and varying flash rates, you can get get all sorts of flashing effects.

J

DLMatthys · Post by **DLMatthys** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:27 pm

The LM3909 chip is still one of my favorite chips. It will make a LED or GOW lamp flash like a strobe light. They are used in several of the circuit boards that I etch out. Features a 470 capacitor, resisters and a trim pot. The chip I still can buy @ wholesale.

Some simple DIY circuits schematics shown here...
http://www.bowdenshobbycircuits.info/pa ... 5flash.gif

http://www.bowdenshobbycircuits.info/

I sell the chips and circuit boards at my web store.
As bare boards, kits with parts or sometimes costume built.

Madman Lighting · Post by **Madman Lighting** » Fri Aug 12, 2011 9:27 pm

I am just amazed you can still get that part Don. Who still makes it anyway? It was popular about 10 years ago but things have changed a bit, no offense!