Make your own LED Stroboscope (for a safety system)

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More project information (schematic, parts list, code, pictures,.....) on Instructables: www.instructables.com/id/Make...
Parts list (incomplete, see Instructables for more, affiliate links):
Aliexpress:
1x TLC555: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dTr...
1x TC4420: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d9e...
1x IRLZ44N MOSFET: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dWh...
1x 100W High Power LED: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dWf...
1x 7815 Voltage Regulator: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d6r...
1x 50k Potentiometer: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dX8...
1x 25k Potentiometer: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dX8...
2x 1N4148 Diodes: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dYR...
2x 4.7uF, 1x 100uF Capacitor: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d7d...
1x 0.1uF, 1x 470nF Capacitor: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dU4...
Ebay:
1x TLC555: rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-532...
1x TC4420: rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-532...
1x IRLZ44N MOSFET: rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-532...
1x 100W High Power LED: rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-532...
1x 7815 Voltage Regulator: rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-532...
1x 50k Potentiometer: rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-532...
1x 25k Potentiometer: rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-532...
2x 1N4148 Diodes: rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-532...
2x 4.7uF, 1x 100uF Capacitor: rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-532...
1x 0.1uF, 1x 470nF Capacitor: rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-532...
In this project I will show you how the stroboscopic effect works and how we can use it to determine the RPM of a motor. Also I will be showing you how to create a simple LED stroboscope at home by utilizing an Arduino or a 555 Timer circuit. Let's get started!
Thanks to JLCPCB for sponsoring this video
Visit jlcpcb.com to get professional PCBs for low prices
Music:
2011 Lookalike by Bartlebeats
Killing Time, Kevin MacLeod
(incompetech.com)

[@pesterenan]

Scott, I believe the strobo effect would greatly diminish the robber efforts if the blinking was RANDOM! Imagine it, after some time, even with the lights blinking, your brain can adapt to the timing, but if it was a little random, with more off time, the brain can't adapt to it, and the guy would start to feel dizzy and fall everywhere.

[@thoughtyness]

Yes! He should also rig up an AK-47 to warn the intruder of the all mighty blinking blue light.

[@ms2649]

And add a high pitch sound (out of a fire alarm )

[@ramous5182]

I think the FBI uses random strobing flashlights to stop people

[@rainbowometer6266]

and make intruders hullicinate

[@pekkasaarinen2902]

Maybe not completely random, but offsetting the blinks randomly some tens or hundreds of milliseconds.

[@proyectosledar]

There are a lot of nice projects using strobo and water.

[@jdrone77]

Podrias animarte y hacer una time fountain.

[@4L0N50ALONSO]

@@jdrone77 siiiiii

[@johnrubensaragi4125]

Just watch electroboom

[@blanana_m]

A Night club sometimes uses both

[@gonun69]

A friend built something similar, but with red, green and blue 100W LEDs that blink randomly. Trust me, you don't want to look anywhere near it when it turns on! Objects with different colors are sometimes visible and sometimes not, so it looks like the entire room is constantly transforming. Even if you expect it, you get disoriented within seconds.

[@rabbitpiet7182]

Gonun I want this yesterday

[@paappraiser]

This sounds like a amazing idea. Any idea of the random frequency range?

[@Blobadoodle]

Was it a uC or a series of chips?

[@andreafavero4250]

Incredibly based

[@mousamupadhyaya8053]

Temporary nightclub (thief starts dancing) 00:32 😂😂😂😂

[@delectantix2830]

Fortnite Players calls this: Boogie Bomb

[@Asu01]

Why bother to make this strobe light when you already have a faulty cheap Chinese LED floodlight?

[@dudeboi7773]

Good idea

[@BuzZ.]

:)

[@GunwantBhambra]

leds itseft in vid is chinese cause i have a 50w rgb one

[@manishholla]

Labs sexy idea bro

[@MCsCreations]

🤔

[@denismckenzie1991]

Love that you are touching on this. I use to go to raves and would spin glowsticks on strings, I noticed when the club would utilize their strobe lights, I could match the frequency and make it look like the glowsticks we're floating straight up. 😎

[@Predator49821]

Congratulations Greatscott! Almost 1 million subscribers! I'm just fore-congratulating you because you are currently my favourite KZbinr! Wish you the best in the upcoming moments and I will continually stay to watch your fascinating projects.

