Cool LED flicker flame PCBs

[@devttyUSB0]

As you said, a little more randomness in the flame would certainly help a lot, but these new LEDs look very promising for decorations!!

[@jasonkuehl639]

Every time I watch one of Clive's videos where he's showing any type of lighting effect, I get the distinct feeling that he has a fascination with things that light up. Here I thought I was the odd one out for liking this kind of stuff!

[@TheScotsmanTechReview]

He has a fascination with things going in his butt.

[@leef_me8112]

I share your enjoyment of blinky things that he shows to us. If you watch some of his other videos; you might notice he has a fascination with [many] things.

[@robm8809]

I'm fascinated by things like this, especially clever and powerful LED torches, I also love things that "glow in the dark", haha!

[@MrManningata]

My wife makes fun of me for going out of my way to look at exciting lights.

[@leef_me8112]

@@MrManningata recently we were in a strip mall where a restaurant we like is located. a few doors down was a alcohol store (can't think of the right words) and their door had triads of 5050 leds that blink in a running pattern. I took several pictures. some years ago we were in a enclosed mall with an apple store. they had curtains of tiny leds on narrow runners arranged vertically. I took several pictures of those. And yet when I'm at my desk I can't stand blinky lights.

[@teardowndan5364]

The 'useless track' on negative going nowhere to the tip is most likely for ESD-guarding the PCB edge.

[@fredbloggs5902]

When you actually think about it, there’s something rather odd going on when they’ve taken a near perfect source of illumination and made it imitate a rather poor one... ...and we all love them.

[@wiseoldfool]

We were brought up with candles, coal fires, kerosene lamps etc, so a flickering effect is somehow comforting to us. Is that still the case with people who have only ever known non-flickering sources? If so, why is that?

[@wisico640]

@@wiseoldfool everyone as been expoded to a real fire still. And the fire effect is comforting. Just a guess.

[@pnt1035]

I recently made a flickering-flame effect lamp for a Japanese garden lantern. It uses four strings of white and warm white LEDS, of which two in each string are the "flickering" LEDs sometimes found in LED "tealights". The LEDs stand up at different heights from a small circular PCB and they're surrounded by a 3D-printed diffuser, all run from a 12V supply. It's pretty convincing.

[@ericfielding2540]

The rapid evolution of LED lighting devices is accelerating. Thanks for the explanation.

[@watchingytvids1]

Went back to watch your neon flickering lamp and absolutely stunned at how great these led ones are comparatively. I hadn’t seen a neon flicker flame lamp in years, still enjoy their appearance, but these led effects just really do an amazing job and can be used nearly in any application.

[@paulmccoy2908]

I would say that the sequence and randomness are correct for the flame effects. Where it falls short is the unrealistically slow timing. I was hoping for a resistor or capacitor that could be modified to increase the cycle speed and make it more realistic.

[@robbieaussievic]

.... I concur, I have purchased a couple of 240v (B22) globes. The sequence is too slow on one and too fast on the other. And the usless other two modes. The default is flame effect so they are not really a bother.

[@phils4634]

How did I miss this! The flames are excellent, and I'm definitely buying a number of these!

[@nat7278]

Love the look of the flame one sideways. I'd be tempted to use maybe three going sideways for a miniature scene

[@jayhom5385]

With a Hot Wheel batmobile.

[@leybraith3561]

(AKA Lee) My theory on the reason for the Negative line running up the side to nowhere (@6'30") - During manufacture there would be several dozen flames per PCB sheet, probably with vertical columns all sharing the pos and neg lines via the tracks that run up each side. That way the whole PCB sheet could be powered up at once for testing. Duds would be noted and marked as such. Much easier than testing each unit individually. When broken apart the 'unused' negative would look like it had no purpose. Duds would be 'discarded' (i.e. sold off very cheaply to the more dodgey distributers)

[@stepheneyles2198]

Could it be anything to do with electroplating of the copper before the LEDs and MCU are soldered on?

[@dancoulson6579]

The flame ones are pretty cool. I still prefer the traditional neon discharge ones by a mile. But these could be good where you want a bit of a brighter effect. I can see these being good for halloween decorations. The last few years, we've been using a green 40w incandescent lamp in series with a fluorescent tube starter to give a random flickering effect.

[@tactileslut]

That warm green flicker that reminds us of cooking with gasoline.

[@Eric_DP]

I never wanted to tell anyone as a child that I had a strange fascination with Christmas lights..thanks for giving us light nerds a home!

[@Ni5ei]

Very nice! If you'd glue 2 of them back to back the randomness would probably increase since they would go out of sync. Just like the super computer.

