Modding Cathode Throbber

Just sayin that for making those pcb's you can use PCB that has a light reactive side, print those schematics out onto a piece of over head projector film, stick on the side of the PCB, bung it under a light source for two mins and hey presto. Remove the OHP film and if you hold it under a light you can see a slight change on the surface colour. Give it a good wash so to remove the excess stuff and bung in your etching tank etc. When it comes out it should have removed all the un-needed copper leaving the tracks behind that you had drawn on yer pc etc in the first place.

No need for pens and can create v precise tracking for making larger circuits not so large on pcb. Some programs like Crocodile Clips have a PCB creation part where you literally select the chips etc that you need, link all the stuff up visually by drag and drop, click "Make PCB" and then it works out the best routes for the tracks, then print straight off. Sure a lot of you know this but thought i'd add my bit.

Oh and Macro, v nice article ...*emails head of the engineering lab asking use of etching tank*....

 

I never mentioned UV pre-sensitised boards simply because anyone who has that kind of kit would know how to use it and what to do with the pics. The pens are for those peeps who don't have access to that sort of gear.

BTW glad you liked it - more to come

 

Thanks Macro, youve just give me multiple ideas

great work

 

Same here, can't play in WMP7.1 (or 6) and can't even "Save Target". :cries: :cries: :cries:

 

Do you have all the latest codecs installed?
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp

 

I'll have a look, it's off March PC-Answers (the Bit-Tech edition)

I've got all the latest bits, and a downloaded wmv file plays fine

Later edit: And can play wmv online at other sites, so the player's working.

Meblin - try testing one of these, small files http://www.matty-b.tv/video/jeep/

 

Same here. Downloaded all the latest stuff but no joy

Meblin

 

twinkling stars

i just got my gf three of these star lamps from IKEA. basically it's a plastic star with a bracket which holds one standard lightbulb. is there a similar circuit i can make to plug these stars into so it gives them a twinkling effect? i'm in the US so i would be dealing with 110-120V AC and 25W lightbulbs. if anyone can help me out that would be awesome! it would look way better than just a plain lit stars on the wall.

btw, awesome article there macroman!

...maybe i should post this in the Electronics forum but this mod gave me the idea

 

Macro, why dont you wire a few of these up and knock them out on the for sale forum, im sure you would make a few 'bob selling to people like myself who dont have the patience to build a little circut like that,

Just a thought

 

How much would you be willing to pay?

Parts would come to about £6 (including the molex connecters and board). I am going to give it a go at the weeked so will let you know how hard/easy it is. I thought I might put it in a little box with the adjustment wheels just poking out the side.

Meblin

 

email details in my sig,
Drop me a email some time regarding it

 

Macro- you continue to amaze me!
heya Meblin-could you drop me an email?
aoutquazi@hotmail.com

 

Welcome to the forums.

 

Is the Tip3055 really needed, as a transistor rated at 15A seems a little excessive to me (and my wallet) however i do seem to have a large collection of tip50's laying around but these are only rated at 1A, just wondering if i could sub these in, or would they not be right for this job??

Any thoughts welcomed!!

 

Would this circuit support using two cold cathodes per output? If not what all would have to be upgraded, the transistors?

 

I used the 3055's simply because they were to hand and I knew they were well up to the job. (What will do a lot will do a little ). They do get slightly warm with continued use but nothing to be concerned about. I see no reason not to use the TIP50 or any other suitably rated transistor.

In answer to the use of multiple cathodes, I haven't tried that but see no reason why it should not work. Bear in mind that different inverter/CCFL cominations may perform differently and so may not produce identical effects for a particular control setting. It is definately worth trying

 

More than likely. I think that if you went and bought a couple of power transistors, that that would work just fine.

Signing out...

 

Just been and measured the current consumption of one of my cold cathode inverters it draws about 400mA whilst running so depending on how many CC's you want to run pick a suitable transistor to match. So if you use the TIP3055 you should be able to run about 30 inverters, but i think your power supply would probably start smoking before the transistors would

 

The transisor would need a HUGE heatsink and even then the 3055 couldn't handle that sort of power!

 

Hey Guys, I'm another newbie here, and I love all the stuff you guys are doing. Really inspirational and quite cool I must say, but I was wondering if you would tell me Macroman, what software do you use to draft your PCB schematics and parts layouts as shown in the guide? And I totally agree with you on the rub on transfers idea, resist pens are good too but find a good one or go over your design more than once just in case. Do you prefer Ferro Chloride etchant or Ammonium Phosphate?