How does flashing bicycle lamps work?

[zoxxy]

You know those that you can first choose to have fully lighted, and then if you press the button again, it starts flashing. How does that work actually? How come it's not just On/Off, if you know what I mean?

Quick responses would be appreciated, I have a presentation on this due tomorrow.

 

[Mark T]

When I had the lights on my bike the front one did not have any other settings other than on. The rear red light had combinations. Not sure of the exact reason but it's probably for different weather conditions like fog where you need something that will attract attention.

 

[daan]

Yeah, a flashing light will attract attention, even in daylight.

I think that in the UK at least you need to have a constant red light at the back when it's dark. If you have a flashing one, you need a constant one too.

 

[TB]

When I had the lights on my bike the front one did not have any other settings other than on. The rear red light had combinations. Not sure of the exact reason but it's probably for different weather conditions like fog where you need something that will attract attention.

Same for mine. Getting someone's attention when they're coming up behind you is best done with a flashing light. Riding in the dark with what is essentially a strobe light isn't exactly the safest thing to do.

And you probably should have started this a bit sooner than the day before, zoxxy.

 

[Bram Turismo]

http://www.radioshack.com/category....02%5F000&Page=2[/url]


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Hope this helps
Carl

Hope this explains it a little bit. It's all a circuit with different resistors and stuff between all the lights. Build into the LED lights are blinkers which control the periods each LED lights shines. If you search how to build your own LED flashing light, I think you'll find out better how they work 👍

 

[zoxxy]

Hope this explains it a little bit. It's all a circuit with different resistors and stuff between all the lights. Build into the LED lights are blinkers which control the periods each LED lights shines. If you search how to build your own LED flashing light, I think you'll find out better how they work 👍

404 :/

And you probably should have started this a bit sooner than the day before, zoxxy.

Thanks for the help.

 

[TB]

You're quite welcome.

 

[Bram Turismo]

404 :/

I stumbled upon this, should be an excellent explanation and read 👍

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

 

[Omnis]

So you want the circuits themselves? That's easy. You can either use a capacitor setup or put a 555 timer chip in the circuit.

A quick google search brought up these diagrams:

Both from here: http://wild-bohemian.com/electronics/flasher.html

Or, an even simpler setup from here: http://www.cappels.org/dproj/simplest_LED_flasher/Simplest_LED_Flasher_Circuit.html

edit: Treed, damn it. Oh well. The second link should be easier to explain though.

 

[Eric.]

Funny this would come up...I was heading down the highway the other evening around 6:30 or so, when it was just starting to get darker out. Saw a really bright flashing light on the left side of the road and it was a strobe on the front of a bike. Definitely got my attention, it was very bright.