[@robbieaussievic]

.... Thinking outside the box, Well done Mate.

[@echothehusky]

Wasn't it the LED flame effect lightbulb reverse engineering where you upset the manufacturer last time?!

[@bigclivedotcom]

Yes it was. But I'm sure I've upset lots of manufacturers.

[@brucepickess8097]

@@bigclivedotcom And hopefully many more.😏

[@RustyorBroken]

Sounds interesting. Is there a video where clive talks about this?

[@COBARHORSE1]

@@RustyorBroken There is. I think if you search for "flicker flame effect" you might find it.

[@nowtrytv]

Got them last month, impressive flame colour and effect, can't wait for potential future mode change version, via power on/off switching.

[@christastic100]

Really interesting. Those flame affect LED’s are fab . I was thinking you could get two of the bells ,put one behind the other opposing ways and flip flop them for a swing affect.

[@richardbrobeck2384]

great idea !

[@robbieaussievic]

.... The flame effect as earrings, each with individual power source worn behind the ear ? (Hack the power source from those silly earbuds ? ? ? ?)

[@grunions9648]

As a source of indirect lighting for miniature scenes those flames would be fantastic.

[@lironmtnranch4765]

I have "LED solar torch lights" that have a matrix of 96 LEDs on a flexible circuit board curled up within a white plastic sleeve within. These are much larger than this individual "flame" shape, but have a similar number of channels and repeating patterns. The effect is surprisingly realistic and satisfying, but with a ~5 second loop does become way more repetitive than it could be with a few more bytes of programming. I have these in rock fire rings on my California dry mountain campground where fires are strictly prohibited. Soon I plan to install a simple system of surplus pipes on the upwind side, branching out from a safe central incense burner. With a stick or cone of cedar or pine incense burning, the immersive effect of the "flame" should become greatly enhanced, and the pipes are intended to mimic the real life experience of the smoke going right toward you no matter WHICH SIDE of the campfire you sit on!

[@robbieaussievic]

.... You'll have to post a video when completed, sounds cool.

[@lironmtnranch4765]

@@robbieaussievic You can see a still photo of one of these fire rings in action in my hipcamp listing. Search my username there but spell out "mountain." I'll definitely include a video of these in action once I make and upload some content from the ranch.

[@robbieaussievic]

@@lironmtnranch4765 ..... Found the image, that place looks like fun, the kids must love it.

[@ChristieNel]

This is really neat. I've built a much more impressive candle simulator that employs red/yellow mixing with fading and occasional flickering effects, but is meant to be used to illuminate model buildings. I'm tempted to send you one to play with. I also did a quick search and found PICs that would be pin-compatible with your candle PCB and I bet I could write more convincing software for it.

[@rogerhargreaves2272]

Pretty flaming neat, a lot more realistic than the older type. Oh, the N.F.C. finger nail L.E.D’s, I bought some (17) but they only sent one. I stuck it to my debit card. It lights up when I hover my plastic. Thanks Clive. 😀

[@bigclivedotcom]

Did you open a dispute to get the others?

[@rogerhargreaves2272]

@@bigclivedotcom yes, claimed a refund. 😀

[@darknessnightfall]

didn't expect a cozy xmass day

[@AdmiralPreparedness]

If you can dream about something, in today's world, you can make it happen.

[@PlasmaOne]

Can you check out Euri's flame bulb? It seems to be an LED array that displays an actual video animation of a real flame. Quite interesting but they are also $15 each.

[@adamaglionby7438]

@Banter Maestro2 Euri Lighting flame lamp, over 300 LEDs in a matrix

[@cypeman8037]

I have flickering solar torches in my garden. They mesmerise me when I look out in the evening.

[@Caluma122]

I have very similar ones in mine, well they didn't used to flicker... 🤨

[@frankowalker4662]

All of these are the best christmas tree lights I've seen. Just string a load of them together. :)

[@bwack]

Interesting form factor on those star, bell and present shaped circuit boards. must be a really thin pcb inside for them to shine through :)

[@ian-c.01]

I wonder how long it will be before we see cloned versions of those flicker flames with half the LED's and 4 pin chips using 3 channels ? Some place will probably do away with the chips and just use a couple of blinking LED's and a static one and they'll sell billions !

[@scratchdog2216]

Several flames on a crown/head-band type thing would be cool.

[@CanizaM]

From a distance they look more like pointing hands than flames to me. The legs and the microcontroller body give a "cuff" effect. Then I looked closer and wondered if they might make a "middle finger" version in the future.