[@chrishowardmv]

I still would have gone with the microcontroller so that you could pseudo-randomly adjust the pulse frequency and duration to further confuse an intruder. This is what most defense strobe flashlights do. After a few seconds of flashing, your brain can adjust somewhat. However, when the strobing changes on my flashlight it really messes you up. PSA: Don't stare at a bright as hell LED flashlight that is strobing while holding a beverage. BRB, doing laundry.

[@Asu01]

Have you done with the laundry?

[@alanstanley2847]

I don’t know, has he?

[@walidebdelli1046]

Good videos and tutos GreatScott... I'm far away from electronics because I'm geology engineer, but when start to see your videos I become addicted by electronics and haking... I start already with basics and programming.... Thank you Scott from Tunisia... Love German people...

[@8867348]

Now even though i have very limited knowledge about this stuff, this is a project i feel i can do. Glad you went with the 555 timer cause i know nothing about the ardwino and/or programming it. I enjoy your channel very much.

[@Mr.Unacceptable]

You can get a cheap strobe light from the dollar store. It's more like a flash bulb. It's blinds the intruder upon the first flash and every flash after put those big blind spots you see when someone takes a picture. After 5 seconds you can't see anything. This is more like a strobe from a nightclub. You want a flash stun response not a party theme. Then you trigger the alarm at 15 -30 seconds and now the thief is blind and deaf. Time the CCTV correctly and you have their picture. They wouldn't let me hook up the device that took out knee caps.

[@michael5432]

Just a note; Strobing lights do not cause epilepsy. Strobing lights can cause seizures. Sometimes the SEIZURES are caused by epilepsy. :-) Love the video! Thanks for the tips.

[@vaioskaliakoudas6388]

The stroboscopic effect is also known by the stroboscopic timing light used by the car mechanics in order to get the correct timing in older cars suited up with distributors rather than DIS (Direct Ignition System) or COP (Coil On Plug) ignition systems, which the 2nd one is widely used by the car manufacturers nowadays

[@bennyboi0115]

Cheers for the videos dude, been watching your videos for a long time now and still they’re original and epic

[@greatscottlab]

Thanks mate ;-)

[@bennyboi0115]

GreatScott! Anytime honestly, I’m following my career in electronics and soon be going to an apprenticeship to learn new skills. My inspiration you.

[@redakaminekloc5167]

My sister really loved it! She can't stop dancing and even I didn't turn on the music yet!

[@HebaruSan]

Burglar in GreatScott's garage: "Why do all these spinning disks look like they're standing still??"

[@jeffspaulding9834]

Maybe the second half of the security system involves circular saw blades.

[@tejav1160]

Frame rate

[@vcrahul]

ASSEMBLED THIS. WORKING LIKE A CHARM.......GREAT SCOTT

[@suriyasuri2018]

Waiting for the diy 1500 watt boost converter...!!!

[@Chriva]

What is it with you guys and dc to 110/220 death traps? No! Buy a ready-made one or don't mess with it at all.

[@gustavgames]

@@Chriva a boost converter does not have to boost to 110+ volt

[@AntonBabiy]

@@gustavgames +-90v boost for diy sub amp would be perfect 👌

[@abuxxx3607]

Christian Ivarsson hahaha....still there?

[@SuperBrainAK]

I am slowly working on converting one of those into a SEPIC arrangement, so it can boost and buck but not with all 30A (i will need to split the coil into two)

[@AutoTechEngineeringDHAKarachi]

Dude, you have awesome equipment and great knowledge of electronics

[@doormattde]

Try putting multiple LEDs in an arrangement and controlling them with an Arduino, Then try randomly changing the frequency to mess with pattern recognition and switching between the LEDs to create slightly different shadows, I think that might caused sea sickness

[@asdfqwerasdfqwer3058]

Im glad you chose the 100 Watt LED, I would have been disappointed otherwise.

