Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Drew on August 19, 2008 at 11:10pm

Why not use an LED

http://wild-bohemian.com/electronics/flasher.html

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Permalink Reply by Alasdair Allan on August 20, 2008 at 4:24am

You might want to look at emergency strobes lights designed for scuba diving. They're compact, low voltage, and most models don't weigh that much...

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Permalink Reply by Remco Bos on August 20, 2008 at 7:26am

http://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITEDHOBBIES/store/uh_power_search.as...

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Permalink Reply by Jelle on August 20, 2008 at 4:40pm

Use a 1 or 3 watt led with a suitable diffuser. They (leds and regulators) can be found at places like dealextreme.com for less then $10 total. Maybe you'd better build your own regulator so the strobe can flash & at higher amps.

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Permalink Reply by Lance Njoroge on September 5, 2008 at 6:42am

Hi Kevin

Many years ago I made a Xenon strobe set useing a camera flash circuit; I changed the single tube with 2 U shaped Xenon tubes and then taped the them onto the wing tips,this worked quite well. The camera stobes run off 2AA battery it might be worth a try.

Lance

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Permalink Reply by Lance Njoroge on September 5, 2008 at 7:01am

Hi Kevin

Found this in an RC site.

http://www.ripmax.com/6index.asp?category=125-75&selectedtab=125

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Permalink Reply by kanelbulle on September 10, 2008 at 9:57am

Modern LED bicycle light. Cheap, available at your local supermarket, modest power draw and usually has complete circuitry with flashing functionality.

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Permalink Reply by Lance Njoroge on September 10, 2008 at 11:52am

Hi
I did try one but found that at 300Ft altitude i could not see it while trying to maintain a hover in bright sun shine; but the stobe faced down so that you are looking up gave a better balance, but now I am working on dual axes gyro stabilization and the stobe only helps with oriantation.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Helgeson on May 14, 2009 at 9:24am

If you know someone at a fotolab, see if you can score a couple of those cheapy disposable cameras with built in flash.
They run off 3V. Just trigger when the "Ready" light comes on.
It's cheap and nasty but works.
I've used them on hot air balloons I've made from wrapping tissue.
You can see them for miles!
Other than that just use a high intensity LED with a 555 in an astable configuration.

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