Hello everyone!
:devil:I'm ZigZag!:devil:
:wave:
:devil:I'm ZigZag!:devil:
:wave:
:devil:I'm ZigZag!:devil:
:wave:
:devil:I'm ZigZag!:devil:
:wave:
Guys, I could really use your technical expertize:
Executive summary:
I'm working on a currently-zero-ROI project (needs to be as cheap as possible). Basically, I need to backlight a 5"x10" "clear" (it looks white not clear, but it is called clear) Coroplast (aka corrugated plastic, aka sign board). Ideally I would like the sign to be visible from 50+ feet away (during street-lit conditions) for 7+ nights while animating in different colors (e.g. if it can turn on and flicker, like an old/cold neon sign does, and then slowly/smoothly transition through 3-4 colors before turning off and then after few seconds restarting all over again with some randomness built in) for under $ 1 USD (ha! I know! What would be more reasonable?) (would buy enough parts for 100-500 of these at once). I could live with a sign that is visible in street-lit conditions from 20 feet away for 2 nights and is backlit with a white led for under $1.65 (better estimate?) if I source 1000-2000 at once. Depending what this discussion will yield, I may do some of both (more of cheaper kind and less of the fancy kind). Price = excluding batteries.
THE BIG A$$ THROWIE!$$$ It needs to last 2-7 nights $$$
$$$ It hast to be visible 20-50 feet away in street-lit environment $$$
$$$ It cant be too heavy (sign will be held by 1-4 magnets) $$$
$$$ I would prefer to have these signs animated in multiple colors, but will deal with only white $$$
$$$ It has to be cheap, really cheap (yet satisfy the minimum requirements) $$$
*** I would really prefer 7 nights, but if 2 nights is 2x or more cheaper I would have to deal with only 2 days (it does not have to turn off during the day, but it will save on power)
*** I can live with the sign being visible 20-30 feet away in street-lit conditions
*** I would rather only use one magnet (cost issue) but if it can stay on for 7+ nights and/or be visible at 40-50+ feet away 4 magnets could be used
*** @$4/sign=no go! @$3/sign=will bleed me to death slowly @$2/sign=will keep my fridge empty for 2 months @$1/sign=I will loose some weight dieting, but would be an overall a really happy camper!
# I know very little about electronics and circuitry (willing to learn).
# I do not have any components yet except Coroplast and a breadboard to test circuits.
# I understand the difference between different metrics used measure light that is radiated by LEDs, but as I've never played with any high-powered LEDs I do not have personal experience as to how these numbers translate into "backlighting Coroplast and being visible at X feet away"
# I think battery can be saved, if needed, by using a sensor that can tell if it is light or dark out and turn on or off the LED ( e.g. http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/nightlight )
# In the aforementioned link there are comments about how to increase the simple circuits productivity at minimal cost (adding a mosfet), but I do not know how it would apply to me (batt life vs. cost)
# I think the magnets will hold at least a pair of AAA if I chose to go with 4 of them per sign (costly, but...)
# I planned to source things from eBay and sites like Mouser, but I need at least a hundred of these already made by the second Thursday of August, so I have limited time for experimentation, if any (e.g. for visibility distance) due to shipping times.
Please let me know of my options and help me design a circuit, PLEASE!
