Flicker Circuit Info?

[RandalB]

Hey all,
Reading up on the Fluorescent starter type flicker circuits.. Got a few questions for those of you that have built and/or used them before..

Do they work with spiral type CF bulbs?
What kind of wattage can they handle?
Is there a better type of flicker circuit?

any input/links/videos, etc would be appreciated.

RandalB

[jdsteel82]

I personally don't think they will work with the spiral type CF bulbs since they have a starter built into them. I would just stick with the incandescent.

The circuit itself is already pretty simple...only things I can think of would just complicate it.

[mattie]

I hated the flor.starter flicker light. I built the one with the fake candle bulb and photosensor. I loved the adjustability of it and to me looked 100 times better. Im sure someone here has a link to it, I just cant find one at the moment.


heres the one I built, sorry to hi jack your thread....
http://www.hauntedillinois.com/lightflicker.php

[Otaku]

Is this the one you're looking for?

http://www.hauntforum.com/showthread.php?t=10292

[heresjohnny]

For a flicker that looks like bad lights flicking on and off, the flourecsent starter flicker or pilot as linked above are good bets.

For candle flicker, spooky blue has a technique with flashing LEDs, there are several circuits out there, and a while ago I built them all. Honestly the trouble of building the circuits was not worth it, a good led flicker candle was about as good. If you need a brighter flicker, replace the led in a flicker tea light with an ultra bright (another Otaku how-to)

[mattie]

I didnt like the loud popping type noise that was coming from the flo. starter and seeing it spark inside made me wonder if it was going to catch on fire. I like how you had just a tad bit more adjustability with the photo sensor.
But yes, if he needs to build a quick cheap one to get that project checked off the list then go with the flo. starter. Cheap,easy,dirty......hhhmmmmm.

[DarkLore]

I personally don't think they will work with the spiral type CF bulbs since they have a starter built into them. I would just stick with the incandescent.

The circuit itself is already pretty simple...only things I can think of would just complicate it.

I concur.

There's an illustration for making a simple flicker circuit in the Use of Prop Controllers (http://www.hauntforum.com/showthread.php?t=19719&page=2) thread. Page 2, reply #16.

[pagan]

I don't mind the sputter and spark as long as I don't smell smoke!!!

[RandalB]

Looking for the defective light look (Flickering and almost going out..) Mostly wanting to know if it will work with CF spiral bulbs. Great info though, you guys given me some great ideas.

I bought a couple of the Starters and I guess I'll just throw one together and give it a whirl...

RandalB

[mattie]

Lets us know if it works with thoses spiral bulbs.

[RandalB]

Will do...

RandalB

[madmax]

I have a flicker light that takes 30 minutes for a newbe with no experience and less than 15 minutes for someone that has a little experience with a wall outlet. It doesn't take any soldiering and it doesn't use the F. Starter. This will work on the spiral bulbs and it also will fade lights and can be used as a cross fader. If you are interested I will give a how to. This flicker unit will do a lot more than what I'm showing in the video. The cost to put one together is around $13 to $15 dollars and it really is a simple project.

YouTube - candle.MP4
YouTube - PICT0040.MP4
YouTube - double blink.MP4

[Otaku]

Pretty cool, madmax. I'm definitely interested in a how-to. Thanks!

[GhoulishGadgets]

Don't worry about the spark in the starter... it's inside a glass bubble
Take one apart if you need to be sure - even >> carefully << run it with the cap removed to see it in operation - be sure to re-cap it tho.

you'll see that the spark comes from what looks like a bulb, it's designed to apply power to the filaments in a flourescent tube for a short while to start the conduction then open circuit and turn off the filaments to save them from burning out.

if you watch a flourescent light start, especially one with an old tube, you'll see the starter flash in use there too.

electrically it can be 'noisy', there is normally a capacitor in there too to help, but still not perfect, but it's a great cheap way to get a good flicker effect with random output.

Si

[madmax]

You can get a set of lights at Big Lots for $10.00 it is the 8 function controller. It doesn't have a speed adjustment but it will work just as well. The one I used to make the videos is a chasing controller and you can adjust the speed of the flicker.

First step: What you will need to make this. Find a set of Christmas lights that has a control box on the end. Thrift stores and Yard sales are the best place.

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae339/madmax42303/flicker%20%20controller/controller001.jpg

You will need a electrical outlet and a box to house it in

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae339/madmax42303/flicker%20%20controller/3.jpg

Step two: I will have to explain because I failed to take a picture :)

1. There should be 5 wires coming from the controller.
2. Four of the wires will have a set of Christmas lights. Each wire will have a different color light
3. One wire will be the common wire and it wont have any lights connected to it
4. Take a wire and follow it till you come to the light. Cut the wire right below the light
5. Repeat step four till you cut all four sets of lights off
6. The last wire and at this point it should be the longest and not have any lights connected to it is the COMMON wire. Put a piece of tape on this wire (around it) so you can remember it is the common wire.

Step 3: You should end up with a controller and five wires (each one should be longer than the other) that look like this. In the picture you can see how I put tape on the common wire.

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae339/madmax42303/flicker%20%20controller/step2.jpg

Step 4: (This step is just to keep everything neat You can by pass it if you want to.)

1. Cut the four light wires (not the common) and trim them to about the same length. Also trim the common wire but leave it longer so you don't get it mixed up with the four wires, also keep a piece of tape on it.

