Author Topic: christmas light controller  (Read 2907 times)

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Offline dewalt94Topic starter

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christmas light controller
« on: December 26, 2013, 08:01:01 pm »
for a project I need a few 12v led lights strip from ebay to flash I was thinking of using a Christmas tree light controller with the button to change the sequence will this work or is there a better idea?
 

Offline Rerouter

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Re: christmas light controller
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2013, 08:18:00 pm »
you should be able to do that, though you may need to buffer its output if your driving a bigger load than it was designed for, equally finding a way to change the sequence if not already built into the device could be interesting, as it could be a micro playing out a pattern
 

Offline dewalt94Topic starter

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Re: christmas light controller
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2013, 02:34:00 pm »
Also I forgot to say that it was originally used for rope lights which were 240v
 

Online Zero999

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Re: christmas light controller
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2013, 03:28:12 pm »
You may be able to modify it but you need to trace the schematic and get a datasheet for the control IC.

It's possible the controller IC might work from 12V but the lights could be switched using TRIACs or SCRs which will need to be replaced with MOSFETs or BJTs.

 

Offline David_AVD

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Re: christmas light controller
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2013, 09:45:47 pm »
The original 240V AC multi-function controller won't really be suitable for use with DC LED strips.  Much better to use a micro (PIC or AVR) with some MOSFETs.  Shouldn't be too hard to come up with a few simple patterns, especially if they don't need to dim/fade.
 

Offline dewalt94Topic starter

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Re: christmas light controller
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2013, 12:12:45 am »
Thanks for your advice I'm new to electronics I have an arduino that's not being used so for now I will use that with some mosfets as I don't have a programmer but will probably invest in one soon then can program a chip for the job
 

Offline ResR

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Re: christmas light controller
« Reply #6 on: December 29, 2013, 09:09:58 pm »
Maybe use an electronic power supplies (plug in wall low power ones are cheap) at the output of the christmas light controller to get 12V from 230V?  :-\
 

Offline David_AVD

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Re: christmas light controller
« Reply #7 on: December 30, 2013, 01:43:32 am »
Maybe use an electronic power supplies (plug in wall low power ones are cheap) at the output of the christmas light controller to get 12V from 230V?  :-\

Very bad idea.  The phase controlled output of the lights controller can make switch-mode power supplied go bang in a very big way.
 


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