[@timhinchcliffe5372]

Keep turning up the current and you'll get some *really* authentic flame effects.

[@carlubambi5541]

fantastic idea for window lights and ornaments

[@chrisingle5839]

Sure makes the neon type simple and nice.

[@adotahuja]

Nice video. I have a few of these. I scoped the IC output and saw PWM with varying DC and frequency.

[@BradTech.]

I'm already working on a 555 based flicker project myself as we speak, but these look better!

[@Martynjs]

Interesting little lights. It would be interesting to see a few next to each other to see if there is much difference in the randomness between them.

[@computerjantje]

The problem is that these flames still look more like gas flames then actual candle flames. It is better because they 'flash' slower then the neon versions but still it does not look like candle flame. In addition I followed the link and they are crazy expensive (9.23 euro for one) Especially considering other Aliexpress prices. Anyway thank you very much for the video. I appreciate your videos very much. Greetings from The Netherlands (Europe).

[@alpcns]

Nice, and a good effect. I do wonder how many transistors are active in the MCU to make a little light flicker... I think nobody would have ever believed such application of a complex machine like a computer even 20-30 years ago.

[@309electronics5]

Might be a random patern idk have not boughth one

[@Leroys_Stuff]

That flame is quite nice a little randomness and it would be perfect

[@Lazy_Tim]

I do like the effect of the flames. These could be used on a number of projects but at $6-10 Aud each they are not cheap!

[@GadgetBoy]

You might find better prices from a different seller. They tend to jack the prices way up after Clive shows something off.

[@bytespider]

I feel like these would make great garden lights but yeah I'm not sure I want to spend so much on a light that might only make it through 1 season

[@haywoodyoudome]

Just wait a few months for the Chinese knockoffs of the Chinese knockoffs to hit the market.

[@DanielRenardAnimation]

Neat! I should look into getting those flame ones. I 3D-printed some tiny neon/UV-reflective orange jack-o-lanterns for Halloween last year, to go on top of some flame-bulb lanterns and put little LEDs inside of them. The shell is thin and they light up nicely, but a flickering flame might look far more aesthetically pleasing. Quite nice!

[@wiseoldfool]

It would be interesting to group a few of these together, it should result in a more random-looking effect.

[@richardbrobeck2384]

I was thinking a cool candle opera lamp or candle stick holder !

[@goofybrained6929]

Note the link does not go to seller but generic shops. Could you provide a description and seller name ? Thanks for video. I too have been looking for good LED based flame (old pendant chandelier). Great forensics on tracks, made following it easy.

[@UpLateGeek]

I'm guessing the static ones are designed for making Christmas lights. I do like the look of them, but going by the ones in that link they seem a bit expensive. If you could find a cheaper source, it could make a good project. As for the flicker flames, they could cut the cost considerably and make them easier to manufacture using an epoxy blobbed chip instead of a soldered on MCU. The chip can be affixed the same as the LEDs, then epoxy blobbed, and then the phosphor gel applied.

[@alexanderpasnl]

In 150 days I start decorating for Christmas. Yeah, I am actually counting the days. Christmas is over 208 days by the way ;-) That's way too early according to a lot of people. Meanwhile on May 30... video from bigclive and I am ecstatic! Loved last weeks talk too. Thanks! Now let me see what this is all about because it looks awesome.

[@jayherde0]

The link in the description took me to a very large list of items (60 pages) ... Selecting the 'in this store' option at the top really helps 😉

[@Farm_fab]

Clive, I noticed on eBay that they have G4 led flicker flame lights in 12-24v and about 2w. I could imagine they used in a caravan or a camper.

[@rajatanpacelana]

Looks promising.. I really like the flame it would be nice for christmas.

[@puresolus]

wish I could buy candelabra bulbs with those flicker flame chips! great alternative to the neon flicker bulbs

[@bigclivedotcom]

I'm sure it'll happen.

[@JendaLinda]

That's kinda naughty relying only on the internal resistance of the MCU output to limit the current. Omitting the bypass capacitor is also bad idea, the supply voltage would be all over the place with longer wires. It's not that big deal though, a capacitor can be added if needed.

[@frogz]

you know, it actually is pretty awesome you warn people to watch their eyes, even if its only a video, for the few people watching on a giant screen projector or bigscreen tv in a dimly bit basement room with high dynamic range on brightness and would actually be bothered by it, maybe people viewing on a vr headset, i wonder, is anyone watching bigclive on a vr headset? maybe i'll have to be the first person to do so, i got a older oculus dev kit model 2 :D

[@Pacificbell]

Bro you are better than my teacher you warn people when you are going to turn the light on

[@swift675]

Very nice design, Thanks for sharing this clive

[@michaelwynne2801]

Great video Clive, thought you would like them.