[@Carolina_Housing_Solutions]

Awesome, cant wait to see the conclusion

[@jackrippah]

Very interesting video - btw your schematic drawings and lettering are absolutely beautiful - They look machine generated! Again, thanks for the ideas and effort to produce some very worthwhile videos.

[@R3MIXMODZ]

I just had homecoming and my school had one of these lights and EVERYONE went crazy of how cool it was!! now Im gonna try to build it for my own use! It's a coincidence!

[@tin2001]

LOL... Real strobes (with xenon tubes) were around decades ago. We used to use one in the late 90's for school and church events... And the unit we used was about 10-15 years old back then. Pretty sure they became a staple part of clubs and discos in the late 70's.

[@traktion9]

@@tin2001 ya that guy doesn't get out much, strobes for dance effect were more common back then. Its funny to hear someone describe it like it just came out.

[@adithyapillai4259]

Lesson Learnt. Never break into Great Scott's Garage!!

[@greatscottlab]

Correct

[@celeronceleron5595]

Back in 2006 I created a solid state strobe light with a 1W Luxian Star LED. The first of two 555s adjusted the timing. The second adjusted the on time. I employed some high capacity caps so I could dump a ton of current into the LED. I used a constant current circuit to limit the current to 10A. It was dimmish in the dark, but the effect at max speed was nothing I had ever seen before. Instead of a stop motion effect as with the old tuber strobes I was getting an extrusion effect. You move your hand from a starting point and your hand stretches from there to the stopping point. The extrusion then shrinks from the starting point to the stopping point as per persistence of vision. Set the flash rate to extrusion and the moment they turn their head, well.... But I've never actually tried it. I was waiting for LED technology to catch up to provide a much brighter effect. I would use white light as that will provide a more eye filling effect. I would also suggest a remote switch and a chair for testing purposes. Just in case.

[@apurvsharma1261]

1 million is close!!

[@noobbot7392]

just imagining if electroboom had to make this😂😂he would have short circuited it first

[@userPrehistoricman]

he would have soldered live wires right onto the LED

[@noobbot7392]

@@userPrehistoricman 😂😂😂

[@andruloni]

Fit a whole wall with the LEDs and fire them one by one at at least double the rated voltage :P

[@maxxiang8746]

@Utkarsh Amitabh Srivastava He already has xD

[@f.a3202]

Nice video as always!☺

[@ethanb3453]

I had a seizure but I learned alot, thanks!

[@electronic7979]

Excellent project

[@MrAtarifreak]

Thank you for the warning at the beginning of the video.

[@spidermcgavenport8767]

Thank you GreatScott!, much appreciated strobe build.

[@spidermcgavenport8767]

Thank you so very much for the warning at the beginning of the video, epilepsy is terrible, migralepsy is even worse.

[@lucatosatti7071]

Next step: adding house music and a lot of alcoholic drinks, for complete disorientation. And you can use it for party in the weekend! Very versatile allarm system! I'm jocking, very good job!

[@jmelb4650]

Just want to say thanks for the warning at the start :)

[@francoisp3625]

I tried jlcpcb services twice already (for my fablab & myself ) & I confirm they are serious & cheap with very good quality boards :)

[@electricsciencetrick]

Good

[@nigeljohnson9820]

Can I suggest that you use a quad Schmitt trigger as the frequency generator and pulse shaper. Use two of the gates as a triggerable monostable and the forth as the buffer to the power MosFet. In my case I actually coupled the MOSFET drive to provide extra protection for the LED. Using HC parts it is easy to achieve the 30us pulse width. The output frequency can be as high as 10kHz. I have used this simple arrangement to examine spinning computer fans and my PCB drill. In the latter case, looking for eccentricities in its drill bit rotation. There is an advantage in having some control of the pulse width, as at low frequency a very narrow pulse does not provide much illumination. Thinking about it, while the ideal is a delta pulse, at low speeds, a wider pulse is on for a relatively small angle of rotation and the smearing effect may not be significant, while the increased illumination may be advantageous. The trick seems to be to keep the width as small as possible consistent with providing sufficient illumination and not exceeding the power dissipation of the LED(s) used.

