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geekIT

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#268416 18-Mar-2020 12:31
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I want a regular type light bulb - bayonet preferably - that, when turned on, flashes at regular intervals. Like, say, once a second.

 

Is there such a thing?

 

 





'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

 

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

 

 

 

 

 

 


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mdooher
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  #2440704 18-Mar-2020 14:00
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I know this is entirely unhelpful, but back when I was starting out as an electronics technician this was one of the first projects we had to do (actually we had to make a flip-flop and then interface it with 230V)

 

but thanks for the memory.

 

 





Matthew




mdooher
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  #2440706 18-Mar-2020 14:02
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Matthew


richms
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  #2440810 18-Mar-2020 17:21
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I had a flashing lamp that had a fluro starter in series with the lamp to make it cycle on and off.




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geekIT

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  #2440853 18-Mar-2020 19:32
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mdooher, thanks for the link. It was a real bargain - reduced from $29.00 to $1.51!

 

Only one problem - discontinued line and out of stock 😥

 

richms: How fast was that cycle?





'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

 

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

 

 

 

 

 

 


richms
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  #2440898 18-Mar-2020 21:04
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geekIT:

 

mdooher, thanks for the link. It was a real bargain - reduced from $29.00 to $1.51!

 

Only one problem - discontinued line and out of stock 😥

 

richms: How fast was that cycle?

 

 

half to 2 seconds on/off, wasn't that predictable, and the starters only lasted a few months before locking off or on. It was a 60's decorative light that had 2 tiny pilot light style lamps in it, not sure if it would run much more than that.

 

Another option would be to get a wifi lightbulb that you can reflash with tasmota, and then use that to flash it when powered on. May have issues resetting to defaults if its powered up and down many times quickly in succession tho. The arlecs at bunnings are reportedly still easy to flash so long as you dont update them with the app to control them.





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sqishy
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  #2440903 18-Mar-2020 21:21
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So why do you need a flashing bulb?


richms
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  #2440909 18-Mar-2020 21:36
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Actually you could just get one of the RGB wifi lights and set it to the flashing pattern you like and be done. So long as noone turns it off and on quickly 5 times it will just power up in the last mode flashing away.





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geekIT

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  #2441188 19-Mar-2020 12:10
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richms: Actually you could just get one of the RGB wifi lights and set it to the flashing pattern you like and be done. So long as noone turns it off and on quickly 5 times it will just power up in the last mode flashing away.

 

That's a thought. Are the RGB bulbs 240v? Otherwise the rig would need a transformer. Starts to get complicated.

 

Squishy: A mate has an elderly relative living close by in a detached cottage. He's profoundly deaf so wouldn't hear distress calls, and his vision isn't 100% . He figured a flashing light in his house might be the easiest solution.





'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

 

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

 

 

 

 

 

 


mdooher
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  #2441215 19-Mar-2020 13:03
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what about a 230V strobe.. or beacon... probably need to get it from Aliexpress as the commercial ones are stupid price





Matthew


geekIT

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  #2445231 24-Mar-2020 09:38
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Mathew, thanks. What did you mean by '230V strobe.. or beacon'?





'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

 

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

 

 

 

 

 

 


mdooher
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  #2445285 24-Mar-2020 10:03
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geekIT:

 

Mathew, thanks. What did you mean by '230V strobe.. or beacon'?

 

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=230+v+strobe&rlz=1C1CHBD_enNZ820NZ820&oq=230+v+strobe&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l4.3234j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

something like this





Matthew


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  #2445489 24-Mar-2020 14:11
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Could you adapt a flashing ringer? Dick Smith used to sell them to plug into 'phone line like an extension bell; I see some available on web.


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  #2445517 24-Mar-2020 15:06
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geekIT:

A mate has an elderly relative living close by in a detached cottage. He's profoundly deaf so wouldn't hear distress calls, and his vision isn't 100% . He figured a flashing light in his house might be the easiest solution.

 

 

My first reaction would be that flashing an incandescent, in other words repeatedly toggling it on and off, is going to lead to it remaining in the off state fairly quickly. However if you just want a visual alert than get a flashing red alarm light, something that's designed for the job and pretty much screams "alert!", e.g. this one.

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  #2445544 24-Mar-2020 16:02
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Just set up one of my led lamps from Bunnings now and it's default reset state is to be flashing. So seems it does what you need out of the box with no further effort. If it's not flashing then to reset it is just 4 or 5 short power off and on sequences




Richard rich.ms

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