[@lostjohnny9000]

Brilliant animation

[@gvii]

Those are very cool. Though, to be honest, I still love the neon ones more. My grandmother had several candles using the neon type flicker flame bulbs and as a kid I remember just staring at those things for ages just absolutely fascinated by them. But these are very close, and quite good in their own right. A bit more variety in the LED clusters with a touch more work in the controller and they'll be quite nice.

[@muppetpaster]

Finally bought them...for 70ct a piece....At the time they went for about 8 to 9 euros...Way too much for my liking ..Love them...

[@bigclivedotcom]

Yeah, that's a much more realistic price.

[@ybunnygurl]

Those are really cool. I hope I see them in readymade things soon.

[@laserhawk64]

Very nice! IIRC the flicker LEDs with the integral chip, those use something involving a shift register and some minimal gate logic... I've forgotten exactly what, but one imagines that a bit of trickery with XOR and XNOR gates would be most likely. I imagine that an ASIC for such things as this, with a similar effect, but eight stages instead of six and sufficient complexity to appear relatively random, might be cheaper than a microcontroller in bulk production. I could also see a way to homebrew a similar circuit for use in chandeliers, if you wanted to do that with a custom 8-stage array of LEDs per flame element, and not use microcontrollers. Basically you'd drive the LEDs for a given 'flame' via an LM3914, and use a 74123 multivibrator, both stages, to PWM it from 0-5v -- if you're familiar with the timing circuit for the Signetics 2650 CPU you know what I'm up to ;) but I'm told the '123, in practice, was actually a pretty unstable chip, which works to our advantage here, as it means the PWMing will vary quite significantly. I'd use a 5v Zener as a shunt to avoid overvolting the LED driver, just in case, as well. 5/6 of a 7404 hex inverter would operate as a _very_ short delay line, all five gates in series, running to 1/4 of a 7486 quad XOR gate. The XOR would be fed on one side directly from the '123, and on the other from the '123 through the NOT gate chain. The XOR gate would drive the /CLR line on the 74123 via the remaining 6th NOT gate, meaning that unless the delayed signal from the 74123 matched that of its current signal, it would reset. A (relatively speaking) large capacitor between the 74123 and the LM3914 would ensure that such drops would be visible as a slow decay. The bad news is, you need one whole circuit like this per flame. The good news is, from what I've seen, the 'base' of most chandeliers has plenty of room for such a thing... ;)

[@gregorythomas333]

Damn...they just keep coming out with too cool shit every day :)

[@richardbrobeck2384]

Nice Clive I put a couple in my order basket there are some cool lights that I could make with these !

[@NaoPb]

Cool! I have one of those stair things with led lights for christmas. I'll see if I can build some of these flame pcbs in that. Seems like a great upgrade for it. The other shapes look nice too. I'm still thinking of what I could use those for, I want to use them for something at least.

[@rpdom]

Very neat. Would it be worth removing the chip and connecting the ground wire to each pin in turn to demonstrate each group of LEDs lighting up?

[@Slikx666]

I know someone who makes and repairs dolls houses, she'd be interested in those flame LEDs.

[@gudenau]

I bet you could use a matrix with these things to make more interesting flame patterns with the chip. Maybe do some crazy stuff like leaving a pin floating (if you can afford that massive waste) to seed the flame patterns over time.

[@wisher21uk]

Thank you Clive they all look fantastic I will have to get a shed load for Xmas 😊

[@angieg4811]

Pretty cool lights.

[@paulstubbs7678]

Nice, now all I need is for them to put it in a glass bulb & add 240v circuitry.

[@simonhopkins3867]

Cool little flames. But I prefer your icicle lights with reverse parallel leds.

[@threeMetreJim]

I think it's time for Clive to modify the meteor light into a flame light, maybe throw in some pwm brightness too. Some small surface mount orange leds with a diffuse cover. May be a tad larger, but could probably be made cheaper than those candle flames; unusally.

[@o0OMouseO0o]

New ideas for LED badges intensifies.

[@alansmith4734]

The Flicker Flame LED would be ideal in a Doll House Fireplace.