[@DooMMasteR]

Pulsing around 15-21 Hz seems to be most effective... Also varying the pulse width seems to help the effect... Alternating red/blue is the pinnacle

[@Felecc]

Power soos :D As always, great video great as GreatScott! :DDD

[@Lukanyator]

Interesting idea, thanks!

[@kanadnemade]

Warning: People suffering from epilepsey, don't even think of becoming a thief.

[@nikims_]

wasnt planning to, but if i ever do become one, im never stealing from greatscott

[@avejst]

Nice project :-) Thanks for sharing :-)

[@saikrishna4388]

Damnnn, you got moves dude!

[@kaushalambaliya563]

super video

[@34Gw]

good at party light :)

[@bgarv7]

'Temporary Night Club'

[@matthew3p]

I must say for someone that is German you have great English, sound like you’re a native English speaker. I am quite young at age 9 and am interested in electronics and learning German at school

[@devttyUSB0]

Yep! I'm now sure i do not suffer from epilepsy. Great scott, i mean, video!

[@ibims6710]

Geiles video wie jedes mal mach weiter so😂✌️🤓

[@Helectronics]

Cool video! I think you should also add a speaker playing techno music, so the intruder will dance until the police arrives.

[@caecium695]

Thats a proper countersink

[@yuristocat]

I love all your videos!! I just wish I could make the things you do :(

[@thebigflob8202]

I LOVE YOU CHANNEL SCOTT YOU ARE THE BEST! You should try building an ac motor from ground up, i think that would be interesting!!!

[@greatscottlab]

I can put it on my to do list

[@davidbalfour3390]

I use jb weld to mount the leds to heat sink. Good heat transfer in small amount and easy to do.

[@MCsCreations]

Pretty nice! 😊

[@KnightsWithoutATable]

You can also make a strobe light using an RC oscillator and a transistor. You can adjust the strobe rate by using a pot as part of the resistive portion of the circuit and the transistor is used to switch the high power to power the light. There are also capacitor based circuits that can strobe low power LEDs, but would not work for this application.

[@abdelssami]

Freaking cool video dud keep it up

[@luongmaihunggia]

A few ways to make this more effective: Use RGB LED and have it randomly change between colours so the human eyes can't adapt. Have it randomly change between flashing frequency so the human eyes can't adapt.

[@danijel124]

I watched this video and I have epilepsy now... Thanks a lot greatscott :P

[@Chrislee0709]

Nice Work wery nice

[@mac2484]

I made a very similar thing for my house around 1.5 years ago, where i used a very powerfull amplifier (around 100w), 4 Bass shakers, and 2 of these Strobe Leds, and also a small variable frequency generator to scare the shit off people when they open my house without using the staircase type bypass switch.

[@maskedredstonerproz]

Great vid

[@jorgepatriciotorres9095]

Muy buen proyecto, creo que deberias aumentar la tension de alimentacion del led para que el t_on/T bajo emita mayor cantidad de luz sin llegar a quemar el led.

[@anandhakrishnant6788]

Nice one

[@spikes4762]

Hi Great Scott

[@jamest.5001]

I have been thinking about a offgrid security system. Maybe add a motion activated camera and a alarm. Off grid equipment isn't cheap. And I'd like to keep it! Along with the tools and things. I'd like to maybe also use about 3-4 of the 50watt or 100watt and mount them on 2-3 walls per enterable rooms. With alarm. And basically have an explosion of sound and blinding light for anyone who enters unwanted when activated! A coded entry pad would be nice! Great idea!

[@FirechipAcademy]

Your into video also having the stroboscopic effect 😎

[@electron-1979]

Thanks for that! Generally, they are called triple-5 (or triple-nickel, if you're American).