2. You will only be using two of the wires that had lights on them ( not the common wire) so I put a piece of tape over the end and tape them together.

3. The wires will be loose so put pieces of tape around them starting at the controller and going up to the two wires you aren't using.......Confused yet? Don't worry it's easier than I'm making it sound. You will see in the next step.

Step 5: Putting it together

1. Put your wires through the hole in your electrical box . In this picture you can see how I used the tape in step 4.

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae339/madmax42303/flicker%20%20controller/5.jpg

[madmax]

2. Your electrical outlet will have screws on both sides of it...gold/brass and silver. Over the screws (on both sides brass & silver) there will be a tab. This tab connects both outlets (top & bottom) together. The silver screws will be the common side of the outlet.

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae339/madmax42303/flicker%20%20controller/step3-1.jpg

3. On the brass screw side take a pair of pliers and break off the tab. Once you do that the top & bottom outlet will act independent of each other. DON'T do this to the silver side. This is a bad picture but this is what it should look like (picture below will show it more clearly)

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae339/madmax42303/flicker%20%20controller/step4.jpg

4. Next strip off some of the wire from the ends of the wires. Take the two wires that had lights on them (not the common) and connect one to each of the brass color screws.

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae339/madmax42303/flicker%20%20controller/6.jpg

5. Take the common wire and connect it to EITHER of the SILVER screws. Since we left the tab on this side, one wire will act as the common for the top & bottom outlets.

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae339/madmax42303/flicker%20%20controller/7.jpg

[madmax]

6. Tuck the wires in the box and connect the outlet to the box and you are ready to use it

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae339/madmax42303/flicker%20%20controller/8.jpg

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae339/madmax42303/flicker%20%20controller/9.jpg

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae339/madmax42303/flicker%20%20controller/10.jpg

I'm using a indoor box for this tutorial....if you are using this outside use a outdoors electrical box (cost a few cents more but not much). The green screw on the outlet is the ground and it isn't used. You can also use a wire connector to keep your wires from pulling out of the electrical box.....or you can use tape.

Here is the reason I left the two unused light wires on the controller and tapped them up. You can turn this into a 4 way outlet where each outlet works independent of the other. (4 lights chasing).

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae339/madmax42303/flicker%20%20controller/4way.jpg


I will post a video of a 8 function controller (like the one you can get at big lots) later today. With that one you can cross fade lights.

If anyone doesn't feel comfortable doing this because it involves AC I have 4 units that I will let go for $20.00 each plus shipping which should be $5 anywhere in USA...send me a PM

[RandalB]

That's a great hack Max, I'll have to give that one a whirl around Christmas time when the lights are around. I am heading out to the garage to do the fluorescent tube one now also...

Max, Interested in 2x of your units, PM me your paypal addy if you have one and we can go from there...

RandalB

[psyko99]

That's an awesome hack Max. I've been thinking about hacking one of those stings for a while, you beat me to it. :)

Anyway, It took me a while to find these. Phantasmechanics.com does not appear to exist anymore but I found these at http://www.omarshauntedtrail.com/ Omar had the foresight to save the PDFs.

The ALF can be complicated if you're a noob to electronics. The gaslight on a budget is the flicker pilot Marcus describes. Myself, I stick to the starter hack. It's simple, easy and cheap (just like me).

Asynchronous Light Flicker (ALF) circuit 1747

Gas Light on a budget 1748

[psyko99]

I would add one thing to your how-to Max that I noticed was missing. A Romex box connector:

http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/031857/031857496609sm.jpg (http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/031857/031857496609sm.jpg)

You'd probably have to wrap it in electrical tape or use a short piece of tubing to shim it though.

I know you probably put it together in a hurry, but you know what they say, "loose wires cause fires." :)

Also, it would definitely work with a compact florescent bulb, just be aware that it would shorten it's life significantly. I like to stay w/ incandescent b/c they are relatively inexpensive compared to the florescent. And, any cost savings in energy use from the florescent could be diminished by the replacement cost.

[RandalB]

If anyone was wondering if the F starter type circuit works with 13W Spiral type Compact Fluorescent bulbs.... It don't.

Back to the drawing board...
RandalB

[austenandrews]

I was planning to hack a set of multi-pattern twinkle lights for my tree spirits, but this hack is much better. Awesome.

[hpropman]

cool how to thanks

[madmax]

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae339/madmax42303/control%20box/PICT0052.jpg

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae339/madmax42303/control%20box/PICT0044.jpg



Couple short vids of the fading and a combination of what the 8 function controller will do

YouTube - fadding lights.wmv

YouTube - combo flicker light2.wmv

[madmax]

And a video with the swirl type light

YouTube - swirl light flicker

[Daphne]

Thanks for posting the instructions. You mentioned that "It doesn't have a speed adjustment". I need to have a strobe go on and off repeatedly (on every 10-20 seconds for a few seconds) in the bottom of my bottomless pit. Is there any way to make what you've built do that or is there something I can buy and plug and play to do it? Unless I am not asking in the right way, I've come up with nothing from Home Depot, Radio Shack, Fry's and Microcenter this morning.

Don't mean to hijack, I think I can build this just wanted to make sure I could make it do what I need to do before I started.