Running lights without electronics

To enjoy the lighting effects, you don’t have to be an electronics expert or understand transistors, microcircuits and controllers. A workable design capable of reproducing various lighting effects can be made based on mechanical principles. How? About this in the article.

How to make running lights without transistors and microcircuits

First you need to make a comb. With its help, the voltage will be removed from the program roller (drum) and supplied to the actuator - in our case LEDs. The comb should be slightly springy, so ordinary paper clips are used to make it. 22 pieces of former paper clips have been straightened.

At one end, 10 mm are bent at a right angle. These clips are installed in a standard block instead of the standard ones. The installation holes will have to be drilled out a little. The result was a comb with elongated pins.

A printed circuit board is made for further installation. The main comb and an additional connector for connection are assembled on it LEDs.

In addition, fasteners are installed for springs that will pull the electrodes to the drum. There are two hinges along the edge of the board.The entire structure is placed in a plexiglass case.

A micromotor with a gearbox will be used to rotate the drum. The other end of the shaft will rest on the bearing. It is convenient to make a drum from a piece of plastic pipe. With the drum in place, check that it rotates easily. Everything is okay.

One turn is made of copper wire around the drum. The comb contacts will slide along this wire and relieve voltage to turn on LEDs. They and the limiting resistors are soldered to an additional connector installed on the board. When the drum rotates, the contacts will alternately close to the coil of wire laid along the drum.

The device is supplied with power. The drum began to rotate LEDs, alternately lighting up, form the effect of a running fire.

The variety of lighting effects depends on changing the way the contact wire is wound on the drum. Two turns, three turns, a cross of wires... The number of options depends on your imagination.