Help with blinker circuit

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I have been lurking here for a bit, I figgured is about time I just post what I am looking for

I am trying to find a blinker circuit.. Wondering if anyone can help?
Needs to run in a truck, so "12" volts (plus or minus 2 or so....
What I want to do, is have it trigger 6 (or more) relays to turn on lights. I want it to "walk"
So like
X-----
-X----
--X---
---X--
----X-
-----X
and then start back at the begining.... Any idea where I can find something like that? or if someone can show me how to make something like that? I have basic electronics skills (I can solder, and follow a wiring diagram)

Thanks a bunch!!!
~wwwabbit

 

[Silviron]

Hmm- I have seen plans for circuits like that in a book at Radio Shack.

What I'd do is look at a controller for a set of "programmable" Christmas-tree lights. Even if you had to buy an inverter to run it, it would probably be cheaper than building one, counting your time.

 

[Jonathan]

How powerful are these lights supposed to be? How fast should they 'walk'? Would a string of LEDs do?

There are lots of ways to do this sort of circuit; my choice would be to use a 'PIC' microcontroller followed by an appropriate circuit to switch at the power levels you require. If you only want to light up small LEDs, you could use the microcontroller alone, and with inexpensive parts you could easily switch 5 or more lights.

The PICs are easy to use in new projects, but there is a bit of a learning curve to get started. (You need to know how to program, and you need a programming tool.)

-Jon

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I have thought of the christmas lights, I just have not found one that I really liked yet.

I like the PIC idea, any suggestions on where I can learn more stuff about them?

They are going to be "rock" lights for a 4x4, so there is going to be 6-8 of them under the truck. I was going to use a relay to switch them on and off. But I am toying with the idea of trying to use a small array of LEDs as I think they would stand up to the vibrations and possibly hits better then a real light.

I just thought it would be cool to have them do like a loop, more just for the fun of it, when I am actuly needed them they will be on steady (that circut is going to be fully seperate and we don't have to worry about that here)

This is getting interesting... I am liking it :-)

 

[Jonathan]

There is quite a bit of literature out there on using PICs. They are simply small single chip computers, with built in programmable memory. You write up a program on a regular PC, pop the chip into a programmer of some sort, download the program to the chip, and then pop the chip into the end circuit.

It is very easy to write a program which turns on 1 out of a number of output pins, each in turn, and these output pins can then drive other devices. Once you start playing with the programming, you can start doing things like programming in different flash modes, or adjusting the timing, or whatever.

In any case, a google search for "PIC TUTORIAL" will pull up a bunch of introductions. One that looks reasonable isA random PIC tutorial You should also take a look at the Microchip PIC website for the raw data. Finally, I came across Peter Anderson's page with lots of PIC intro stuff; certainly worth a look. I think that you'll find the devices fun to play with.

-Jon