[@SiddheshNan]

This can be used for Halloween as well.. spooky spooky

[@milokeskinen1681]

Lets hit million subs for scot

[@4L0N50ALONSO]

Like vídeo bro

[@gerrymcerlean8432]

Thanks for your great videos. I noticed you list the TLC555 in your parts list. I'm sure you already know, but this version of the 555 can operate up to 2.1MHz (0.5us, 500ns). I am currently working on a strobe to scare foxes away from my chicken coop at night. It will be triggered by a PIR. I hope to overdrive the LEDs, and not use any heat-sinks, by flashing the LEDs for 20us every 10 seconds. (0.0002% duty cycle) Thanks again.

[@joaomarques7180]

How do i know how how much i can safelly increase the voltage value without sacrificing the longevity of the led?

[@damon2692]

Wow, I didn't know LEDs would be fast enough to work as a strobe!

[@a6dulsalam511]

Nice 😮

[@joaquinnunez33]

Excelent, make me Remember 8th grade physics

[@SIKHGT650]

Like before watching

[@tyttuut]

Damn it, now I have epilepsy! :P

[@martinsindans1341]

You didn't get the joke

[@rishaalramdeen2112]

Great build just the stuff was looking for, I think though that three leds about 2.5 meters away from one another, with slightly different colors and all three set at different frequencies, together with a loud high pitch siren will cause the most discomfort for a burglar. Please do it as an update on this build. Thanks Bro.

[@StaticVapour590]

It makes eyes burst for sure

[@opera5714]

I was worried for a second that the real secrets of high speed strobing would be reviled.

[@AliYassinToma]

Nice one great work .. wish i had the money for patreon buuut school

[@Fractured_Code]

You should do a home security/automation series

[@ventusprime]

I got my pcb from JLCPCB its really good Q

[@dalenassar9152]

On the diagram at about timestamp 7:20 how does the 555 chip drive the high-power 100W LED?

[@DamianAI9]

Gut gemacht DANKE!

[@charupandya5262]

Hey, i love to watch your videos can you make video on communication systems

[@sparkyprojects]

You can connect the mosfet directly to the 555, just use a series resistor on the gate, something around 470 ohms, no need for a mosfet driver. And power the 555 with about 5-6v

[@maxxiang8746]

the 555 would heat up probably

[@ozrithclay6921]

Dang I was hoping you'd show us how to build our own ED209. That's what I want for home defense.

[@blackwingmaster141]

You should get some taps and start making internal threads - results are quite a bit nicer than having nut on the other side of the heatsink. BTW - plain aluminum plates aren't too effective heatsinks - fins are critical to get thermal resistance down

[@CharlesSnyder]

Randomize the pulses, wouldn't that increase the disorienting effects? Good stuff!

[@littlenyancat5754]

Have you tried to make it flash with a varying frequency? A certain fixed frequency can screw if your eyes a bit but having it vary over time may actually make it even more effective

[@SamnissArandeen]

That's actually how you time an engine! A light is triggered to flash when the #1 spark plug fires, and is aimed at the crank pulley. You can then use the stroboscopic effect to make the timing marks on the nose of the crankcase and crank pulley readable.

[@MrAbhilashgopinath]

plz think to make Studio Strobe light with using high power LED controld by ardunio trigger. is it possible (high speed sync) now most of them have DSLR camera online strobe flash lights are highly expencive

[@ZicMortal]

Imagine this connected to Scott's Boombox which starts boomin when intruder is spotted, all followed by Scott's recorded voice "Intruder, intruder .."

[@derdavidspielt]

Guess a smoke machine would be a perfect add-on, for the alarm system to get the strobe effect stronger as well as to your new nightclub :P

[@messedmushroom]

GreatScott, for all your solder bridges on the bottom of your perfboard (like at 4:34), do you first put a wire along the path then solder to it? or do you just put a large amount of solder along the path to bridge the copper dots?

[@4DRC_]

The advantage of the microcontroller is that you could randomize the frequency to disorient an intruder further

[@99hari55]

Yes...this strobe effect is using fight scenes in live stages or theatres

[@nullstar1806]

Reminds me of that one iCarly episode where Spencer (I think) installed a security system that involved a ton of camera flashes.