[@d.t.4523]

Cool. Good luck with them. 👍

[@cuteraptor42]

First time that I see this X-ray device on the channel

[@nomusicrc]

This was a bright idea

[@zacharysimpson7353]

Not to bad. There's a control of current of power in the fire 🔥 led lights. That control of lights in the fire led, changing the color to blue and make it look like dripping 💧 water lol. Not too bad explaining it, keep the 1, 2, & 4 as the lights and 5 & 6 go off right and then have more codes 7 8 9 for the second rotation of flame to the left side, like the wind is moving flame from what you want

[@jstro-hobbytech]

Window candles for Christmas.

[@300poundbassman]

Cool Sir. Nice effect.

[@AMDRADEONRUBY]

Oh nice I love effect of the flames too look nice

[@phonotical]

Maybe the long negative connection is for protection, incase water gets on?

[@randymontgomery7218]

Please send actual link to the precise cool LED lights you use in this video. Thank you!

[@ZaneDaMagicPufferDragon]

I’d love to have some of these but at $8 each or $12 per pair it’s definitely going to have to wait for a while before I get some 🙃 very cool devices!!! Can’t wait to see them integrated into other products soon!!!

[@bigclivedotcom]

I'll guess the price will quickly plummet.

[@Caluma122]

Not after you've advertised them on your channel 🤣 Isn't that usual MO after you review something... Price shoots up.

[@kevinhardisty6465]

Very fun. I’ll be getting a couple

[@diymaster1121]

Now we just need some pcb manufacturers like jlc pcb to start making custome phosphor coated led cob pcbs. Can you imagine what would be possible if you could make custome shapes and colors...

[@geoffreykeane4072]

They look good Clive, but to my eye though the effect is too slow. I ran this video at 2x and at least to me the effect improves markedly.

[@assassinlexx1993]

If you make array of flames. Would small caps increase the random. The make mini fireplace. 🤔

[@ProfessorFartsalot]

Mister Clive. I was watching a video from Applied Science and in the comments section, someone had noted neon bulbs flickering in certain lighting circumstances but acting normal in the dark. Can you elaborate on this or make a video about this topic? Much love, some stinky man from the US who enjoys your videos.

[@richardbriansmith8562]

Awesome video big Clive

[@originalksd]

"Watch your eyes" : First video i stumbled upon (pure luck), was the one you pumped co2 to yager (searching for info on that). Second video was something about light (don't recall wich) and i subed since then, i am suffering from migraines and thus my eyes are very sensitive to light (longer to recover from flashes / bright light, and it even causes me migrains some times). You are incredible !!!

[@ksjhi]

Neat. Granted, the lighting pattern of the flame is similar to the real neon version, but I find it a bit too nervous. Wouldn't it be a nice project to replace the MCU and write a custom firmware for it? You could implement different patterns and true randomization.

[@alpha_pixel_]

Simple dice program can do the work.. random number generator.. that also shows 1 is always on.

[@gregsmith2262]

Now I am in trouble because of course I followed the link and bought four!

[@phonotical]

Oh I just saw those filaments on aliexpress, I did want to see them light both side though I was under the impression the flames would have their own inbuilt chip and not connected to anything else, which is a bit of a shame I think the bouncing flame effect is... Too fast, or just wrong, I'm sure you could design something better, maybe using a 4017, or maybe some capacitors between pins

[@gryzman]

get yourself a cheap ND filter glass, ND1000 or such, and you can put it in front of an LED light - to see individual LED chips inside. Your camera-phone will also be able to focus on them.

[@kareno8634]

What a Lively Flame! Clever, if 'grouping' helps create pulse to look real. Perhaps Next ~ *Star* will be made to Twinkle. [?] : } Thanks Clive!

[@jcxtra]

Ooo, all those look pretty cool. My guess might be that negative that goes "nowhere" could be for screening? I say that because they've obviously chosen to use very thin circuit board material and haven't put a ground plane in. What do you think? Also - How easy do you think these would be to either reproduce or "upgrade" so there's better randomness?

[@Poodleinacan]

Real fire will always be preferred by me.

[@electroniquepassion]

thank you it's very interesting 👍👋👋

[@ericoppel5698]

Lovely, but a bit pricey at AU $12.63 for one including postage. I notice there's a whole range of styles of the non flickering ones at about half that price too! They might make rather cool looking Christmas tree lights! 🙂

[@robbieaussievic]

.... We have to have deep pockets in Oz. It's as if we live on the other side of the Planet. Always have to look where the website is located, the currency, GST included ?, shipping, when we finnaly see the total we wonder if it's gold plated.

[@ericoppel5698]

@@robbieaussievic Yes since Covid and that mad Russian guys war came along, it has caused not only increased production costs, but also sky high transportation costs on top of it. Not happy. 😞

[@MarkGarth]

Clive costing me money again 😁😁